There was a very specific list of what I could eat vs couldn’t post-surgery, courtesy of mom. Or rather, of her idea of what I think is very peculiarly and particularly Mangalorean Catholic. Nangi - pronounced nun-jee. No pork, mackerels, sole fish, prawns, brinjals, ladies’ finger. Something about these foods is supposed to trigger infections in fresh wounds. I was delirious with pain - the chest in bandages after extrication of not 1, not 2 but 6 lumps is no mean feat and I wasn’t ready to add any more unknowns to this pain cocktail.

This biscuit here is an indulgence I was allowed. It carries the imprint Pintos. For Pinto's Bakery, the first bakery in Mangalore incidentally started by my great-grandparents. These biscuits don't carry a name, they’re not quite Marie biscuits but the easiest way to procure these palm-sized cumin-flavored biscuits is to ask for Kararacho Biscuits. Karar is Mangalorean Catholic Konkani for an Engagement.

Engagement Biscuits 'cause that's where they were served, at people's engagements with a glass of lemonade. This was common amongst Mangalorean Catholics, may not be true of other communities that form Mangalore. However, my memories are more personal - of afternoon tea with my Grandpa, Grandma's large tins of goodies being pulled out at 4 PM, and never knowing what would be served that day. I walked into the bakery and asked for Papa's Biscuits.

The guy blinked and mom then corrected me. Kararacho Biscuit.