Echoes of Longing and a Spell of Rain

From steaming bhajiyas to soulful chhole bhature, a rainy Monday in Delhi turned into a quiet celebration of memory, craving, and the monsoon's most comforting flavours

- Vernika Awal is a food writer who is known for her research- based articles through her blog 'Delectable Reveries'

This week, the city woke up differently. Rain fell in thick, slanted sheets—the kind that makes you pause mid-sentence, mid-thought. The winds were gusty, sweeping through the trees and balconies, sending curtains flapping and windows clattering. For once, the dread of Monday didn't win. It was no longer about rushing to meetings or checking off lists.

After days of punishing heat and stifling humidity, the rain felt like a benediction. The scent of petrichor rose from the earth like steam, grounding and deeply familiar. I stood by the window for a while, just watching—there's something about the first good rain that brings with it a sense of reset.

And with it came cravings that felt more like an echoing longing for a long-lost feeling. This wasn't just for food, but for the kind of comfort food that belongs to days like these. In my family, the start of the monsoon is always marked by kheer-pooda—a simple, sweet rice pancake that's fried golden, its edges crisp and centers tender. It's more ritual than recipe, and I've grown to associate it with rainy days and stories told over tea.