Friends in church

Every December, Meera returned to her childhood church for Thiruppavai recitations. Those mornings, wrapped in her grandmother's silk saree, she felt tethered to home. This year, her American-born daughter joined her. Watching the little girl's eyes widen at the melodic Sanskrit verses, Meera's heart swelled. Between verses, children exchanged excited whispers, earning nods of approval from elders. What struck deepest wasn't the praise Meera received for bringing the next generation. It was seeing her daughter make friends instantly, connected by something transcendent. These children, scattered across continents, suddenly belonged to something greater. In those hymns lived their ancestry.