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Headline: Forbidden Fruit BY: T A E D'SOUZA Source: Times of India MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2004 at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/880267.cms Full text: As a young lad during the thirties, I lived in Belgaum. We were a gang of four which comprised Joe, Freddy, my brother and I. One Saturday afternoon, we decided to pluck a few raw mangoes from an orchard. When we reached there, Joe and I climbed a mango tree and started plucking the fruit, which we would throw to the other two on the ground. Few minutes later, I heard dogs barking and I saw Freddy and my brother running. Joe and I were unable to escape as it was foiled by the dogs, who surrounded us until we surrendered to the mali. The dogs and the mali escorted us to a stone hut, which had a door and a window with wooden bars. Soon, the owner arrived at the hut and commenced to interrogate us. Joe did not cooperate, and in a fit of anger the owner struck Joe on the mouth. Blood started oozing from Joe's mouth as a result of a broken tooth. The owner realising the gravity of the situation locked us up in the hut and retreated to his residence along with the mali and the dogs. I assumed that he would now send for the police to deal with us. Inside the hut, I was scared, but Joe was a schemer. He spied a large stone in one corner of the hut, and while I kept a watch, he used the stone to break the wooden bars of the window. In a flash, we were out and running for our lives. It was great to be home again, and this was the first time I appreciated its warmth and safety. While Joe and I attended to our cuts and bruises, and the broken tooth, my brother and Freddy were busy slicing the few raw mangoes which they had managed to bring with them. They were preparing a Goan pickle delicacy called korom (raw mango slices in saline solution). There was no doubt that Joe was the hero of the day. We did not have wine or sherbet to raise a toast to him for displaying exemplary courage, leadership and presence of mind in a crisis, so we distributed korom to all present. Now, whenever I eat a mango, it reminds me of this incident. And I dread to think of what might have happened to Joe and me, if that large stone had not been there in the hut. ======================================== This account will have universal parallels and revive childhood memories. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.773 / Virus Database: 520 - Release Date: 06/10/2004
