Furthermore, adult children routinely send money home. A son in America transfers dollars every month. A daughter in Bangalore buys her mother a new fridge. The here is one of reciprocal altruism. You do not save for your own retirement; you trust that your children will take care of you. And they do.

Spirituality in the Indian lifestyle is rarely confined to a temple; it is integrated into the daily routine. Most homes have a small altar or Puja room. The lighting of an oil lamp ( diya ) in the evening is a quiet moment of reflection that signals the transition from the chaos of the day to the calm of the night.

“Did you take your blood pressure pill?” Meena asked.