bored

Kavya scrolled through endless notifications, her grandmother's voice drifting from the kitchen. In Chennai's humid afternoon, she felt untethered, disconnected despite countless digital connections. Her cousin messaged about a new venture, monetizing their network, promises of quick wealth glittering on screen. But something shifted when Amma called her downstairs. Around the kolam she'd drawn, neighbors gathered, sharing stories and laughter. No transactions, no metrics. Just presence. Later, Kavya understood what her Tamil heritage whispered: true wealth lived in woven bonds, not digital ones. Community remained the most intoxicating currency of all.