{"id":5949,"date":"2021-08-25T22:23:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T21:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/globalindianstories.com\/?p=5949"},"modified":"2021-08-25T22:26:08","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T21:26:08","slug":"creativity-unlocked-an-inspiring-story-from-india-in-the-times-of-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/25\/creativity-unlocked-an-inspiring-story-from-india-in-the-times-of-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Creativity unlocked: an inspiring story from India in the times of the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>While the pandemic has been challenging for us in different ways,\u00a0Pulkit<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Datta\u00a0shows us how he used the lockdown to unlock his dormant creativity<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen an admirer offered to pay for one of my sketches, my 10-year-old daughter,<br \/>\nstanding beside me, literally jumped in joy. I clenched my fists instead. The moment<br \/>\nhad arrived,\u201d says Pulkit Datta, a mechanical engineer by trade, and an artist who has had no formal training whatsoever.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s difficult to believe when you see the sketches that Pulkit Datta, 42, with no prior<br \/>\nexperience in drawing, started sketching only 6 months ago. Till date he has drawn<br \/>\nportraits of various famous personalities from all walks of life, be it\u00a0Elon Musk,<br \/>\nAnthony Hopkins, Gulzar, Jagjit Singh, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Bono, Arnold<br \/>\nSchwarzenegger, Anoushka Shankar\u00a0et al. He says: \u201cThese personalities<br \/>\nsomewhere left an indelible mark on my life. I\u2019ve kind of reciprocated my feelings by<br \/>\nsketching their faces up close.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe lockdown made me finally take a pause from the grind of life. I picked up a<br \/>\npencil one day and never looked back,\u201d he adds. Perhaps much like Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994), which incidentally is another of Datta\u2019s favourite sketches.<\/p>\n\r\n                <style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n                    \r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580-80x60.jpeg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-80x60.jpeg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta-80x60.jpeg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                <\/style>\r\n\r\n                <div id=\"tdi_1\" class=\"td-gallery td-slide-on-2-columns\">\r\n                    <div class=\"post_td_gallery\">\r\n                        <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-top\">\r\n                           <div class=\"td-gallery-title\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"td-gallery-controls-wrapper\">\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-count\"><span class=\"td-gallery-slide-item-focus\">1<\/span> of 3<\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-prev-next-but\">\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-left doubleSliderPrevButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-right doubleSliderNextButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-1 \">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item1\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580.jpeg\" title=\"2021-08-02 (3)\"  data-caption=\"Pulkit Datta with his sketches\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580-993x420.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580-993x420.jpeg 993w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580-300x127.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580-768x325.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580-640x271.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-3-1-e1629907585580.jpeg 1005w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">Pulkit Datta with his sketches<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item2\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4.jpeg\" title=\"2021-08-02 (4)\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-561x420.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-561x420.jpeg 561w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-768x575.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-1024x766.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-80x60.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-100x75.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-238x178.jpeg 238w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4-640x479.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2021-08-02-4.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item3\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta.jpeg\" title=\"Pulkit Datta\"  data-caption=\"Pulkit Datta - the Sector Head of a Japanese MNC\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta-269x420.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta-269x420.jpeg 269w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta-192x300.jpeg 192w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta.jpeg 655w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pulkit-Datta-640x1001.jpeg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 269px) 100vw, 269px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">Pulkit Datta - the Sector Head of a Japanese MNC<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-2\">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item1\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item2\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item3\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                \n<p>It\u2019s true that the pandemic has made many of us reflect upon our lives, searching for<br \/>\nthings that give us real happiness, and real meaning. We\u2019ve also become used to<br \/>\nhearing stories of gloom and growing mental health issues because of the lockdown.<br \/>\nSo to use the pandemic for reaching out to inner creativity is commendable, and<br \/>\ngives a wonderful message of optimism and enterprise. But did he take any training<br \/>\nbeforehand?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNone at all\u201d, Datta says, gesturing with a pencil in his hand as we talk during our<br \/>\nvirtual meeting. \u201cMay be the artiste within was awaiting this pandemic,\u2019\u2019 he chuckles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven I was surprised as I had never drawn a sketch before in my life. It\u2019s fascinating<br \/>\nwhat magic a few strokes of graphite can conjure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Datta, who spent his growing up years in Chandigarh, started out sketching his<br \/>\nfriends and family first. Just like that. For fun. He was nervous to begin with, he<br \/>\nadmits. \u201cI was going out of my comfort zone. I wasn\u2019t sure how people would react to<br \/>\ntheir sketched versions,\u2019\u2019 he quips.<\/p>\n<p>The international influence is evident in his choice of personalities that he has<br \/>\nsketched so far. Which probably is understandable given that he has lived abroad,<br \/>\nas well as widely travelled the globe, in his professional assignment. Pulkit is the segment head for\u00a0a Japanese MNC, based in Gurgaon, where he lives with his wife and daughter.