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Is this anything?'s avatar

Sarthak - There are so many good things about this write up that If I start thanking you for each of them, I will have to spend the latest Australian Open finals amount of time, because as you know I cannot articulate or write. I am going to send this post to a couple of people I know. Neither of them are my school friends. If only I could write like you, I would tell you why I don't have friends.

Like I told you, I loved this post and thank you for those tiny little touches that are delightful. I am with you, those people are apes who bite into their orange toffees. James Bond always prefers our way.

We used to have fun with the motto of our school and I cannot believe how prescient we were at that time because the mangled meaning of the motto is where we find ourselves today. It loosely translates to - kill the truth and eat religion. I am so glad you reflect the motto of your school till today.

Life, Light and love indeed my friend. Thank you for writing this!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you so much, mitr. I am so glad this post was readable and relatable. It is a concern I always have if stories go too personal.

Like I have told you before, you must write. Your comments are proof enough that you have got the skill. I am not even going to begin on your reading habits.

Regarding the wildfire we sit in the middle of today - remember when we first read about Bombay '93, or Soviet Russia, or pre-WWII Germany, and thought this stuff can never happen again? LMAO.

As always, I am so grateful that you take such effort in your feedback. It means the world. :)

Mahima Vashisht's avatar

Vo sab toh theek hai but does Daddu really not know the difference between lollies and toffees? I don't care what religion you follow or don't follow, Daddu, but this is true blasphemy.

Is this anything?'s avatar

We used to call everything toffee. Lollies wagerah post liberalisation language hai. By then I was too old to learn anything new. Time to lay down now

Mahima Vashisht's avatar

Aapke zamaane mein ice cream ko toffee bolte thhe? Kaunse desh mein Daddu? 🤔

SUDHA RAO's avatar

Nostalgia school days!

Mahima Vashisht's avatar

Watching that video sent a chill through my heart. But reading this post warmed it right back up. Thank you for this, Sarthak. I hope it somehow reaches Adil too.

Love is the only antidote to hate. Fortunately and unfortunately, children don't come vaccinated against either.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you so much, Mahima! Unreal videos.

You are so right - children just want to hang out. To adulterate their purity with religious barricades is so wrong.

Ila Reddy's avatar

Loved every bit of this essay - thank you for writing it! Couldn't have expressed it better. ❤️💔

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Ila! ❤️

Truly insane videos, those. Unreal.

Rohan Banerjee's avatar

Fantastic writing as always, Sarthak! The wistfulness in your recollection of your school days is so evocative and relatable. I think all of us had seemingly bullet-proof friendships in school, which eroded over time. And the concluding paragraphs are perfectly pitched.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thanks, Rohan! Glad you could relate :)

Terrible videos, those. We touch new depths every day.

suva.chattopadhyay@gmail.com's avatar

Loved the pace! I could also see how the pace slowed down as you left Modern. The pace was reflecting the mood, I was able to feel your sadness.

And the last paragraph said it all.

Thanks for writing this my friend.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Suva!