Nostalgic for School Lunches and Old Friendships

Shruti: My tiffin would be over within the first 10 minutes of our recess. My mom’s famous tiffins included Frankies, Sandwiches, Muri Bhujiya (a typical Marwari snack), and Roti Sabzi. We would gather in one class during the break, open our boxes and share, and crib about our teachers. In the end, half the floor would be strewn with Muri Bhujiya. 

And if somebody was still hungry, or we had money, we would visit the canteen—and with 20 rupees, we would buy one dish to share amongst us. Those were the days!

Sandhya: I grew up in Dubai, a Keralite kid surrounded by classmates from every corner of India. Among them were my Sindhi friends, who brought something to school that I quickly fell in love with—Koki.

Thick, flaky, and full of spice, Koki smelled like comfort wrapped in ghee. Meanwhile, my lunchbox was usually packed with Idlis, Dosas, or the occasional sandwich from home.

Every lunchtime turned into an unspoken dabba exchange. Without fail, I’d slide over my Dosa, and in return, a warm Koki would land on my side of the table. And somehow, I always ended up eating all the Koki—and they never complained.

Looking back, those shared lunches were more than just food swaps. They were quiet moments of friendship—and the best lesson I ever learned about how food connects people.

Rhythm: As a kid, I did not like the taste of paneer, until I tried the grilled paneer sandwich my friend’s mom had sent. We used to gather at one of our desks and have lunch together, like a mini potluck. 

Nikita: School lunches were such a social currency! As a South Indian kid living in Ahmedabad, I remember trading Podi Idlis, Lemon Rice, Murukulu, and Chicken Curry with Theplas, Bhakri Pizzas, Khakras, and Undhiyu. Sometimes, I remember sneaking a bit of my favourite find into my dabba to take home, just to show everyone what I had discovered that day. 

Soon, we began mixing it all up—Theplas with Podi or Egg Curries or Pickles, and Sev Tamatar Shaak with Murukulu. It was how we bonded, explored, and formed core memories!

Niharika: My favourite memories of school tiffins were sneaking a snack in between classes. My dad used to make Green Chutney-Butter Sandwiches for our tiffins, and they would vanish like hot cakes as soon as our boxes were opened. I can still remember the taste of those sandwiches. 😍