India, Oct. 15 -- Exchanging tokens of goodwill has long been a cherished Diwali tradition. There's something about gifts that carries more weight than what is wrapped inside. This is not about extravagance or perfection. When a gift is handed over randomly, out of convenience, without intention or presence, it leaves me unsettled. Not because of what is or is not given, but because giving, I believe, is a language of the heart.

My fondest childhood memories during Diwali are of those evenings when we as a family would pile into the car with boxes of sweets and snacks, visiting friends, relatives, and neighbours to share the festive joy.

After shifting residence, during my first Diwali in a new locality, I, with the same spirit of neigh...