June 30. “Wow, Button, that was some story.”

“We can try another one a few days later.”

“Of-course.”

“I loved the way your grand children enjoyed dal-chawal when they came for dinner on Sunday.”

“I usually make fancy dishes like palak-paneer, dum aloo, biryani for them and I’ve noticed that they don’t relish those dishes all that much. This time round, I decided to make simple dal-chawal and a bhindi dish and I’ve never seen them enjoy a meal more. It seems there’s a message in it somewhere.”

“What message?”

“I keep reading (In fact, I was just reading an article) about how another recession—and a more severe one is about to strike shortly. We’d be lucky if we get some dal-chawal to eat.”

“Let’s go eat dinner. What’s there?”

“We’re having dosas and Bengali payesh sweetened with jaggery.”

“Payesh is the dish you make with rice and milk!”

“Right. Made it yesterday for some friends who keep sending us food all the time.”