From PRX, this is the Moth Radio Hour.

I'm Sarah Austin-Ginness.

When you're mining your past for stories, one way to start is to think of an object that

has meaning.

In this hour, the object is food.

In our four stories, we'll hear about pumpkin pie, beans, New York City pizza, and a suitcase

filled with smoked salmon.

Our first storyteller, Ritija Gupta, has always been close to her mother's mother.

The story you're about to hear involves a quest she was assigned by her grandmother.

We were introduced to Ritigia by our friends at Story District in Washington, D.C.

Ritigia shared the story on their stage and then told a version with us at the Moth.

Here's Ritja Gupta,

live in Ithaca, New York. I thought my life was going pretty well until my grandmother

called me and said, Ritija, I know you've been having a hard time finding a man, so I think it's time you talk to God.

And I was like, I've been paying my bills, and I have a decent job.

I didn't realize that my life was in need of divine intervention.

But okay, Nani, please tell me, how do I talk to God?

And she said, well, you know, there's Lord Shiva,

and he's a very good man and God to help single women find their husbands.

And I was like, Nani, Lord Shiva, the god of destruction?

Lord Shiva, you want him to be my wingman.

And she said, yes.

...