ਅ - ਅੰਬ (amb/mango) , ਆਲਣਾ (aalna/nest), ਅਨੰਦ (anand/state of blissful content), ਐਨਕ (ainak/eyeglasses)

When I was young, the mode of transportation for my family was a charming little powdery green bajaj scooter. We would zoom around the town on it, punctuated by frequent stops to the Ganne Wala for sweet sugarcane juice, Kulfi di rehri to gorge on creamy pistachio cardamom popsicles, at Halwaai for  some sweet jalebies and the golgappa chaat stall for some lip smacking spicy interludes.

These wonder filled jaunts in the hot summers of Punjab would entail abundant visits to fragrant buffets of mangoes that lined the streets by the heaps! Around these juicy, delicious pyramids sprouted a festival of sounds. There were Koels and Mynas chirping and singing, bees buzzing, cows and some dogs waiting for their share with ample amount of loud complaining and a haphazard cacophony of people smelling the fruit for perfect ripeness, negotiating bargains in a mad rush to score the sweetest at the best price. We would very enthusiastically load up on the Amb as well, bags overflowing, pockets stuffed, baskets filled to the brim! Off to home we would ride, in much eagerness to partake in these ambrosial feasts of summer delights!