The sweetest things in our life happen in childhood to remember and share entire good life; one of those may be a mango run. In village, children spent their lion part of childhood with trees and its fruits. It was early 90's Sayir's home in kunnathayil (down hill) was blessed with 5 mango trees and all of them are different verities such as kookkatthan maanga (Mulgoa Mango) babloose maanga (Alphonso mango) panjaara maanga (Sugar Sweet Graft mango) nambiar maanga (Chinna Rasam mango) puliyan maanga (pickle breed mango).
The Sugar Sweet mango tree was just in front of his corridor, this was the only tree among entire neighbourhood, so some time sayir has been called as "Sayir from sugar mango tree’s house" nick name among his friends, But he was happy and proud as he gets friends in his door steps. The mangoes were small and very sweet hence it's named as chakkara kutty, panjaara maanga, pott maanga, etc.. Sayir and his friends are not much concern on eating one of those rather waiting under the tree for mangoes to fall and quickly grab them. Even as an owner of this tree he has not given any special privilege to collect the mangoes and some time he need to give away his mangos by melting on sweet requests from his friends. Some of his friends were very regular under the tree so this becomes their play ground too and they tied a rope swing to pass their time there, the swing seat were made by coconut leaf petioles. The most regular friends under this tree were those three girls from Thekk house (south side house) name Saab,Asin and Haize and Asin had a record breaking attendance under the tree among them she may be one who collected those mangoes the most .
There where strict rules under the tree such as they should not see upward to the tree as it's believed that tree doesn't like them look at those mangoes as tree like to give them surprises always. And those who collected the mangos should pinch the pip of the mango and throw it up; this is to respect the tree and requesting it to give more mangoes. Throwing stones where strictly prohibited and those who do it will be out from their friends circle and shall not be allowed under the tree. Wind and rain are the two key players helps falling of mangoes so when wind blow all of them fly and come to that tree and felt like tree is calling them to rush as it will be so happy to see them, offering them fruit and dance along, it is amazing that where did this tiny mangos hide in the tree as they cannot see much from the ground. Grabbing those mangoes immediately after it fall is a skill, technically I can say “neuromuscular coordination”, This mangoes have a thick skin and full spherical shape so to bounce easily, hence the eyes should be so sharp and quick to find that and those found will jump over it, may be there are people falling on one another, may be a small fight also may happen but they were much kind to each other to share. Sayir was not interested in collecting these mangoes in a group so he used to get up early and collect them or while in a group he will divert friends to his kitchen or to his mom’s food to find some place under the tree. The tree wasn't just a tree but a good friend too. The tree had two stumps, one grow straight up and other bend like an arch in which they tie the swing.
This Mangoes are seasonal fruits, so they used to enjoy the mangoes only one or two months a year. In mid 90's the quantity of mangoes where become less and also they all friends where busy in their matriculation studies and exams. Sayir's father decided to chop some of its major branches to support other commercial plants . Slowly the mango run where no more, may be after they finish their schooling. But Sayir used to spent some times under the tree in his collage vacations and later while he is back at home but tree haven't had fruits to give him other that those sweet childhood memories and a warm shade facing his old house “Kinakool Cheriya Pura House” at Kunnathayil.
