Writers Jam

Love, to me, has never tasted the same twice.

My mother’s love tastes like hot ghee poured over fresh rotis, warm, rich, and grounding. And no matter how old I get, I crave it most when I feel small.

My father’s love is like a sizzling tadka; it announces itself in the bustle of the kitchen, in the smell that fills the whole house. His love shows up in overt gestures like surprise snacks, protective lectures, showing up even when unasked.

The love I have for friends is like bhel; layered, vibrant, and full of texture. It’s changed over the year - once loud and impulsive, now more balanced and intentional. I’ve learned what flavours I truly enjoy, who adds spice, who brings comfort, and who overwhelms the mix. I no longer throw everything in just to feel full.

Romantic love? I haven’t really tasted it yet, just tiny hints, like catching the smell of cake from a nearby bakery. I don’t know exactly what it will feel like, but I imagine it’ll be soft and messy at the samee time. Still, I’m curious. I don’t crave it like a need, but more like a story I’m waiting to be part of. I’ve kept space for it, an open seat, a quiet hope.

Then there’s the love I am still learning,  the love I owe myself. Some days it’s like khichdi — plain, but comforting. Other days, it’s a complicated dish, too many steps, and I’m too tired to make it. But when I do, i am sure it will feel like a feast I didn’t know I deserved.

At just 25, I know I’ve only tasted a small slice of what life has to offer but even so, I’ve learned this: love isn’t one flavour, it’s a thaali. A plate of sweetness, spice, sourness, and depth. Some things you relish, some you avoid, and some, you only learn to love with time.

Looking back, i have realised - love hasn’t whispered in my life. It’s spoken clearly, just in its own language. In small gestures, large gestures, steady presence, and the quiet comfort of knowing someone’s there. I’ve been held in ways I didn’t always notice at the time, but I feel it now. And the more I look back, the more I understand how deeply fortunate I’ve been to have known love in forms that many are still searching for. For that, my heart is quietly, endlessly grateful.