I will always remember this: how I looked at the surgeon’s hands to see if they contain the same things mine do – the love and faith that I put into my own work.

My brother Ketan was my biggest fan, and each time I saw him, he would either be asking me to bake him something or telling someone else about my culinary adventures.  He would often make requests that expanded my own repertoire: almond-orange, for instance, or pistachio-saffron. When we were teenagers, he had been a champion athletic rower, and brought back my very first – and much desired – pair of jeans from a tournament abroad. That is but one cherished memory of what he means to me. My brother always helped make dreams little and large come true for me. His support was steadfast through my life, and I endeavoured to bring sweetness into the last days of his.

The surgeon’s hands could do some things to ease my brother’s illness. I am grateful that mine could too. The last thing he ate was a little nibble of his most favourite of my creations, my almond rose cake. I fed it to him myself, and my heartfelt hope is that every bit of the love it contained nourished him and gave him deep peace…

Thank you, dear friends and well-wishers, for all your loving prayers for my family.