You can wait for the recorded voice to drone out "Devon Avenue." Or watch for Indians to crowd the aisle - in saris, burkas, salwars, kurtas, or jeans. They often fill it before the bus stops. I melt in, drawn to the North Side neighborhood by memories of India. The grocers offer fresher produce than most chains stores and the ripened plantains remind me of my paternal grandmother's rustic kitchen. She steamed them for a mid-day snack and served them with a sprinkle of raw sugar. I squeeze the mangos and think of the "manga" trees that overlook my mother's family home. The fruit ignites the tongue when featured in pickle and cools the body when blended in lassi.
