Muthekai -

That weekend, Meena returned home. Ammulu, now slower but still sharp-eyed, guided her. "No shortcuts," she said. "Pick the stems off each chili. Feel the tamarind—it should be sticky, almost angry."

"Amma, how do you make the muthekai?"

And every time she sprinkled that gritty, crimson fire onto her rice, she would remember: some things are not meant to be mild. Some things are meant to wake you up.