From Compulsion to Contribution: My Cooking Journey

Life Has Come Full Circle: From a 13-Year-Old Cook to Giving Back

Who would have thought I would be here?

I was 13 years old when my mother, who was a teacher, started teaching at a middle school. Her new school schedule meant she had to leave for work in the morning, and I ended up taking care of the kitchen with my dad.

In our Brahmin household, cooking was traditionally done by family members, and we didn't have anyone else cooking for us. So, I started cooking out of compulsion. It wasn't fun. It was a responsibility.

But my dad was very encouraging. He watched my rotis (Indian bread) grow from various shapes to beautiful, round circles. He would praise everything I cooked and eat it with so much love and care.

I realized later in life that all that extra pickle and yogurt my dad ate were probably helping him get through my not-so-perfect cooking! Fast-forward to 2026. At 55, my cooking lessons have helped raise a few thousand dollars for the Family and Community Connection Support Network (FCSN).

Last night, at the gala, my cooking lesson was auctioned live, and multiple people bid on it! the winning bid was $2000. I ended up offering two additional lessons to bidder no 2 and 3 so FCSN could raise even more money.

Who would have thought that the 13-year-old girl who started cooking out of compulsion would one day have someone pay $2,000 for one of her cooking lessons? Life truly has come full circle!

But more than that, I'm happy and honored to share my cultural heritage and cuisine with families who may not know what a real, home-cooked Indian meal tastes like.

I love changing people's perceptions of Indian food. After my cooking lessons, people realize that Indian food is not just curry, and it doesn't have to be hot and spicy all the time. Indian food is flavorful, diverse, and full of wonderful aromas and tastes. I love introducing people to the variety of dishes Indian cuisine has to offer and showing them that there is so much more to it than they might have imagined.

I serve on the board of FCSN, and I couldn't be prouder that something I learned out of necessity as a 13-year-old girl could, all these years later, help me give back to an organization I care about.

A silk Saree to for the Gala. Some fun pictures with the board members.

The Incredible Team of FCSN

some of us -Board Members 

and we had some fun

Amir Dixon - the vision behind the Gala

Diary of A Mom - Jess and Matt Wilson

More Than Volunteering: The Connections We Make

 I know this post is delayed, but it’s always better to write something late than never, right? They say, “Better late than never!”

Last Wednesday, 25 of my colleagues came together to support a volunteer project I organized for National Braille Press. We spent the morning sticking Braille labels onto printed books for children.

When I hosted this project last year, I was new to the whole process. This time, things were much easier and smoother because I knew what I was doing.

But what I didn't anticipate was the overwhelming response!

I reached out to all the volunteers from last year, and they signed up. Then another colleague told me his entire team wanted to volunteer, so we accommodated them, too. We ended up with many more volunteers than last year!

We also changed how we worked. Last year, we used an assembly line to work on one book at a time. If a book had 15 pages, each person would stick one Braille label and pass the book along. This time, we managed to work on two books at a time!

We did run short of four people toward the end of our second round. Looking back, I wish I had accommodated the four people on the waiting list, too. A lesson learned for next year!

But the most important part of the day wasn't just the volunteer project. 

It was lunch!

Because we had more volunteers, we finished earlier than expected. Last year, we barely had 10–15 minutes for lunch before everyone rushed out of the room. This time, we had a good 45 minutes!

People took their time, switched seats, sat with different colleagues, shared stories, and enjoyed each other's company.

The volunteer opportunity came with a networking opportunity as a package deal!

The books looked phenomenal, but my favorite part of the day was seeing colleagues come together, share their experiences, and get to know one another.

Sometimes, the impact of volunteering goes beyond the work we do. It's also about the connections we build along the way.

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and made the day so special! ❤️

#Volunteering #EmployeeEngagement #Community #NationalBraillePress

A Nayayan Pethi Silk saree for a pooja at a friend's house.

Two Concerts, Two Nights, and One Very Busy Anand

Last week, Anand attended two concerts back-to-back—and, of course, he had a story to tell about each one. I decided to wait a week before sharing this because sometimes you need a little time to sit back and appreciate the adventure.

