The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi. Part one- Raw Mangoes.

HAPPINESS was a concept. A feeling.

   Priya is raised from stereotypical Indian family in India. The other reason for her going to United States studying master's in Computer Sciences at Texas A&M is to escape arranged marriage. Yet, the you-should-get-married moment has come. After staying, studying and working in US for seven years, it is the time for her to go home and at the same time to announce she has a American boyfriend. They coupled for 3 years and now living together. Living together is a disgrace and taboo for Indian tradition. Unmarried couples are not allowed to stay together unless they are married. This practice is not only occur in Indian society but also in other Asian society like Malays. 
  Part one is mostly about the instauration of the characters and the relationship between Priya and the characters.

1. Priya - 27 years old. Dark skin like her Nanna (father). She spent 7 years in US. She stayed with her fiance. Sadly, in part one she agnised that it was harder than she thought to tell her relationship between her American boyfriend.
2. Natarajan - Younger brother of Priya. Called "Nate". Fairer skin compared to Priya.He and Priya had strong siblings ties. They used to fight over sticky stone at the center of the mango. Liberal. Understanding. Studying at Engineering School in Madras and stays in University dorm. He made excuses to avoid familial politics . He never stays at home three days in a row. 10 years younger than Priya. 
3. Nicholas Collins - Priya's boyfriend. An accountant. He loved Priya very much despite of her nationality, race and religion. 
4.  Radha, Priya's Ma (mother) - Beautiful, fair-skinned and looked like a marble doll when she was young. Very typical mother like in most of the Hindi movies. Not wicked but a vitriolic nagger. Narrow-minded, a scrooge and petty. Very proud of her America-returned daughter.
5. Ashwin, Priya's Nanna (father) - Got married to Radha when he turned 29 years old. He got pressured by his parents and agreed on the first bride-seeing ceremony. They have been married for 28 years. He did not have large family like Radha, his wife. His father worked for Indian Foreign Services and often traveled around the world. He had one sister who was single working as a doctor and living alone in Australia. He and Priya's grandfather were not eye to eye on anything. Loved Priya very much. Priya was closer with her father compared to her 'evil' mother.
6. Thatha, Priya's grandfather - Smart. Opinionated.   "Bigot, racist, chauvinist and generally too arrogant for anyone's liking". He started to join State Bank of AP then became a bank teller and turned to bank manager. His never-say-die spirit is in Priya's blood. They chatted on any issues openly.He adores Priya.
7. Sowmya - 3 years older than Priya. Single. Plump. Wore thicked-glasses. Has darker skin then Priya. Curly thin hair. "She was not a beauty by anyone's standard." Had faced rejection for 64 matches bride-seeing. Caring. She took care of Priya's grandparents and ran all errands yet her family treated her like a burden due to her single status, "like she was a load they couldn't wait to dump on some unsuspecting boy..."
8. Lata - Priya's aunt. Beautiful and tall like "graceful dear" Had a brother who lived in Los Angeles. Boastful. Controller. Had two daughters named Shalini and Apoorva. She married to  Jayant, Priya's uncle who worked as an engineer. "Cold" relationship with Priya's mother. 
9. Anand - Priya's younger uncle. Had 'elopement' with Neelima (his wife, ex-colleague). He got married with Neelima secretly and it was love marriage.
10. Neelima - Anand's wife. Fair-skinned. She was a Brahmin (considered high caste in social hierarchy). Treated unfairly by Anand's whole family. They believed she was a witch who made spells and potions to make Anand fall in love with her. She didn't have kids even got married for a year ( all Indian standards, Neelima should have kids because of five-day marriage celebration ). 
11. Badri - Priya's grandparents' new servant. His wife named Parvati. 
12. Rajni - Priya's grandparents' old servant. Part of Priya's childhood when she was in her grandparents' house. Priya thought she was a slacker because she didn't put the dishes in rightful place.

 " Love isn't all the cracked up to be. Marriage needs a lot more than love."

**All italic words are quoted from the novel The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi.**

Do you know?

•  Lemonade can prevent kidney stones.

A Word A Day Keeps Dictionary Away.
       Burgeon - flourish, grow