New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- After a lifetime of cooking, I get tired.

I'm tired of the millions of recipes the great algorithm serves up on my social media. These days I consciously scroll past them because the world seems too heavy for a 14-part bechamel, or biryani. That isn't difficult, given that anger, protest and democratic decline are all around us, and I tend to spend more time trying to keep up, breathlessly, as our young people keep the other flames burning.

I'm also tired of balancing cooking and work when 24 hours just don't seem enough. As an editor, I have reporters to talk with, stories to edit and at least one signature dish to cook every day. Don't get me wrong. It isn't a burden as such. But I do sigh now and then.

I love m...