For a retired person all days of the week are the same. The days unfold in a similar fashion. However Sundays are special. The entire family is also in a holiday mood. Every one joins in elevating the mood and exuding bonhomie. Normally it’s a day when you do what you enjoy, rather than do things which are on your ‘to do list’. It’s a day to relax, reflect and restore. 

I had finished reading the newspaper, done the crossword, had my bath and breakfast and had come to the conclusion that all was well with the world. When one is in such a euphoric mood, one is bound to spread the good mood, call up friends and enquire about their health, indulge in harmless banter and such things.

I had not, for a very long time spoken to my dear friend Fali Dubash, a very affable person. He had chosen to drop his anchor in Namma Bengaluru after his retirement from the navy. He built a lovely house on Hennur main road and along with his charming wife Olive, he tended to their garden in the bungalow. Together, they were the proud owners of three avocado trees. The trees were very productive and yielded a good number of fruits each year. Fali and Olive are a very generous couple and would share their produce with all their friends. I was also included in their benevolent list. We looked forward to the avocado season in end August and early September. It’s great fun ‘avocadoing’. I relish salads, avocado open sandwiches and guacamole. 

Somehow this year I did not receive any manna from Fali and was a little worried. Had he forgotten us, inadvertently removed us from the ‘Avocado List’, extended their stay in the US of A, I wondered. Normally I would have picked up the phone and spoken to him. However on this occasion I messaged him on WhatsApp

“Any Avocado

this year”

To my utter surprise and bewilderment, my phone started getting scores of messages. I had inadvertently sent the message to all the contacts on my phone. I was totally discomposed and confused. For a short while, I sat in my chair frozen, not knowing how to tackle this comical situation. It did not occur to me to press ‘delete for everyone’. Instead, I sent another message saying ‘message sent by mistake’. By then the damage had been done and I started receiving scores of humorous, apologetic, clarifying or enquiring replies. My Sunday turned out to be anything but calm and peaceful. Some of the interesting replies were-

*BTW I am sure you have tried avocado on toast or just avocado with a pinch of salt.

*No issue. But we did have a reasonably good crop of avocados this year.

The best was from my dear niece –

*Ha ha ha if you’re asking if I’m pregnant, then no! If you are asking if I know any dealers, then too no. But if you find any do let me know. (I later learnt that the avocado emoji also signifies pregnancy.)

* Good to hear from you, Pubby…even if you did not mean to say ‘hi’ to me. Whoever you have actually sent the message to …I too would like some avocado- being a diabetic. On compassionate grounds.

*If we had, we would have shared with you

* No avocados… only Golf.

*Yes Uncle, it’s on its way from Coorg. 

However the best was 

* Good evening, in a day or two I will have it sent. (Two days later I received a bag full of avocados from my dear friend)

*Notwithstanding the mistake, I love Avocados. Sadly you don’t get them much here.

*Hi Pubby – it’s all over for the year! Will send you some when the next crop matures.

*Is someone named Tejal selling Avocados? If so, I want some!!!

*So sorry Pubs, the last of the lot finished about a fortnight ago. Awfully sorry, we will make amends next season.   

*Finally I received a reply from Fali saying all our trees seem to be on strike! None of the avocado trees have any flowers and the nimboo trees are also observing ‘go slow’ tactics.

So there ended my Avocado story. I am very certain all my friends will remember me whenever they bite into an avocado.

Cheers until the next season.