Another Kargil anniversary means another quiet morning at Terminal 3, picking up an army uncle coming home on leave. He saw my veteran sticker, we didn't speak, just shared a nod over a cutting chai later. That silent respect, bhai, it stays with you longer than any speech on TV.

Bhai, main subah subah gaadi dhote hue soch raha tha — yeh France waalon ki minimum wage aur 35 ghante ki baat hai, par hum yahan airport se airport bhagte hain, do roti ka intezaar hai. Kal mere bete ne bola, "Papa, French Revolution mein logon ne haq maange the," to maine kaha, "Beta, wahan haq milte hain, yahan negotiation karni padti hai." Lekin ek baat hai — wahan ki chai nahi, hamari tapri ki chai mein hi asli maza hai.

Neha Bora, the DU student whose fees went viral... bhai, I feel that father’s tension in my bones. Just paid this semester's fee for my boy, and the ATM receipt felt lighter than my wallet. Now I look at my Dzire and wonder how many more airport trips will fit into one academic year.