The itch to write

 It has been 9 years since I married Rohit and became a part of this beautiful family, and in that time I came to know Amma as an all-rounder.  I remember once asking Appa about the collection of awards in the showcase, and he told me that most of them belonged to Amma. From writing to creative thinking, to receiving “Best Employee” awards at Cochin Refinery.. ( thats wher she worked) —she was always at the top in everything she did. I even came across her handwritten recipe book, filled with recipes for many dishes including doughnuts which was uncommon back then. Every page was written with neat handwriting and exact measurements. Rohit often told me how Saturdays at home were almost like a feast when Amma would prepare a variety of new dishes for the family. Food was her love language and she found joy in serving the family.  Amma had a way of finding cute coincidences. Amma told me soemthig she had figured out. she told that all the daughter in laws of the house....

  ​Losing a childhood friend feels like losing a piece of your own history. Our journey began in Baroda, Gujarat, where for three years we played together and our families grew close. Those years created a bond that time could never erase. I still vividly remember how my sister and I, along with Ansu and her little sister, Anju, would play together. We spent so much of our time trying to entertain Anju since she was the smallest among us. ​While life eventually took us on different paths, social media allowed us to find each other again. We exchanged messages and caught glimpses of each other’s lives, always assuming there would be more time to truly catch up. ​The sudden news of Ansu’s passing on December 31st has brought my world to a standstill. It was a heavy, silent shock to lose someone like her. Watching the funeral online broke my heart, especially seeing her parents, her sister Anju, and of course, her husband and child. ​I am holding onto those three years of laughter...