A loveletter to Nilkhet

Dear Nilkhet,

 

I've never been a person eloquent with words, so excuse me if my attempt at romanticism fails to grab your attention. And why shouldn't it? Is there any meaningful assortment of words which I can pull together that you haven't heard before? You brim with the words of countless writers, poets, scientists, dictators, dreamers and what not. What am I to you but just another speck in a bustling crowd who are drawn to you like a moth to the flame. 

Well I might not mean much to you but you've always meant a whole lot to me. Where shall I start? Do you know how I first fell in love with you? When I was a sickly little child who had a weekly check-up with the doctor, one that had one syringe too many for the little old me, you were my consolation prize in the end.  And whatever little thing I bought from you, that old science fiction book I used to keep beside my bed even after I finished reading it or that one sophisticated book I thought I could finish but couldn't, it made my world a little bit bigger than it ever was. 

There is elegance to your twisty maze-like build. The roads might be a bit too narrow and they might be as scrappy and grimy as it gets, but that is unapologetically you. Do you know how graceful that makes you? It's not always easy however. You taught me how you need to be shifty once in a while. How that one shopkeeper who's confident about the price he is asking for can be made to agree to a price that is less than a third. How there's that one 'mama' who gets hold of ones that are a bit rarer but only if you're willing to pay a bit extra. 

As I grew up my love for you had an added layer of necessity. You were not just there for the stories and poems anymore. I now had to count on you to guide me through my university life. Although the textbooks I had to buy from you never comforted me as much as the Tintin books I bought from you long ago did, but it was appreciated nevertheless. And no matter what textbook it was, each title more incomprehensible than the other, you rarely disappointed to deliver. Did you ever realise how much of an impact you were leaving on the lives of the students for whom acquiring these much needed textbooks would have been incredibly difficult otherwise? 

The years rolled over, and my life changed for better or worse. But one thing that never changed is you. You were my source of happiness when nothing else was working. You were my source of knowledge when I needed it the most. So this is me professing my admiration and gratitude to the impact you have left upon all of our life. Dear Nilkhet, we love you. 

Sincerely, 

One of your fondest admirers 

Nuren Iftekhar is your local stray cat in disguise; he interacts with people for food and hates bright light. He got Hufflepuff 3 times straight in Pottermore so no walking around that one. Send him obscure memes at n.iftekhar18@gmail.com