Dehradun, July 20 -- Culinary Chronicles

As a child and teenager, I was a silent observer, often eavesdropping on family conversations, especially those about food, to accumulate knowledge. Intellectual property, after all!

Once, at mathematics tuition-I believe I was in grade seven then-I noticed my tutor's wife struggling with colocasia leaves, trying to roll them into "Patauds". Being a helpful soul, I offered her my mother's recipe. And she succeeded in the Herculean task!

"Mam, thank you so much for the recipe," the lady said, leaving my mother stunned when they met a few days later at the market.

"Indra, which recipe? I don't recall sharing any with you."

"Mam, Yasmin gave me the recipe for Patauds that you follow."

More shock...