Every breath in

My mornings smelled of

Tamarind, turmeric and ghee

Before I'd bury my face

Into the jasmine of mum's saree

The scooty rides to school

Were distinctly Old Spice

And the prayer assembly

Of chalk, mud and advice

Post school waiting 

With melting Orange ice-candy

And rubbing sticky elbows

With autos and aunties

My haven then 

Was the badminton court

Old wet-wood and sweat

And the spirit of sport

The evenings were laced

With bajjis and coffee

To tune out of chore 

With MS Subbalakshmi

Surprises were mostly
Cinnamon and cake
With ginger chai for dad
And us, a banana shake

My sister in wet hair

Was blossoms and chlorine

And this was my favourite

Childhood routine

Onto forced health times

Smelling of fresh grass

And overused deoderant

When it's time for class

The good times comprised

Of mint and hesitation

The better times that

Of gin and conversation

Then there are others

Of vanilla, sea and lime

Petrichor and campfires

Old books and thyme 

So if you ask me

For my favorite scent

I'd have to narrate 

A whole lifetime well spent