“What If I Told You the Little Boy From Taare Zameen Par Grew Up With You?”

Hi Ishan Awasthi here.

You might remember me as the boy who couldn’t tie his shoelaces properly, who mixed up letters, who stared out of classroom windows, lost in a world of colors and shapes that didn’t belong in textbooks. Back then, they said I was lazy. Stubborn. Difficult. I wasn’t, I was just different.

But no one saw it. Not for a long time.

Until one day, someone finally did.

My story is not just about childhood dyslexia. It is a mirror for many of us — adults — who have learned to suppress our battles and wear a smile while storms rage inside.

I Know What It Feels Like

I’m not a little boy anymore. I’ve grown up, like many of you reading this. But somewhere inside me, that confused, overwhelmed child still exists.

And maybe... inside you too?

You see, even as adults, we still feel like we’re failing at things everyone else seems to do so easily. We forget meetings. Lose track of time. Feel anxious. Overthink every sentence we text. We cry quietly when no one’s watching. And then we show up, smile, and pretend we’re fine.

Just like I did back then — pretending I understood the blackboard, pretending I didn’t hear the laughter, pretending I wasn’t scared.

There’s Nothing Wrong With You

Let me tell you a secret — one I wish someone had told me sooner: There is nothing wrong with being different. There is nothing weak about struggling.

When I was 8, letters danced in front of my eyes. Today, numbers in Excel sheets do the same. But I’ve learned something far more valuable than spelling or math — I’ve learned to be gentle with myself.

Because healing doesn’t come from “fixing” ourselves. It comes from understanding ourselves.

Be Your Own Nikumbh Sir

I was lucky. I had someone who believed in me — Ram Shankar Nikumbh. He didn’t just teach me art. He taught me how to breathe again.

Not everyone has that. And that’s why I’m writing this.

You can be your own Nikumbh, or even better — you can be someone else’s. A friend. A listener. A safe space.

Because so many of us are fighting invisible battles — anxiety, depression, burnout, fear of failure, impostor syndrome — and the world never notices.

But we can.

You Are Not Alone

If you:

feel like you’re not enough,

have lost interest in things you used to love,

are trying hard but still feel left behind...

…please know — I see you, just like Nikumbh Sir saw me.

You are not alone. You never were.

Let’s Paint Again

When I was drowning, painting saved me. Maybe for you it’s music. Writing. Gardening. Dancing. Or just sitting under the stars.

Don’t lose that part of you. Don’t let the world’s noise silence your colors.

You matter. Even if your canvas looks different.

A Final Whisper From That Little Boy

People didn’t understand me when I was 8. But now that I’m older, I want to help others understand themselves.

To every adult still carrying childhood scars, To every soul silently screaming in crowded rooms, To every dreamer lost in spreadsheets and routines —

Take a breath. You’re doing better than you think.

You are seen. You are loved. And you are, and always have been...

Extraordinary.