“You’re looking chopped today,” Coppell High School senior and The Sidekick staff writer Maanav Subramanian says to me.

“I know,” I respond without missing a beat.

If I had to describe Maanav in one word, it would be blunt. He is straightforward, always speaking his mind without hesitation and is not afraid to be honest — no matter the situation.

This was clear from our first encounter, when we were paired together for our Sidekick person, place or thing assignment. From the start, he voiced his opinions without fear of criticism. At first, I did not know how to feel about it — his brashness reminded me of my own strict older brother.

I make it sound like a bad thing, and maybe sometimes it was, but most of the time, it was not. Over time, I came to appreciate it. His honesty kept me focused and on task when I needed it most.

Maanav has a unique sense of humor: almost insulting, but somehow still hilarious. But, with Maanav, it felt like a constant teacher-student game of learning how to come up with the best comebacks.

Although I listened to him most of the time, it did not mean I would not challenge his opinions. Sometimes I would argue just for the fun of it, even if I secretly agreed. That’s how you know you’ve found a true friend — when you can go from roasting each other to having deep conversations without missing a beat.

While Maanav might seem laid-back, when it really matters, he always comes through.

Beyond all the jokes and sarcasm, there is one thing Maanav knows better than anyone: cars. After hearing him talk about engines, repairs and models almost daily, I was not surprised at all when he decided to pursue mechanical engineering.

Thanks for always keeping it real, Maanav — and good luck finding someone who tolerates you as well as I do.

Follow Aarnav (@AarnavSYar67835) and @CHSCampusNews on X.