Water is never drunk directly from the fridge. It is stored in a porous clay pot. As water seeps through the clay, it evaporates, cooling the water naturally to 10-15°C. Drinking from a Matka is said to prevent sunstroke and aid digestion.

Indian lifestyle is a tapestry of contradictions: chaotic yet orderly, spiritual yet intensely material. At its heart lies the kitchen—the rasoi —considered the most sacred room in the house. In Mira’s home, you never entered the kitchen with shoes on, nor with an angry heart. “Anger curdles the milk,” she would tell her granddaughter, Kavya. “And it sours the dal.”

—to release their essential oils and medicinal properties. is used for its anti-inflammatory properties. aids digestion. Ginger and Garlic provide immunity.