Before mobile phones, video games, and the endless distractions of modern life, childhood in the 1980s had its own kingdom of adventure. In the old neighbourhoods of Kolkata, a gang of restless boys claimed the city’s rooftops as their playground.
From daring leaps across terraces to secret missions under the blazing summer sun, these self-proclaimed “Rooftop Ruffians” lived a world of friendship, mischief, and fearless imagination high above the streets below.
Listen to Rooftop Ruffians, a nostalgic journey back to a time when childhood meant scraped knees, stolen afternoons, and the boundless freedom of growing up in the terraces of old Kolkata.
Some of my books (collection of short stories, novels, and more) are available in print and digital editions. They gather many unique journeys, quieter questions, and stories that continue beyond this page.
Weekend Stories by Trishikh 
I grew up in a small desert town in the 50’s and 60’s. I’m so grateful for that. We had a neighborhood group of kids who’d play all day iside and out, eat meals and then go play hide and seek in the dark. We were safe, imaginative, daring and involved with each other and life.
Thanks for sharing your audio stories.
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What a beautiful memory to share, Katelon.
There is something quietly magical about those years, isn’t there? Different landscapes, different continents perhaps, but the childhood you describe feels so familiar. The same tribe of children, the same unspoken rules of play, the same fearless wandering until darkness folded the day back home.
Your desert town and these Kolkata rooftops seem to belong to the same invisible map, where imagination was the only currency and time stretched endlessly in our favour.
Thank you for bringing your world into this one. It makes the story feel larger, as if those ruffians were never just ours, but everyone’s.
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Thank you Trishikh.
Oh we played in the dark, too. 😀
I like that thought of being part of your story world.
With the way you think and write, you might enjoy the movie “The Life of Chuck”. It is such a beautiful movie, so life affirming, reminding us the whole universe is within us.
Warmly, katelon
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Yes, I have seen “The Life of Chuck”, Katelon. I like it very much. I am also a movie and series addict.
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Trishikh, Glad to hear that. I plan to watch Life of Chuck again. Loved it. You might enjoy the series “Northern Exposure”, from the 90’s. A remarkable series set in a fictitious small town in Alaska, filmed partly in Rosyln, WA. It is a series that uses the landscape as a character. It is benevolent, with various town characters that each have their dysfunctions and gifts, grow, are honest and direct with each other, and care for each other in spite of their differences. I only discovered it a few years ago, but am working my way through it a second time now. The two main characters have a podcast now, weekly, and bring in cast and crew members to discuss the show and each episode. I even joined a facebook Fan group that I really enjoy.
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This sounds so interesting. I will certainly check out “Northern Exposure”.
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Thank you Ned for sharing my Audio Story with the larger world. Always treasure your support.
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🙏
Aum Shanti
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Thank You.
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Çocukluğun özgür ruhunu ve eski mahallelerin sıcaklığını hissettiren çok güzel bir anlatı olmuş. “Rooftop Ruffians” hikayesi, dostluk ve hayal gücünün en saf halini hatırlatıyor. Gerçekten nostaljik ve dokunaklı. Kaleminize sağlık. 🙏
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Thank you so much for such a generous reading.
You’ve touched the very heart of what I had hoped to hold onto while writing this. That fleeting, untamed spirit of childhood where friendship needed no explanation and imagination filled every empty space.
Those old neighbourhoods gave us more than memories. They gave us a way of seeing the world that stays quietly alive within us, even now.
Grateful that the Rooftop Ruffians found a place in your memories too.
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Once upon a time in the 80s, my little gang of friends would walk all over our large-small town. Want to play video games? Cool, put on your shoes. Want to go to the bookstore for the latest Gor novel? OK, put on your shoes. Same with Record Rack. We never waited on “Mom” or “Dad” to wake up to take us anywhere.
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That is so true, kids back in those days were very adventorous and daring. There were no distractions, which could keep us tied at home for long. We loved to go out, and it was difficult to bring us in. I completely can relate.
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I agree and fondly remember those Tom-Sawyer days. By the way, I admire your sentence structure.
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Those were some days. I am so happy that you liked my sentencing style.
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Will get to this one soon. I just need to slow down and relax enough. Life is moving too fast for me
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Yes, this should be listened to when you are completely relaxed. Who knows it might bring back some childhood memories.
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I hope so, it would be nice
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love the way you’ve weaved your black and white portrait into the background. nice!
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Thank you so much. Glad that you liked the artwork too.
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Congratulations on your books!
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Thank you Dawn. By the Grace of God, I have already published four books.
After so many years of writing, my friends can now buy my books: https://storynookonline.com/buy-my-books/
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This sounds like fun
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Yes, this story has the fun element to it.
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To be a child again would be wonderful.
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I think as we grow older we slowly become children again, at least a part of it.
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Yes
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