India, May 21 -- They descended on our house like paratroopers. Everything was turned topsy-turvy in a day. Though they didn't land up uninvited, we hadn't anticipated the scale of upheaval they would bring in our otherwise unhurried lives.

The house was in dire need of whitewash, so the painters arrived like men on a mission. They began to clear the rooms of furniture and showpieces. My wife, who was supervising the operation, pitched in by gathering knick-knacks and stacking them in the lawn.

I was surprised by the sheer scale of possessions we had hoarded over the years. We were sitting on a pile of seldom-used or never-used items, many of which were prized possessions once upon a time but were now literally biting the dust in the op...