How much can one season bring? From scorching heatwaves to raging floods, discover how extreme weather events shape our lives.

It was hot every year, but this year they had to close Joni’s school for an extra two months because of the heat. Mr Gokhale, the principal of City Public School, had looked particularly sweaty during the last morning assembly. As all the students stood in rows, Mr. Gokhale wiped his large forehead with his hanky and took the mic on the podium.

“Children, we have a special announcement. As you know, we are experiencing a difficult heatwave this year. That’s why the government has issued an order; all schools will remain closed until further notice. Your parents have been informed and your teachers will tell you about online classes. Don’t get too excited, you will still have your exams. So study hard and don’t think of this as an extended summer vacation, okay?”

The Mission and the Mangoes is a work of fiction that sets its premise around a dystopic, water-starved Earth where unrestrained mining, drilling and the exhaustion of earth’s resources is rendering the planet unlivable. The young author of the book, 12-year-old Hena Parveen, tries to marry a futuristic setting where technological advancements such as humanoid robots and regular space exploration are a reality, with the Earth’s ecosystem that is hurtling towards an inevitable collapse. Interestingly, all this does not take place in a far-fetched future...