Dehradun, Jan. 24 -- Culinary Chronicles

"It's the other way round, I have to keep my staff officer in good cheer," Colonel Shamsher Singh would often say amusingly for Tiger.

Life in the army had been a bliss. A close fraternity, an extended family that cared for each other in all ups and downs on both professional and personal fronts.

Long ago when I was carrying the Cub, the colleagues and superiors of Tiger looked after me well. From admonishing me for enjoying the Royal Enfield bike rides to fulfilling my pregnancy cravings.

Not once or twice but for weeks and months together Tiger's boss and his wife would send full meals to save me from the nausea that the Maillard reactions would give while cooking.

"Yasmin, I got back home e...