The tale of the rose wine and three-cheese pizza @thevenetianmacao

She had a recurring dream, one that kept her awake most nights. It made her heart race and her palms sweat. And that night, it happened again. She wiped the dewy beads from her forehead as she sat up thinking about it. The never-ending mall spread across acres of land. The biblical hand-painted high ceilings…

The tale of the bread basket @eddiesbistro

She spread the spiced butter generously on the family of breads. Picking up another piece, she coated it unevenly with the soft lard and fed it to her five-year-old son. The butter-soaked-bread melted in his mouth and smeared on his lips as he relished it. As for her, she breathed a sigh of relief. He…

The tale of the Nutella Sea Salt cookies @sweetishhousemafia

“Look at her phone.” One of them whispered. Her sharp ears caught the words spoken behind the protection of a palm, said right into the ear that was meant to hear it. She looked at them as they giggled uncontrollably. And then one of them said directly to her, “hey that’s a good phone. My…

The tale of the takeaway Dutch Truffle @stregismumbai

30 minutes down. She was still waiting. Holding the cake as if her life depended on it, she waved a hand in the hope of hailing a taxi. In Bombay, your punctuality was directly proportional to the cab driver’s mood. She looked at a taxi as it slowed down next to her and yelled in…

The tale of the mojito @summerhousecafemumbai

It was a bright, sunny day with a chance of rain. She looked at her phone, smiling hopelessly. There was a congregation of butterflies in her stomach as she sat there, dangling her feet in excitement on the high chairs. Her heart thumped as if it was going to spring out any moment. Two mojitos…

The tale of the Paneer Hazari Tikka @hideoutphoenix

“Mamma, why can’t you come? All my friends’ mothers will be there. Please!” Her insides ached as she thought about going for this dinner without her. The thought of being alone was killing, but if she forced her mother to come, she knew it would hurt more. They fought to make ends meet every single…

The tale of the Greek Yogurt

For one last time, she picked up the creamy jalapeño greek yogurt and dug in. The barley puffs dipped into the folds of the yogurt, blending themselves inconspicuously. One bite and the crunchy puffs cracked in the mouth and the thick, spicy yogurt went to a happy place somewhere in her body, reaching out to…

The tale of the Gold Cappuccino @coffeebydibella

Her little feet dangled in the air as she sat on the chair. Her chin rested on the table and her puppy eyes looked up to see her mother busy on her phone. “Mamma, where did papa go?” The puppy eyes were filled with an unblinking sadness as they waited for a reaction to the…

The tale of the Mango Cheesecake @saltwatercafe

At Matterson & Bois the lights never went out. Because one girl believed in burning the midnight oil. Day. Night. Night. Day. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Weddings. Family dinners. Friends. No friends. Weekends. Weekdays. None of it mattered. The only thing that did—was her goal. The first Brand Partner under 30. That’s what she was going to…