The Jackfruit Tree

By Priyanka Bhandarkar

I was late for college.I peeped outside the window to find my favorite Jackfruit  tree.My mother called me for breakfast but I was not in a mood to eat what she had prepared.As I approached the kitchen i observed that my mother was busy cutting vegetables.I gulped down a cup of coffee and rushed to catch a bus going towards my college.

The Festival of Ugadi was only a week away.Ugadi is a festival which marks the beginning  of the calendar year and is celebrated with pomp and glory by the Konkani community people.A scrumptious feast is prepared as a compliment and a special puja or archana is done to ask the Gods for blessings.

When i reached college the economics class had already started and the teacher would not let me enter the class.I went to the library to pass the rest of the time.I borrowed a few books and started writing notes.After a few minutes of idle voting on a particular topic I dismissed the entire idea.The weather was too beautiful for this kind of thing.As i gazed outside the window it  started raining.I became  worried since i had forgotten to bring my umbrella.Hopefully there were no further surprises coming my way.During the afternoon i found the restroom  busy.It  made my day more complicated.I was not able to concentrate on my notes.The canteen prices were hiked and i had to eat rice without chapati for my afternoon meal.I wanted to use the toilet but there was a big queue.The library was also busy and so I decided to climb the nearest bus home.

I caught a bus which was less crowded and climbed up to the window seat.My sandal was bothering me and my toes were hurting.I had only a  two rupee coin with me to pay the bus charge.As I got down the steps my sandals gave way.I had to walk  through the mud to reach my house.

When I reached the house there was no electricity.I had to wait for nearly an hour before it was restored.Suddenly i realized that i had come home without submitting my assignment.I had no time to relax. 

On the news there  was a red alert for a cyclone named Doris which was fast approaching the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea.The people residing in the nearby areas had been advised to keep away from the coastline  because of torrential rain.

But after a few days of thunder and lightning the storm changed its course and retreated its  way to the coast of Kerala.

It was the last day of the week.I was enjoying the serenity of the early morning hours when I got the news from my neighbor  that the road leading to my college was closed because of an uprooted tree which had fallen on the middle of the road thus blocking the way.

I was very happy to hear this because I now had the advantage of a happy and lazy weekend.

The celebrations for Ugadi were in full swing and the idea of a magnificent feast filled me with ecstasy.Jackfruit being the most versatile fruit available occupied the main place in the itinerary of the household.My mother had especially prepared Jackfruit Dosa,Jackfruit Idli and Jackfruit Burfi for my relishment.

The television had meanwhile brought in other good news.The State Government had declared a holiday of three days for repair and  reconstruction of the highway leading to my college which had been badly damaged by the rain.My mother had bought me a new pair of shoes and got me a new pair of salwar-kameez as a gift for the Ugadi.My father  had also received promotion.All this contributed to a grand celebration.

I spent the whole evening sleeping and watching a movie without care and without the hope of a very bright future which was always stuck on my mind.Behind the house stood the Jackfruit Tree blinking away two healthy Jackfruits  bestowed on us as blessings by nature.

By Priyanka Bhandarkar