“The Soup” tradition never existed in the genes of the family. For generations Rasam (Spiced Lentil Tamarind Stock) was the only one that matched closely to the so called “Soup” array. Born into a vegetarian family that never made use of eggs, garlic or onions, preparing any kind of soup was a little unusual of its kind. Growing up I always thought drinking Soup was the luxury brand of people who drove around in cars and ate in expensive restaurants, until one day my sister cracked that belief in me. In the mid 90’s during my teen days she did attempt her culinary skills in making tomato soup. My mom was unique in her ways and stood apart from the rest of her family members. She imbibed in her my grandfather’s exceptional thinking and no worry attitude. Unlike mothers who were contented with their daughters getting some basic education till high school and later depart them with early marriage my mother was diverse. She was the 1st lady in her village that sent her daughter some 3000 km away, beyond the state borders to an unknown territory whose culture and language in every bit was different from ours. Guess she got the opportunity to savor the so called “Tomato Soup” in her boarding house at some stage during the cold winters. This is what I recollect from the past perhaps.