I liked his voice, rich and unself-conscious even when he forgot words and hummed to fill in the gap. What I didn't understand, I imagined, and thus it became a love song.

Expectations are like hidden rocks in your path , All they do is trip you up

Because ultimately only the witness -- and not the actors -- knows the truth (Vyasa to Draupadi)

In life, it's best not to take anything for free - unless it's from someone who wishes you well.

Fennel, which is the spice for Wednesdays, the day of averages, of middle-aged people. . . . Fennel . . . smelling of changes to come.

After the fire, when I'd tried to express my gratitude for their kindness to our customers, they'd been awkward, uncomfortable. My father had had to explain to me that giving thanks is not a common practice in India. 'Then how do you know if people appreciated what you did?' I'd asked. 'Do you really need to know?' my father had asked back.

But maybe as I get older, I begin to see beauty where I least expected it before.