imhungry

My grandmother's voice crackled through the phone from Chennai. "Amma, I'm hungry," I texted our family group. Within minutes, Avvaiyar's wisdom appeared in the chat: "Hunger teaches what plenty conceals." Amma had shared the ancient poet's words. Three continents away, our diaspora family mobilized. Cousins sent recipes. Aunts transferred funds for groceries. A friend nearby arrived with homemade sambar. That evening, stirring the lentil soup, I understood. This wasn't about money or apps or convenience. It was threads connecting us across distance—the same threads that held our ancestors together. Hunger had launched something deeper: remembrance.