As always, this is Anand’s story, Anand’s words—but from his favorite point of view: pretending to be Mom. 😄

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"Next Stop: Big Night Live. Metal band Butcher Babies performing live in Boston at North Station. The venue, Big Night Live, not North Station." — some commuter rail, subway, ferry, or bus announcer

And just like that, it's another concert outing for Anand. One concert a week? Sure. Two concerts in a row? That would be a bit too much! Well, I mean, from any parent's POV. From Anand's POV? It probably depends on the band that's performing. This 9th Stop in Anand's "Open World Expansion Tour" happens a few hours after our family concert outing in Mansfield at the Xfinity Center. Anand's first back-to-back concert outing! Or maybe his only back-to-back concert outing? As I said in my past blogs, when it comes to Anand, this man has been adventurous, whether it's conventions, community activities with his skill trainer, or in this case, another concert outing. As with the South Arcade concert last year, the Summer School Tour, and the BABYMETAL concerts this year, Anand attended another concert to see another metal band. This time, Butcher Babies at the Big Night Live venue in Boston near North Station. But this concert outing might be—how Anand would explain it—unlike anything he's ever attended.

Anand purchased a VIP ticket on August 1st, which included a pre-party containing a meet-and-greet with the band, a photo opportunity with them, a signed Butcher Babies poster, and a friendly cornhole competition followed by prize giveaways…something that Anand was less interested in. The VIP spots were limited, which was probably why Anand wanted to get the ticket in advance. He never tells me anything about this, because Mom would ask too many questions (and probably say no).

As with the Summer School Tour, Anand brought his see-through totem bag, packing his charging cables for his phone, Apple watch, and backup battery. I think reminding him earlier for a totem bag for the Summer School Tour worked. Telling him to walk from South Station to North Station? Not so much, since he planned to take an early train to Boston. Who knows what Anand would do in Boston for 7 hours? Especially after coming home very late.

Unlike Anand's past concert adventures, this concert happened on a Friday. Taking the train to Boston and back home was no problem at all! After getting some sleep, Anand boarded the Franklin train, got off at Back Bay, then took the Orange Line to North Station. Usually, he'd get off at South Station, then take the subway to wherever he'd go, but the inbound Franklin train stops at Back Bay on weekdays before arriving at South Station. I suggested the Orange Line goes to North Station, but Anand always tells me to let him do it his own way to shut me up. After all, he tells me countless times he can navigate the train system by himself…or get annoyed and yell, "Stop telling me how to explore Boston!" Now it made sense to me why Anand would not walk from South Station to North Station. Thankfully, we always talk about backup plans if a concert runs late.

After Anand arrived at North Station, he hung around that area, listened to music, grabbed a bite to eat, and charged his Apple watch and phone. The concert was at 6pm, but Anand's VIP ticket includes getting to the venue an hour early before the show started…until he got an email regarding the pre-party being cancelled. That didn't change his mind to go home, though. Few minutes after he settled in, aside from the anxiety he had of where to go, Anand was able to have a great night, which was enough to lower his anxiety…as well as getting a picture with the lead singer of Butcher Babies, and a free poster from a QR code he scanned. Maybe it was better than not getting a signed poster, but that's just Anand. Especially since he will not tell me everything.

When the concert ended, Anand FaceTimed me and Mr. Husband, saying he had such a great night, despite a "rollercoaster of a night." He went back to North Station, boarded the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line to South Station, then safely boarded the Franklin train home. Picking him up from the station on a late Friday night was no problem, unlike his past concert outings. While Dad and I were in Cape Cod, Anand was lucky to have his brother pick him up at Franklin.

I have to say, the massive development and growth coming from this man is a major change this year! Taking the train was my idea, but attending conventions and concert outings? All of it came from Anand himself! Even my family friends couldn't believe it! As expected, more posters on his walls…and more stories from Anand…pretending to be his mom. Seriously, Anand, when are you gonna take a break from concert outings?

Mom's introduction to Baby Metal - First of its kind - Concert outings

 Every now and then, Anand becomes the guest writer on my blog, and I always enjoy letting him tell his stories in his own way.

This time, he is sharing another stop in his ever-growing adventure list—and this one involves BABYMETAL, Halestorm, and Violent Vira at the Xfinity Center. So, I’ll step aside and let Anand tell you about it!

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"Next Stop: Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. Many popular artists perform here as part of their music tours. The bands performing tonight at the Xfinity Center are Babymetal, Halestorm, and Violent Vira." — some commuter rail, subway, ferry, or bus announcer

"We like it loud, Massachusetts!" — Lzzy Hale, lead singer of Halestorm.

