It’s hard not to like Lychees

This cart of Lychees stopped me in my tracks. Literally. They are in season. And there it was. The classic summer fruit. Juicy, fragrant and irresistible. Standing unattended on a quiet leafy lane in my neighbourhood. The cart sat boldly beneath a ‘No Parking’ sign, as though challenging authority itself. The fruitwallah was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he knew that if anyone stopped, it would be to buy those rich-red, luscious-looking Lychees, not chase him away. It was a hot, lazy afternoon. Not a whisper of breeze, no traffic, and besides me, not a soul around. I suspected he was snoozing peacefully in the shade somewhere nearby.

I recognised them instantly as the famed Shahi Lychees of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, from whose orchards and home gardens comes a large share of India’s production. West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab and Karnataka grow them too. But most of Mumbai’s fruit hawkers are Biharis, and it makes perfect sense for them to proudly sell the fruit of their home state. My regular fruitwallah — a crafty old devil who could teach graduates of IIM, Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and MIT a thing or two about marketing — spends every summer trying to convince me that the Lychee is as beloved as the Alphonso mango. It is an argument I never buy.

So he changes tactics. He peels away the leathery pink-red skin and offers me the translucent white flesh within, delicately scented with something almost rose-like. The moment I pop it into my mouth, I am defeated. For the Lychee has a flavour that is floral, citrusy, sweet and impossibly refreshing. It really is hard not to like it. Then comes the final sales pitch: rich in Vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants, cooling, hydrating, low in calories. As if any of that matters once you’ve tasted one. Lychees have flooded the markets this summer, though they remain frightfully expensive. And standing there beside that abandoned cart, on that drowsy afternoon, I briefly considered trundling it away myself. I rather wish I had.

About Mark Manuel 

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

About Story of Souls

Leave your comments on how you like this story. If you love it, share it to bring that change we wish to see in the world.

You can also share your inspiring story with us at submitstories.storyofsouls@gmail.com. Story of Souls is an initiative where we invite people to bring their stories to us. We want people to “write to heal.” The idea of Storyofsouls is appreciated by ALL INDIA RADIO. An Online Platform where you can share your real-life stories. The impact of our stories has reached the UN and Harvard University. For some real-life stories, web series are also planned. You can also visit our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Facebook  LinkedIn   Instagram. 

Storyofsouls is glad to inform you that we are now a Google News-verified platform.

We are proud to inform you all that storyofsouls.com is the official TEDx MotiJheel Kanpur Partner for their upcoming event. 

This cart of Lychees stopped me in my tracks. Literally. They are in season. And there it was. The classic summer fruit. Juicy, fragrant and irresistible. Standing unattended on a quiet leafy lane in my neighbourhood. The cart sat boldly beneath a ‘No Parking’ sign, as though challenging authority itself. The fruitwallah was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he knew that if anyone stopped, it would be to buy those rich-red, luscious-looking Lychees, not chase him away. It was a hot, lazy afternoon. Not a whisper of breeze, no traffic, and besides me, not a soul around. I suspected he was snoozing peacefully in the shade somewhere nearby.

I recognised them instantly as the famed Shahi Lychees of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, from whose orchards and home gardens comes a large share of India’s production. West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab and Karnataka grow them too. But most of Mumbai’s fruit hawkers are Biharis, and it makes perfect sense for them to proudly sell the fruit of their home state. My regular fruitwallah — a crafty old devil who could teach graduates of IIM, Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and MIT a thing or two about marketing — spends every summer trying to convince me that the Lychee is as beloved as the Alphonso mango. It is an argument I never buy.

So he changes tactics. He peels away the leathery pink-red skin and offers me the translucent white flesh within, delicately scented with something almost rose-like. The moment I pop it into my mouth, I am defeated. For the Lychee has a flavour that is floral, citrusy, sweet and impossibly refreshing. It really is hard not to like it. Then comes the final sales pitch: rich in Vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants, cooling, hydrating, low in calories. As if any of that matters once you’ve tasted one. Lychees have flooded the markets this summer, though they remain frightfully expensive. And standing there beside that abandoned cart, on that drowsy afternoon, I briefly considered trundling it away myself. I rather wish I had.

About Mark Manuel 

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

About Story of Souls

Leave your comments on how you like this story. If you love it, share it to bring that change we wish to see in the world.

You can also share your inspiring story with us at submitstories.storyofsouls@gmail.com. Story of Souls is an initiative where we invite people to bring their stories to us. We want people to “write to heal.” The idea of Storyofsouls is appreciated by ALL INDIA RADIO. An Online Platform where you can share your real-life stories. The impact of our stories has reached the UN and Harvard University. For some real-life stories, web series are also planned. You can also visit our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Facebook  LinkedIn   Instagram. 

Storyofsouls is glad to inform you that we are now a Google News-verified platform.

We are proud to inform you all that storyofsouls.com is the official TEDx MotiJheel Kanpur Partner for their upcoming event.