"The Gift of Gulab Jamun"

How sacred is this, this gift of giving. How wonderful this

tradition of you giving me something and me trying to one-up

you. Perhaps that is the point: to do better because of love

rather than out of pride. Alas, we digress.

So, for now, I give you this small box of gulab jamun. These

disgustingly sweet and decadently warm sweets. Its syrup

burning our tongues while we lounge around and sip chai.

Next time, you will bring me something, perhaps fruit or cake,

and I will scold you for doing too much. Tell you that there

was no need for this, all the while I'm scheming what to give

you the next time we meet. But until then, we will lie on plush

carpets, talk about secrets that will never leave these rooms,

and eat gulab jamun.