Not long after my father's death, my mother packed up all the basic necessities and moved to a different city to be with my sister and start anew. And I was left with boxes-eleven of them. They were everywhere, leaning against tables, crouching under sofas as if the furniture in my house had grown its own luggage and planned to walk out on me the minute I turned away.
I ignored them until one dreary afternoon, I was down with a nasty cold. I decided to put some water on the stove, stir in jaggery, pepper, dry ginger, and tulsi leaves, and while it simmered, assembled the many boxes from across the rooms to try and piece together a life. Unless you try to sort through a person's lifelong belongings, you have no idea how we depend on material things to make sense of the world and our place in it.
Starting first with the box I was looking forward to opening the most was my way of not putting this whole project off any longer. Out came elephants, ducks, rabbits, and all sorts of animals, small, sturdy, and stout. These were export rejects with minor flaws that came from my father's long stint at the export-import company in Ballard Estate (Mumbai). By the time I was halfway through this box, obsessing over the cyclical nature of life and belongings, the peppery aroma of the chukku kaapi slowly wafted in.
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Elle India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ?  Logg pÄ
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Elle India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg pÄ
Candid With Kriti
After a decade of flirting with fame, the stars have aligned for Kriti Sanon. But under the gilded glory of this cosmic shower, she is clinging on to a "happy, restless" state of mind, finds Hasina Jeelani
GOLDENBOY
In an exclusive interview with ELLE, Footballer Lallianzuala Chhangte shares insights on being at the top of his game
His Reign
Shaeroy Chinoy meets Taha Shah Badussha-the breakout star of Netflix's recent release Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'
Portrait of a PUBLISHER ON FIRE
Founder of Seagull Books, Naveen Kishore, reflects on building a global audience and what keeps him in the game. Aindrisha Mitra listens in
LUXE OFF-ROADING INMOROCCO
Riaan Jacob George took the nifty Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 out for a rather long spin through the Atlas Mountains, and here's his verdict
TROPICAL LUXURY
Opulence meets tranquillity along the serene beachfront at Ronil Goa-AJdV by Hyatt Hotel, finds Vriddhi Mehra
DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE RETREAT: COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT ARAVALI RESORT
Nestled in the serene heart of the Aravali range in Haryana, the Courtyard by Marriott Aravali Resort offers a perfect blend of nature and modern luxury.
THE VIETAGE BY ANANTARA
Connecting Nha Trang & Quy Nhon, the luxury train is a must-do addition to your Vietnam itinerary
TEA AMO
What happens when an Indian cocktail bar joins forces with a tea estate? Isha Mayer finds out on a spring tea trail to Darjeeling
ALPINE CHARM
Isha Mayer discovers ski adventures, fine dining & palace hotels on a winter escape to Courchevel