# Supplements

Mango shower

SNS | March 28, 2016 12:31 am

The concrete lane off Hazra Road in south Kolkata is not much different from similar thoroughfares. A large slum, several old houses and a few flats that have recently come up add to the variety of the demography of the area. A divide exists between the old residents and the inhabitants of the flats.

The newcomers do not let go of any occasion to voice their annoyance when the addas beneath their windows get too noisy. Of course, though the older residents also dislike these heated arguments, they do not come to the end of their patience often. Meanwhile, the heated arguments over the merits of a political coalition and the performance of the state government and the skills of local football teams and international outfits continue. But when a strong gust of wind blew over the city recently, such differences were drowned.

For the children and teenagers from the flats and neighbouring houses ran helter-skelter towards a large and shady mango tree. Its branches were shaking in the wind and a few mangoes, nay its blossoms, were dropping down. A few children fell and picking themselves up jumped with joy in the wind and the rain. In a trice, new friendships were forged and new participants were added to the addas. It all happened thanks to the mango shower.