The fragrance of the ocean always tempted her. It was even better than petrichor. Of late, even though it poured during the day, she was unable to smell petrichor anymore. How sad. Was it because she did not value it enough?

These days, the aroma of freshly cooked vegetables wafts through the air. The temperature in her immediate environs has lowered considerably. It is equal to Kashmir and even Switzerland.

Ah! She recalled her blissful trip to SWITZERLAND. The snowy mountains, the chair car, the yellow dal she tasted at Mount Titlis, with her mother joyfully smiling back at her. The pandemic had all but wiped out her memories. Now, she thought she had recovered from her anguish and trauma. How could she have allowed these memories to be rewritten by the cry of shrieking souls in gas chambers? Suddenly, that one lone rose from Schindler’s List appeared in her mind’s eye, calling together Anne Frank’s Diary, the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, Clueless, and Alicia Silverstone.

Yes, she had watched ‘Crazy’ by Aerosmith, and it had healed her through her pain and misery. But when would the misery stop? There was just no end to despair. But good times always ended, and sometimes did not reappear for over a decade. This was the emotional drought she faced. And drinking water alone could not fix her. She needed love, warmth and care. An eternal flame.Also, enough water to douse herself in case she imploded.