There is a saying in Tamil which realistically tells us the desires of man: Even when you are a ruler, your mind will desire something more (Edai adaindalum manam innonrum thedum).

I started life as a very poor boy and my family then was living on a hand to mouth basis. Only on weekends, we would be able to buy a little mutton and when I, the designated buyer, went to the butcher I would tell the shopkeeper “This time you did not put the Nalli bone, without fail you should put the next time”.

I bring this up because a pretty big story is based on my dealing. The Nalli bone is extremely delicious and naturally most mutton lovers are crazy about it, as our family members were.

But a quarter kilo of mutton would include just one such bone and we needed to wait alternate weeks for our share. Then magically one day it would be on my plate and I would have a wonderful time, chewing the flesh, sucking the juices, and generally have a jolly good time.

Today, I am able to afford the best that money can and hotels can offer. But somehow I am unable to find the memorable taste I used to get every second week when I was growing up.

Likewise my dad got me a bicycle for Rs.80. Most of the days the chain would slip and I had to fix it. And even though I soon became expert at slipping on the chain effortlessly, I would take a tumble every time I rode on an uneven surface.

Today I roam the streets of Chennai in a variety of cars but I am not able to get the yester year’s happiness in riding a ramshackle cycle.

Remembering my past I wondered at the reasons behind my nostalgic reverie. It was only then that I realized that whatever one achieves, the heart keeps longing for something else. And this longing or quest is the result of this book.