Nina Gupta was the kind of woman who had something to say about everything. When listening to her, one would feel that the world was a dreary place where everything went wrong and everyone were only vessels of flaws.

Only very rarely did she accord anyone with praise. That rare moment had arrived when Nina praised the neighbor's daughter, Anuradha, endlessly. Her eldest son was rather surprised, paying careful attention to her words all the way back home from the hospital. The little act of kindness had touched his mother deeply.