From the city they came, on a last minute booking, to enjoy the freshness of the countryside. When we met, we instantly took to one another. After freshening up and having tea with hot cassava bondas, they strolled through the garden of welcoming, well-laden fruit trees, tasting the delights. We chatted for a long time, and they sat down to a delicious dinner of North and South Indian dishes. Fluffy phulka rotis with chola masala, egg pakoras with tomato chutney, steaming hot red rice with collard dal, shallot rasam, ripe mango khadi, tender banana stir-fry, thazhuthama sabji, wild mango pickle, and jackfruit halwa for dessert. Their faces shining brightly with joy, they bid us good night, and retired to sleep.

The next morning, waking to the sweet music of the birds which abound in this area, they came down to a sumptious breakfast of hot, fluffy idlis, with sambar and chutney, and upma with songe, and wild mango jam followed by coffee and masala tea.

Though they had planned to leave soon after breakfast, they decided to explore the orchard and were soon learning about medicinal plants, herbs, and trees of Indian and exotic origins, gleefully collecting fruits and vegetables.

Then came a trek through the fields, the excitement of crossing over a little streamlet, balancing over a thin country bridge made of a couple of coconut logs.

In the fields, we picked Asian Pennywort leaves for a mouthwatering coconut chutney, and by then, it was lunchtime. Girija made her special cheese and veggie pizza to their delight.

Though they wanted so much to stay on, they had to report back for work and prepared to leave with great reluctance. We too did not feel like saying goodbye, for Anjan and Ranjitha had stolen our hearts!

Girija packed a small parcel of idlis and pennywort chutney in banana leaves for them to eat on the way, and there was a moist eyed goodbye with promises to be back with their family very soon!