Vats bhai,
Three years ago you were the "cool guy" I met in my first-year class. Then it turned out you lived right around the corner, and you became the only guy I bonded well with in my class. I always relish the time I spend with you even if it doesnt look like it. You made it so easy for me to survive classes, and even college life for that matter. I have genuinely cherished every moment of it.
You keep saying "main tujhe sab batata hoon, tu mujhe kuch nahi batata." You're right. I'm bad at saying stuff out loud. So here's some of it in writing.
Sure we had our ups and downs, but you were always there putting efforts even when I was being a complete jerk to you. You might feel I am not a good friend at all aur main terese kuch share nhi krta, etc, etc. But just know ki main aisa hi hoon, and aisa nhi hai ki main sirf tujhe nhi btata cheezein. For me it takes immense power to exert out my feelings and emotions, I have been like this my entire life (and iski bhi ek origin story hai, jo kisiko nhi pata). And thank you for sticking around despite of this not-very-good quality of mine. But iss saal bohut kuch naya seekh rha hoon main and iss saal share krna bhi seekha hoon kaafi. Bangalore ke baad I have realised ki kya disconnect hogya tha main logon se and now I am trying to make the ends meet sabke saath be it family dost, bhai, sab log and I am having a very hard time doing that, but thats on me. Toh haan topic se thoda deviate hogya but yeh batana tha ki itne sab ke baad tu meri side se yeh deserve nhi krta tha, this was very wrong from my side and I have no excuse but only guilt and sorry. I beg for your pardon, please forgive me. I cant fuck this friendship up, its too deep and important for me. ab nov me ayega toh tujhe bataunga badhiya badhiya baatein (chinta mt kr randi rona ni krunga, XD).
Bangalore me bhi thodi bt hogyi thi last me but just know ki you made my bangalore survival much easierrrr!!! I know abhi you might be very lonely there, not having your people around and also these other interns of yours are not good to you. Might be very tiring and it is very frustrating for me also ki main terese bohut dino tk catchup ni kr paa rha (and I know ab tu bolega ki aisa dikhta toh nhi hai, but it is, and I am trying to work on it). But trust me I am always there for you.
Forgetting your birthday doesn't mean I forgot you. It just means my brain is a badly managed mess rn. You're permanently on the list of people who matter. Thoda bangalore ke baad disconnect hogya I know but I will fix that.
And also, I'm genuinely proud of you. All you have achieved in life and all you will achieve in future. You earned all of it. Bas ek Prosche sponsor krdiyo (jaise odessey ki tixs kri thi). Bhul mat jaiyo (unlike me forgetting your birthday).
Happy belated birthday, Chota Don. I hope this year gives you everything you're chasing, and that you finally take at least one piece of my advice.
Your late-but-loyal bhai,
Kartik 🤍