the light

Grandmother pressed the old Kannadasan poetry book into my hands, its pages yellowed like autumn leaves. Behind the scenes of my prom night, she shared stories of Tamil ancestors who gathered under lamplight, passing wisdom through verses. That evening, I discovered something worth more than any social currency—connection transcending screens and status. The disastrous heel broke mid-dance, but I laughed freely. Friends rushed over, and we vanquished the awkwardness together. Later, scrolling through photos, I realized the real treasure wasn't the perfect image. It was Grandmother's voice echoing Kannadasan's words about finding light within ourselves. Our heritage, our bonds—these were the richest network we'd ever possess.