The one line I got as a text message as I sat with Mr. Husband at the Xfinity Center. From Anand. That being said, I don't know what it is with him these days. Everything Anand brings up in the family group chat pops up randomly, but as all parents know, we don't know everything about our kids. Any sort of events coming from them can pop up randomly, and we never know how serious our kids are until they put it on the family calendar.

Early July, Anand got a notification on YouTube, alerting him about a Japanese metal band named BABYMETAL performing in Massachusetts. Would Anand tell me about this band? No, he wouldn't! But was he serious about a concert in Massachusetts? Yes, he was!

Unlike his first concert outing in Cambridge last year and the Summer School Tour concert on July 7th, 2026, this concert outing was done differently. This took place at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield. Not too far from us. It's like one of those places you hear about, but you never actually visit. Well, I mean, in Anand's point of view. A lot of his high school friends are familiar with the Xfinity Center, since they'd hear about many musical artists performing there. Secondly, Anand was interested in going, but Mr. Husband and I were also interested. This took Anand by surprise. He never asked me why I wanted to come with him. Probably because he thinks I don't like metal music. As mentioned in my past blogs, Anand and I don't always see each other eye-to-eye, but that's normal to him. Not to me, though.

As for the three bands performing at the Xfinity Center, I knew nothing about them, not even Mr. Husband! Only Anand knows about BABYMETAL and a little bit of Halestorm, but he never tells me anything about the music he listens to. He just wanted to go to this concert! As with his solo concert experiences, Anand knew what to expect: loudness, crowds cheering, everything he says is "totally normal" at concerts. None of that was too important to Anand, though. Getting pictures of the band, so he could make a poster was important to him. Just like his convention and past concert adventures. And it's all thanks to Anand's skill trainer for introducing him to Canva, the website where he designs his posters.

A day after Anand turned 26, he and Dad purchased three tickets for us three. Most seats were already booked and very pricey, but that was not the main focus for Anand. Just getting seats for me, Dad, and himself. Likely the only time where Anand was flexible. Only during his solo concert outings would Anand go near the front of the bands performing. Thankfully, there was no argument about me coming with Anand. But why would he bother asking why I was interested in going with him? I mean, I wouldn't attend a concert to see a band I've never heard of before. Neither would Anand. It's probably why concert outings may have been very rare in our family from his point of view. As mentioned in my other story where Anand saw South Arcade in Cambridge back in October 2025.

Funny as it sounds, Anand thinks I only listen to Hindi music my whole life, but I also listen to American music he's familiar with, such Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, and other musical artists Dad has listened to. I asked Anand to send me a list of BABYMETAL songs so I could understand some of the mixed variety of music he listens to. After listening to a few of them, I told Anand I enjoyed some of the songs, including one that featured an Indian Folk metal band named "Bloodywood." That's when Anand told me that BABYMETAL is widely known for doing many "collabs" (as many music enthusiasts calls it) with other bands. Even a YouTube short that Anand sent me and Dad was another example.

After Anand's dentist appointment, the concert was all that Anand could think about…at least before Anand learned about the schedule. With the concert possibly ending past midnight, Anand told me and Dad that he can't do it. Thankfully, we're flexible. Anand would have enough sleep when we got home and before his next concert outing and I assured him once in a lifetime would we come home late.

We were seated in Section 304, Row U, and Seats 1, 2, and 3, then moved to Section 204, meaning Anand could get a bit closer to see the bands. Thursday was packed, to say the least. Anand knew the traffic going into the Xfinity Center would be crazy, so we left three hours before the concert started. We were also unsure of what to expect since this was our first visit to the Xfinity Center, but thankfully, there were food venues and concession stands. Around 7:20pm, the concert started and Anand was ready to take pictures of the band. Of course, there were times where Anand got annoyed with me, and a little bit with Dad, but other than that, once the show started, Anand started to feel less anxious about getting back home.

When the concert venue ended at 10:50pm, Anand was overjoyed. It made me so happy to see him having a great night at a concert, especially since we went as a family of three. Little did I know, concert outings and conventions will start to be more common in our family. Well, I mean, Anand going to these concerts and conventions by himself. At least I got to witness Anand's excitement in person, since I went with him and Dad. Family concert outings are to be far more rare for us, so I was happy to have this once-in-a-lifetime outing. At least there was no disagreement or arguments at the end of the concert. Little did we know, there was going to be more events after this 8th Stop in Anand's Open World Expansion Tour: Another concert outing in Boston…within a few hours.