<\/p>\n<p>His \u2018made in India\u2019 spirit is also on full display in the sketch which he says is his<br \/>\nfavourite so far. He shows it to me on camera with a glint in his eyes, and says: \u201cI<br \/>\nwatched this movie a few years ago, and this scene has remained in my conscience<br \/>\never since. I am so glad that I was able to bring it to life using my own pencil today\u201d.<br \/>\nThe scene that Datta is talking about is from the movie Swades (2004), which shows<br \/>\nShahrukh Khan sitting in his train seat, buying water from a young, impoverished boy on the platform, changing his outlook towards life altogether.<\/p>\n\r\n                <style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n                    \r\n                    #tdi_2  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_0181-80x60.png) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_2  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407-80x60.jpeg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_2  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_2  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883-80x60.jpeg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                <\/style>\r\n\r\n                <div id=\"tdi_2\" class=\"td-gallery td-slide-on-2-columns\">\r\n                    <div class=\"post_td_gallery\">\r\n                        <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-top\">\r\n                           <div class=\"td-gallery-title\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"td-gallery-controls-wrapper\">\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-count\"><span class=\"td-gallery-slide-item-focus\">1<\/span> of 4<\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-prev-next-but\">\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-left doubleSliderPrevButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-right doubleSliderNextButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-1 \">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item1\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_0181.png\" title=\"IMG_0181\"  data-caption=\"&#039;Made in India&#039; inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_0181-320x420.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_0181-320x420.png 320w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_0181-228x300.png 228w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_0181.png 589w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">'Made in India' inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item2\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407.jpeg\" title=\"B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407\"  data-caption=\"&#039;Made in India&#039; inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407-324x420.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407-324x420.jpeg 324w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407-232x300.jpeg 232w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/B497E51F-C2E5-4039-99B0-BE71126B5407.jpeg 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">'Made in India' inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item3\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1.jpg\" title=\"1621912192902 (1)\"  data-caption=\"&#039;Made in India&#039; inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1-449x420.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1-449x420.jpg 449w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1-300x281.jpg 300w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1-768x718.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1-640x598.jpg 640w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1621912192902-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">'Made in India' inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item4\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883.jpeg\" title=\"E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883\"  data-caption=\"&#039;Made in India&#039; inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883-505x420.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883-505x420.jpeg 505w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883-300x249.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/E8A26C0A-9498-47FC-899C-40C038E78883.jpeg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">'Made in India' inspired sketches by Pulkit Datta<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-2\">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item1\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item2\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item3\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item4\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                \n<p>The scene is indeed poignant and so is the sketch. Within a few months Datta has started sketching complex visuals. Looking at the sketch from Swades makes me wonder if he is heading towards storyboarding. So what are his plans now?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot sure yet. At this point I am happy expressing myself through my sketches. I<br \/>\nhave already met some fantastic artists in this space. And I have also spoken to<br \/>\nsome theme caf\u00e9s and pubs who have shown interest in my sketches. So let\u2019s see. I<br \/>\nam a believer in one thing leading to another,\u201d he says philosophically.<\/p>\n<p>I ask Datta if he would like to give any advice to others who wish to get in touch with<br \/>\ntheir creative side. \u201cEveryone is so busy these days, running around in our own little<br \/>\nworld. The only thing I would say is if you are passionate about something, just do it.<br \/>\nJust make a start, and then things happen. Small things that make you happy.<br \/>\nWhen I sold my first sketch I too was jumping, inside!\u201d, Datta says with a smile.<br \/>\nYou can follow Pulkit Datta\u2019s artistic journey at Instagram using his handle<br \/>\n@dattavinci.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the pandemic has been challenging for us in different ways,\u00a0Pulkit Datta\u00a0shows us how he used the lockdown to unlock his dormant creativity \u201cWhen an admirer offered to pay for one of my sketches, my 10-year-old daughter, standing beside me, literally jumped in joy. I clenched my fists instead. The moment had arrived,\u201d says Pulkit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5953,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,52,2,47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-covid-diaries","category-featured","category-lockdown-diaries"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Creativity unlocked: an inspiring story from India in the times of the pandemic - Global Indian Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/globalindianstories.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/25\/creativity-unlocked-an-inspiring-story-from-india-in-the-times-of-the-pandemic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Creativity unlocked: an inspiring story from India in the times of the pandemic - Global Indian Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While the pandemic has been challenging for us in different ways,\u00a0Pulkit Datta\u00a0shows us how he used the lockdown to unlock his dormant creativity \u201cWhen an admirer offered to pay for one of my sketches, my 10-year-old daughter, standing beside me, literally jumped in joy. I clenched my fists instead. 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