Author Archives: Sowmya

Weekend afternoons at our home are usually lively, filled with laughter, playful banter, and the long talks with my children, Srijanani and Srikanth. But today, as I walked into the living room, it felt unusually quiet. Weekend afternoons at our home are usually lively, filled with laughter, playful banter, and the long talks with my […]

It’s a pleasant morning in Grandma’s house, and the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air. Grandma has made upma and pesarattu. She set the plates on the table and before calling her grandkids, she mixed water and allam pachadi with gentle swirls and set it next to me. “Breakfast is ready!!” she called out. […]

Summer mornings at our house are usually filled with the giggles and chatter of my grandchildren. But today, it is unusually quiet. Last night, they stayed up late playing snake and ladder and building blocks with their grandfather, Gangadharam, and they haven’t woken up yet. Normally, I make sure they wake up early, even on […]

“Put it on a low flame,” I instructed Ananth, keeping an eye on the bubbling pot. “It still needs a bit more time,” Ananth replied, peering into the pot where the rice and dal were boiling. “We will lower the heat once it’s ready, pinni” he added. Ananth, my elder sister’s second son, has always […]

“Careful, hold the handle, Srijanani,” I reminded my daughter as she got off the bus, holding her bag. I reached under the seat to pull out the tucked bag while the last few passengers left the bus. “Kurnool! Kurnool!” the conductor called out, signalling the start of the return trip from Dharanikota to Kurnool. Every […]

“Clean your hands before you pick more Usirikayalu, Maitreyi!” Gargi reminded her younger cousin, who was busy taking little bites of the tangy fruit while sipping water. It is October, and my grandchildren are here for a short vacation. We are all in the backyard, gathering amlas to make the amla pickle. While Karthikeya and […]

“Anna! Two plates of hot bajjis, please!” Srijanani called out, her voice full of excitement as we reached the small eatery. My daughter and I had come to the market, and just as we were heading back, it started raining. Cold weather and rain, who wouldn’t crave hot bajjis? It was Srijanani’s idea to stop […]

I dragged myself home after a long day. I am tired, and all I wanted was something to eat and sleep. I stood in the kitchen, staring at the empty dishes, too tired to cook but not wanting to order food. I picked up my phone, scrolled through the delivery apps, but nothing felt either […]

The sound of chopping mangoes, the aroma of freshly pounded spices, grandmothers carefully passing down recipes, and the lively conversations of elders mixing pickles — this is what pickling usually reminds us of. It is not only about preserving food; it is also about making memories, passing on traditions, and enjoying togetherness.  In today’s world […]