The Day We got Thrashed - And Why I’ll Never Forget It

There are some memories from childhood that stick—not because they were triumphant or glorious, but because they made us laugh later and taught us something deeper about life. One such memory involves a bruised ego, a very large school bully, and my little brother, Nikhil.

I was in school—somewhere between learning multiplication tables and mastering the art of avoiding trouble—when I had a run-in with a boy from a higher grade. He was older, bigger, and evidently not a fan of me. The details are fuzzy now (thankfully), but I remember clearly that things escalated and he ended up assaulting me. It was a humiliating experience, and though I tried to brush it off, the sting stayed with me.

But it wasn’t just me who was affected.

When my younger brother Nikhil found out what happened, he was furious. He couldn’t stand the thought of someone treating his elder brother like that. His reaction was fierce, protective—and honestly, a little naive. He looked at me with the kind of seriousness only a younger sibling can muster and said, “Let’s go fight him.”

Now, if you know anything about younger brothers, you’d know they don’t back down easily once they’ve made up their mind. And so, with a misplaced sense of courage (and maybe a bit of dramatic sibling loyalty), we marched right up to this big boy. Spoiler alert: it did not go well.

Let’s just say that what followed wasn’t exactly a glorious battle. The boy thrashed me—and Nikhil—clean. We didn’t stand a chance. It was a short-lived fight, and we limped away with bruised bodies and even more bruised pride.

But here’s the funny thing. Even today, when Nikhil and I remember that incident, we can’t stop laughing. It was ridiculous, brave, and foolish all at once. We were no match for that guy, but at that moment, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that we stood together.

That silly, painful memory still brings a smile to my face—not because we lost the fight, but because we didn’t back down from it. Nikhil's loyalty and fierce belief that no one messes with his elder brother is something I’ll never forget.

And maybe that’s the real story here: not about getting beaten up, but about brotherhood. About showing up for each other, even when the odds are clearly against us. Because in life, we’re going to face a lot of big guys—some metaphorical, some not. But having someone who’s willing to stand by your side, no matter the outcome? That’s everything.

So here’s to childhood scraps, shared defeats, and the kind of bond that gets stronger with every bruise and belly laugh. Nikhil and I may have lost that battle, but we gained something much more valuable: a lifelong reminder that together, we face the world.