Now, this may be absolutely incorrect, if you were to google the data and check, but Emma is the most American person I’ve met. So, I mostly take her word for it. In fact, Emma is so American that she thinks India is still a land of snake charmers; that zombies are real, as is everything they show in Star Wars; that private ownership of guns is absolutely justified as they fuel the economy; that the end of the world is almost here; and that wearing masks had to be a personal choice and not a mandate by the government during the pandemic. The truth is that fools exist everywhere. I used to think that it was only India that was full of stupid people who believed their sins could be washed away in the holy waters of the Ganga—why commit a sin in the first place, I used to wonder—but then I met Emma, in America.

As I walk, I witness the sun set over the riverwalk, painting a breathtaking scene against a cityscape of softly glowing high-rises and the shimmering Chicago River. Chicago in the golden hour holds all my heart, and even after so many years of walking this path every day, it has not lost its magic.

When I reach Josie’s and push open the beautifully decorated white doors of the café, the heavenly smell of cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, caramel and chocolate, all mixed together just perfectly, welcomes me. Josie’s is a quaint, charming café, complete with French-inspired vintage interiors and outdoor seating. Adorned with wreaths, holly leaves, tinsel and fairy lights, it transforms into a warm, festive haven in the days leading up to Christmas. And when you enter the café, it’s like stepping into a scene straight out of a fairy tale. The whole place is a winter wonderland that pushes everyone to revel in the magic of the season. After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year in the West.

Do I believe in the magic of Christmas or in fairy tales like most humans do? Absolutely not. There is no magic. Just a plain, rather meaningless existence. And a never-ending fight for survival. At least that’s how my life has been. Don’t judge me just yet; you don’t know my story.