As a child, I traveled to my Grandmother's house located in the picturesque Konkan area. My summer vacations were spent listening to stories narrated by my grandmother. Each night when we retired to bed besides her, me and my cousins insisted that she told us a new tale and she obliged. Her narrative took us into a fairy tale world. I was intrigued by her knowledge and often asked her 'Nanu(as I lovingly called her), where do you get all your stories from?' . She smiled and said ' I have a big bag where I store them.

Her soft voice and gentle humming put us to sleep.

As time passed, old age hit Nanu and she was bed ridden. One such day, Nanu called me by her bed side and asked me if I wanted to see her bag of stories. As a child, I was excited and replied in affirmation. She held my hand and put it on my heart and said 'This is where it all comes from'. Those where her last words to me. Nanu passed away an hour later.