This blog is co-authored by Jahnavi Zondervan, Vineet Prakash, Sydney Garvis, Santanu Bhowmick, Divyanshi Gupta, Akila Muthukumar Valliammai, Afnan, Althea Henvill, and Hameem Muhammad.
Nine Banyan Impact Fellows from the 2023-2024 cohort share how they each discovered love — platonic, spontaneous, scenic, and otherwise — during their fellowship journey in true 100-(ish)-word stories, inspired by the New York Times’s Tiny Love Stories. Our stories are about new crayons, old students, and everything in between. They are about places: Bangalore, Sasaram, Kabirdham, Srinagar and the trains and spring breezes that connect them. They are about seeking the comfort of ice cream, and accepting the discomfort of herbal leaves when you are ten thousand miles from home. We hope you appreciate the variety and value of the love contained in these stories.
THE CRAYONS
I met a little boy when I visited his home during an exposure visit. We jumped around, giggling and being silly. We were working, so I pulled out some crayons to create a quieter activity. Just as we started to draw, I had to leave. He began to cry. His dad brought him to our next visit to prove we hadn’t left, but he was inconsolable. He was still upset when I waved goodbye. I dug into my bag and handed him what I hoped would make the tears end. Finally, he smiled, cheeks damp with tears, holding my crayons.
SASARAM’S SYMPHONY OF HEART AND HOME
Sasaram is not just where I was born and raised, but also where I studied and started to work. The rich tapestry of Sasaram’s religious, culinary, and linguistic diversity, alongside its warm and welcoming people, makes it special and resilient. I pursued my dreams elsewhere, but Sasaram always tugged at my heartstrings, reminding me to contribute to its growth. Every smile, every corner, every challenge and every moment has shaped my love for this town. My journey with Sasaram is a testament to the transformative influence of one’s roots, illustrating how our origins inspire us to impact our communities positively.
ON THE PLATFORM
One Friday, I left so late for the railway station that I had to sprint down the platform to catch the caboose car handle and swing myself up, still dusted in gulal from our office Holi celebration earlier that evening. In the US, I’d never ridden on a train; the closest Amtrak to my home in Virginia is an hour drive over Afton mountain. My little love for the train journey lives in odds with my penchant for rooting in place and being a part of Ahmedabad. Ten months is just not enough for my vehemence of doing it all.
WHISPERS OF THE BANYAN TREE
The ecosystem of Banyan trees always pinches me to ponder where its sprawling branches, like outstretched arms, embrace the essence of the village. As I sat beneath its shade, a sense of peace enveloped me: time stood still. With each passing day, my bond with these trees’ eternal presence and wisdom deepened. I felt an inexplicable sense of belonging and my bond grew stronger with trees, seeking solace in its silent “love”. Amidst the whispers of time, this story unfolded—one between a wanderer and a banyan tree, bound by a journey of discovery, resilience, and the timeless beauty of nature’s embrace.
MORE THAN A CITY
In Bangalore, a city vibrant with diversity and open minds, I found a sense of belonging. Every street whispered tales of different cultures converging on traditions and modernity. Here, flexibility isn’t just a word but a lifestyle, accommodating the dreams and aspirations of every soul that walks its lanes. Amidst this journey of fellowship, I found friendships that transformed into family, bonds made not by blood but by shared experiences and respect. Bangalore, with its welcoming heart, has become more than just a city to me—it became a chapter of my life where I truly found myself surrounded by endless possibilities.
STUFFY NOSES
When I have a stuffy nose, I don’t sleep. I flip from side-to-side at night, and spend the day thinking about when my nose wasn’t stuffy. When others in the village I live in hear this, they recommend naturotherapies. After all, they don’t trust Western medications, practitioners, or vaccines. My conversations with them are about understanding, not change—not about whether I can convince them to exchange steam inhalation of herbal leaf-infused solutions with spraying Flonase, but about how readily I listen to their beliefs. I’ve come to love a community distrustful of the type of medicine I hope to practice.
SUMMER SURVIVAL KIT
The spring breeze gradually transitions into the infamous summer loo. To condition myself, I go out for a walk at lunchtime to endure the heat as much as possible. I attempt to tolerate the future to somehow survive the dread. Oh! Dear January, when I longed for the sun to now, a painful April, I can barely tread outside the shade. In the grueling heat, I close my eyes to see my favorite spot on the Zabarwan mountain range. Reminded of home, of trails known and the subtle summer breeze caressing my face. Home is what I see when I close my eyes.
I SCREAM FOR ROUTINE
Finding routine in an unfamiliar place is always hard in the beginning. It feels as if no matter how hard you try, the ground is constantly being pulled out from under you. But, some habits stay the same wherever you go. From boba in Boston, cannolis and gelato in Rome, or pain au chocolat in Paris, a sweet treat always makes me feel at home. In India, it’s been cookies ’n’ creme, pistachio, butterscotch, and vanilla. Heading to the shop beside my apartment for a post work ice cream comes more naturally than remembering to floss.
HEARTBEATS ON THE LINE
I was a teacher in a middle school in Chennai one year back. Then I quit. Yet, Subi continued to call with class updates, Bharath Raj reached out for festival wishes, and Roshan phoned persistently, always asking when I’d return. In those calls, I found warmth, care, and a love that transcended distance. They weren’t just students; they were the beating heart of my past, reminding me of the depth of human connection and the love that remains, even when paths diverge.
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” —Audrey Hepburn
