Mugdha Godse gets in the mood

"Whenever I think of summers, I think of bikinis, shorts, ganjis, fresh juices and all colourful, vibrant stuff around me," smiles Mugdha Godse. Dressed in a pair of shorts, a lemon yellow ganji with a printed bikini top under it (summer shopping from Dubai), she looks ready to hit the beach. Here's Mugdha getting nostalgic about summer:


WHO: Mugdha Godse
WHAT: Talking about her summer memories
Where: In a cafe at Hiranandani Gardens

Exam fever
The month of April was one filled with trepidation. The annual exams took place in the first two weeks followed by the results. Though I was a good student, I used to worry a lot about my results. My parents always expected me to do well, and that added a bit of nervousness. I also remember making rounds of the temples before the marks were announced! But May was otherwise fun-time.

Staying cool
Now, I feel hot the moment I step out of the AC, but we didn't have an air-conditioner at home when I was a kid. Playing in the compound, garden and splashing around in the mud kept me cool. My mother didn't let me play Holi in March, as she didn't want me to be ill before the exams. But my cousins and I reserved the celebrations for May, and then we played non-stop with water and colours.

Tomboy days
I was quite a tomboy, and loved climbing trees, especially mango, guava and jackfruit trees. I remember an occasion when my sister's dress got stuck in a branch and she fell to the ground. It was hilarious. I have also had my share of falls (laughs). I loved eating kairis (green mangoes) with a bit of salt, pepper and red chilli powder. My mom used to put imli (tamarind) to dry on the terrace, and we used to eat half of them!u00a0

Chilling out
All my relatives lived nearby, so there was no question of travelling to meet any of them. But all of us used to get together for a short summer trip. Mahabaleshwar was our favourite destination. I remember, once we went there at the end of May. The weather was cool and there was a bit of a drizzle. It was beautiful. As I grew up, I went for a lot of trekking trips in May end or early June to places like Sinhagadh fort. I love beaches, and Goa is my all-time favourite destination. Manali is also nice, but it's not exactly chilly in summers. I would love to make a trip to Bali this season if I get the time.