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“She had never been the most social person. Rico hadn't either. They'd been two self-contained teenagers who had somehow cracked each other's shells and further destroyed each other's ability to need other people. This version of her, the one who was so acutely aware of people's reaction to her, made him want to break her loose.”

Quote by Sonali Dev

Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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Recipe for Persuasion

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Sonali Dev

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“I think you've forgotten what it means to be happy." Ashna sank down to her knees next to the tub. A stray hair marred the spotless floor. She picked it up and threw it in the garbage. "Are you going to say anything at all?" Ashna wanted to, but her words had a way of hiding away when they sensed Shobi's presence. "Ashna?" She couldn't tell if Shobi was reprimanding her or if that was concern in her voice. Not that she had any experience with recognizing concern in Shobi's voice. "You're wrong, Mom. You can only forget something you knew.”

Ashna RajeMother IssuesBacktalk
Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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“You're moving on from Curried Dreams?" The almost gleeful hope in Shobi's voice strummed every one of Ashna's overstretched nerves. Baba's been dead for twelve years,she wanted to scream. You can stop fighting with him now. "No, I'm not. But I'm going to be on a competitive cooking show as a pro chef." Her voice sounded strong and clear for the first time since she'd heard Shobi's hello. She leaned in and met her own eyes in the mirror. "Reality TV? You?" The voice on the phone stretched between skepticism and outright disbelief. Shobi's favorite metaphorical chains stretched at the links around Ashna. "Yes. If I win I can pay down the debt on Curried Dreams. And no, I'm never giving up on it." The frustrated sound Shobi made was so delicious that for one lovely second Ashna didn't care about anything else.”

Ashna RajeMother Issues
Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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“I do appreciate you saving my toes from being severed." Instead of remorse an icy coolness dripped from her tone, a mockery of what he'd done. The throbbing in his knee spread all through him like rage. He stepped into her space, the memory of betrayal vibrating through him, and leaned close to her ear. "They were the first toes I sucked." His tone was cruel, but he didn't care. "Letting them get severed under my watch would be callous, wouldn't it?" She stepped away from him, face flaming, her scent flooding his brain. Her hair still smelled like it always had. As though her essence was wrapped up in it, clean and fiery like freshly bloomed roses. He hated how it reached inside him and dug up memories. But like everything else about her, even her scent had become colder. The fire almost snuffed out, even the vibrancy of roses too restrained to be real. The full blast of her jet-black glare met his. "Since when is being callous a problem for you?" It was Rico's turn to stiffen, but he had spent too much time in the spotlight to let it show. What about chasing her around like a puppy had been callous? Or about begging her not to leave him? Please, Ash. I'll do whatever you want to make myself worthy of you. Don't leave me. How had he had so little self-respect?”

AttractionSensualCallousBickeringPast RelationshipAshna RajeAshna And RicoRico Silva
Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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“He grew up in Rio de Janeiro. So, it could be so many things. Such a rich tradition of comfort foods. Maybe not something entirely traditional. Umm... churros?" She said it exactly the way he had taught her to say it, many moons ago, while feeding the crisp-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside confection into her mouth and then tasting the sticky sweetness on her lips.”

Ashna RajeAshna And RicoChurrosFavorite Food
Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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“Have you eaten dinner? I made some varan bhaat." Now she felt stupid. Boiled rice and dal was the only thing she knew how to cook. But like her, Ashna had loved the simple comfort food as a child. Maybe it was Shobi's imagination, but a sparkle broke through the weariness in Ashna's eyes. "Varan bhaat?" But she got a hold of herself. "I didn't have ghee in the house." Shobi went to the kitchen and Ashna followed her with her usual tentativeness. "I made some." Shobi popped the two bowls she had mixed into the microwave. "Ghee, now that I know how to make. I used to love the smell when our cook made it when I was little. So she showed me how to. Of course, she used to churn the butter from the cream first; I just walked down to the store and bought butter." Shobi put the bowl of rice and lentils mixed in with ghee and fresh lemon juice in front of Ashi. For the next few minutes- the first peaceful minutes she'd shared with her daughter since she'd arrived- the two of them ate, letting the sticky, wholesome goodness melt on their tongues and stick to their palates and fill their mouths with that internal hug of a cherished comfort food.”

Comfort FoodAshna RajeIndian CuisineMother Daughter BondGhee
Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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“When her parents screamed at each other in front of the whole family, in front of her cousins, she had learned not to care about the shame. This had been different. Rico saw her as strong. With Rico she got to be self-possessed, like her mother. Droll and humorous, like her father. She got to be a version of herself unstained by irreparable pathos, because he gave her the gift of not coloring his vision with sympathy like everyone else in her life. It had meant everything. Especially when all the stories of his childhood had felt so wholesome, his parents' love for each other and him so undamaged.”

Ashna RajeAshna And RicoRico SilvaTwo Different People
Book:Recipe for Persuasion
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“Rico wasn't just a friend, wasn't just Yash's media wiz. He was dating Yash's sister. Technically Ashna was his cousin but Yash only ever thought of her as his sister. Rico was family. Ashna was happy. It had been years since Yash had seen her happy. Just this morning Yash had teased Rico about his intentions toward his sister. I intend to let Ash use my body for her shagging pleasure for the rest of my life, mate.”

Ashna RajeAshna And RicoRico Silva
Book:Incense and Sensibility
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