Three-hanky Lockdown Blues

With the status of the vaccine still pretty ‘elusive’ and the Corona virus yet in no mood to be ‘reclusive’ , the mind has unknowingly turned inward, keen to wobble in a frenzied whirlpool of stray musings at the slightest provocation. Umpteen Google Duo calls and Netflix party sessions miserably fail to recreate the charm of face-to-face interaction; nay, they make my solitude even spookier. This forced seclusion has shattered the apathetic stance I’ve unwittingly held dear for years; instead, it has compelled me to appreciate the relationships that I subconsciously hold dear to this day. So here I am, giving in to an inner calling of sorts, jotting down my two-penny thoughts on paper. I have taken the liberty of using a few snaps which convey way more than what words can, and have kept the tributes chronological in order. Needless to say, the order signifies no preference in terms of affinity or otherwise.

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Srikar-Priyanshu

For me, these gems are not distinct personas, we together form an integral whole. Although my tryst with Srikar goes way back in time (we literally have seen each other mature through the years), my connect with Priyanshu is equally soulful. Both have always been there for me, and the therapeutic effect of our monthly con-calls has not lost even an ounce of its potency. It was only their invaluable company that helped me rise above the monotony and mediocrity of the Kendriya Vidyalaya experience, but I am ready to drop everything at the slightest prospect of going back in time to reunite with these aboriginals.

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Gauri Ghate

She's a sweetheart; wiry in frame, candid in nature, mature beyond her years; I distinctly remember spotting her sprightly self for the first time on a bus headed home from our college. Given Singhania's bizarre policy of never fully accepting outsiders who refuse to be yes-men, it was my time spent with her in 11th that gave me some sense of belonging to the institution. Prashant "Chornar", the 'Sasti Masti' song, her brother Aarav's reaction to her lame Patanjali Rozana chawal joke, all the hilarious stories we've shared till date are crystal clear in my memory.(Also, legend has it that her trademark snorts whilst laughing continue to pervade the vast hallways of the Singhania premises.)

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Anvita Mishra

If there's one person in the world, family aside, whom I care about the MOST, it's this short goofball which comes with an even shorter temper. Getting introduced to her at the fag end of 11th was clearly the highlight of my Singhania voyage and the time spent with her in 12th was beyond fascinating. All our “Awesome-Blossom”, “Main bhi na”, “Kaafi”, “Phuuu” moments are perennially cherished by me and I'm just as honoured to be her best friend as I am unqualified (*feels super-guilty about the litany of untimely responses and unanswered calls😬).

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Kedar-Varad-Prajyot

The very first person I met at FC ( I remember following Kedar's equally befuddled ass to the primordial admission department); most of my time in FY was spent alongside his lanky frame. I owe him big time for introducing me to Reddit, Adam Sandler and Mr. Iglesias. Prajyot and Varad give out a certain second-family vibe; both are warm and super appreciative of the things you do for them. Outings and sleepovers with this mad bunch were indubitably the highlights of FY and I sorely miss the wildly competitive TT matches in which I invariably DESTROYED all of them.

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Aditi Banerjee

Our association does date back to FY but it was only in SY that we realized our mutual love for sketches, Bengali sweets and spicy gossip. I like to think of her as my second mother; she genuinely cares for me, offers pep talks when I'm down and even chastises me every so often. Wholesome conversations with her on our way back home have magically made many of my sullen afternoons at FC come alive. Her unflinching honesty and fierce loyalty are her best traits and in true Bengali style, I sign off saying “Dugga Dugga Dugga”

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Prince Bothara

One of the sweetest (also the shortest?) people I know, it was only his company that made SY super special for me. Be it cracking up at the idiosyncrasies of the Marathi language or passing offensive snide remarks at the expense of random strangers, we unfailingly manage to make each other laugh other till our stomachs ache. The “Kaay re Baalya!” peon, the whole Oli Mau episode, the “Vithalla!” girl; we share so many legendary inside jokes that they alone merit a dedicated blog piece. I hope that when this whole Corona BS ends, we get to go on at least one trip together with the bois, till then #sakharsankul4lyf🖖.

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Akansha Chachra

Our paths crossed first at a rather disappointing "friendship camp" organized by our college's NSS department . But in the longer run, the camp did live up to its name and gave me one of the most wholesome friendships I've ever had. What started as a casual WhatsApp DM went on to flower into something super amazing. Be it vibing over the same songs, drooling over the same desserts or even freakishly having the same thoughts, it was her presence which made this lockdown bearable for me. With all the uncertainty around, things do get stressful at times but our chats have literally been my Happy Place, delightfully detached from all the chaos and clamour on the outside. Cringing hard over each other's childhood memories, co-authoring a lil novel, watching The Office together, all our shared experiences have been nothing short of incredible.

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And not to forget these timeless moments spent with 24 carat amigos...

Copious amounts of thunderous laughs shared with Dariya Budhani / Mesmerizing Scooty rides with Pratyush Patki / Refreshing filter coffees @Sambar with Ananya Iyer / Furious dissection of F.R.I.E.N.D.S with Mehak Rathi / Reeling in the effects of John Mulaney, Andy Samberg et al with Siddhi Pitale / Countless science stream regrets with Gouri Menon