Gemotions

The restaurant, "Spice Route," seemed to shrink around Chef Asha. The critic’s words, dismissing her curries as "uninspired" and her naan as "cardboard," felt like a physical blow. The usual vibrant aromas of ginger and turmeric seemed to have faded.

She struggled to make eye contact with her staff. She felt as though she had failed them, the people who relied on her. The kitchen, usually her domain, felt like a prison.

She went home and ignored her phone. She sat on her sofa, staring at the pictures of her ancestors on the wall, and felt a crushing sense of disappointment. The flavors of home had gone sour, tainted by the critic's harsh judgment.