From India to Boston, With Gratitude 🇮🇳❤️

Some moments make you pause and feel deeply grateful.

Yesterday was one of those moments — celebrating India Day at Boston Harbor and being felicitated by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I felt incredibly proud, humbled, and grateful for this recognition and for the journey that brought me to this moment.

For me, this day is not only about celebrating our heritage — it is about giving back, building connections, supporting one another, and making a difference in the community we call home.

A beautiful reminder that we can carry our roots in our hearts while building something meaningful here in Boston.

My firstborn and a mother from my group accompanied me. We had a fantastic train ride, but we were a little too early, so we decided to hang out in the North End of Boston — one of our favorite neighborhoods.

Italian sandwiches and tiramisu make a 90°F day a little easier! It was hot, but the ocean breeze was perfect.

After a fabulous lunch, the parade was much needed. It was time for some walking, chatting with friends, and soaking in the energy of the day.

It was a long day, but a wonderful one. It was beautiful to see folks from all walks of life coming together to celebrate India and our shared heritage.

And, of course, a cotton saree came out of my closet — a perfect blend of the colors of the Indian flag. 🇮🇳

From a train ride with my son and a DMN mom, to lunch in the North End, to standing at Boston Harbor being recognized for work that is so close to my heart — it was one of those days I will remember for a long time.

Grateful for the journey, grateful for the community, and grateful to call Boston home. ❤️🇮🇳

A cotton saree - colors from Indian flag. from Queen of Hearts - Deepa Mehta's collection. 

Guest writer Anand - Another Train, Another Convention, Another Anand Story

Another adventure, another train ride, and another story from Anand! This time, he takes us to Fan Expo Boston at the Thomas M. Menino Convention Center for another exciting day. What makes these adventures so special is seeing how confidently Anand continues to expand his world, one trip at a time. Here’s his latest “Open World Expansion Tour” story—straight from the traveler himself!

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"Next Stop: Thomas M. Menino Convention Center. The Fan Expo Boston is making its way at this iconic convention center. In a way, it's like Boston Comic-Con." — some commuter rail, subway, ferry, or bus announcer

I should be used to this by now. Putting in "Next Stop" every time Anand tells me about a new event happening might sound repetitive, but then again, I can't stop him from attending conventions, concerts, or taking the train to Boston again and again. He's public-transport-independent (that term has stuck to him now), knows the train systems (yet he always tells me he can navigate the train system to shut me up), puts his events on the calendar, and tells me and Mr. Husband about his upcoming events. A month after his concert and night-out in Boston and playing his newest video game, Anand finally attends the Fan Expo Boston in Seaport at the Menino Convention Center. The 7th stop of his "Open World Expansion Tour." I just can't catch a break from this man when he sends me his stories. Maybe I should just take a vacation every time Anand attends another Comic-Con or concert, but on the other hand, I am happy he is opening up his world even more, since these events were his idea.

As always, Anand took the train from Franklin to South Station. Unlike Anime Boston, Anand didn't have to walk very far. Seaport was close by, so he could walk there! Just like the past conventions he attended, Anand knew the lines would be very long and everybody else would be in costume. But what costume would Anand wear? The same Anime costume he wore for Anime Boston and WesternMass Comic Con, of course, but then again, you'd see some people in anime costumes and cosplay at Comic-Con events anyway. Even though getting pics with celebrities were expensive, Anand and I both know that he is still new to Comic-Con, despite this being his 4th convention adventure.

Unlike before, I didn't have to ask Anand to take pics of Comic-Con. As always, he'd be hesitant, worried that some would say no, but everything went well for him. Since a large majority of people would be in cosplay and costumes, they'd be willing to get pictures. Surprisingly enough, Anand was able to eat at Fenway Wahlburgers. Unfortunately, the Green Line was unavailable, so Anand had to eat at South Station. After eating and heading back to the Fan Expo, Anand made his way back to South Station, and boarded the train home safely.

These milestones are huge! This man just couldn't stop thinking about the many adventures he's been going on! What I hope to get Anand to do is maybe travel outside of Massachusetts, but he'll always say no . After all, Anand is his own person. I'm hoping he doesn't—oh wait. No, no, no. I think Anand's gonna tell me about Comic-Con…happening in Providence, RI again…as well as…more concert outings. Seriously, Anand? How many stories are you going to keep sending me?! I need a vacation...