Nagavalli, me and Balli were sitting next to each other in my courtyard savouring our supper. My sister and brother sat in the opposite row discussing something amongst themselves while eating. The menu on that night was simple and straightforward - pappu (dal), magaya and curd rice.

Balli loves the tenka (the shell) in magaya. He likes to keep sucking the juice out of it while having the curd rice.
While he was in his own dream world sucking the tenka, Nagavalli began disturbing him with questions related to the next day's school and homework. He lost his cool and shouted at her and while doing so, he clenched his fist with tenka in it.

Juicy magaya gravy coupled with curd had made the shell very soft and with the pressure applied, it shot out of Balli's hand and went like a missile and landed right in the middle of my brother's plate.

There was silence and shock on everyone's face for a min and then a commotion followed. Balli was running all over while my brother was chasing him. That is one incident I always remember when I see a mango shell in Magaya.

The sundried mango pieces, the spices, the seasoning and its aroma, everything together makes Magaya an instant favourite of everyone. I rarely have seen someone not liking it as a pickle.