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A Letter to Ove

Dear grumpy, sweet Ove, 

I hope you are well rested in heaven with Sonja, and that your world there is filled with colours that she brought into your life when you first met her. You might be wondering why I am writing this letter. Well, like the way Sonja brought colours into your life, you brought them in mine and filled my heart with it! Colours and emotions I wasn’t even sure I could see and feel. 

You once said, “The whole street is turning into a madhouse. Complete chaos”. Ove, what is life without a little chaos? But for the sake of the angels, I hope not even a slightest thing is out of place up there. I don’t think they’d appreciate their little heaven being infiltrated by a grumpy old man who likes to walk around the neighbourhood at five in the morning, whining about how things are out of place. Who even wakes up that early in the morning, Ove? 

For starters, I am glad that Parvaneh, The Lanky One, and their two cute little girls came into your life. Which ironically was filled with chaos and which they helped you to get into place. Don’t look offended at what I just said, you were trying to take your life at every small opportunity you got. Of course your life was chaotic, but like Parvenah said, you were “UTTERLY RUBBISH at dying!”. 

‘Granddad’, wasn’t that what Parvenah’s eight year old daughter called you, when you gave her that iPad for her birthday? Despite your dissatisfaction with the world, you were the best Granddad and person in the world, Ove. There were moments when you filled my entire heart with warmth, so much that it made me cry. I wasn’t even aware of my feelings, I was dissociated, but you trudged into my life and just like that, fixed another chaos, another madhouse. Your unique antics made me laugh so much, and the way you helped everyone and tried to cover it up like you didn't care. It made me smile like a parent when they witness their rebellious teenager with the devil-may-care attitude help someone. Yes, you were, and I'm sure still are, just as grumpy and rebellious as a teenager. 

People might call you a “curmudgeon” but I couldn't disagree more. Despite having a difficult childhood, being orphaned at a young age, losing a baby and then eventually losing your wife, you persisted. You stayed alive and formed unwanted friendships which filled your heart with warmth and happiness, even if you might not confess so. 

I know that I should have been more surprised when the doctor diagnosed you with having a bigger than average heart. But if you didn't have a huge heart, who would? I must say, however, that it was hilarious to learn this ironic and yet such an appropriate fact. 

“Love is a strange thing. It takes you by surprise.” And while I didn’t sign up to love you or your life journey, I surely fell hard, just like everyone around you. You left me with a big smile and tears in my eyes, and a feeling in my heart that will linger for a long time no matter what. You didn’t make me a better person or inspire me, but you started my self-love and ironically, the journey to love the people around me. I will forever be grateful that I picked up the book of your life, met people like Parvenah, Sonja and you! 

From someone who admires you, 

Vijiti Chandnani


This letter was one of the top ten entries in the P.S. I Love Literature Letter Writing Competition of The Novel Room, our Book Discussion Club. Students wrote letters to characters, writers, poets, books as part of a creative review and response activity, and these were read out in the
session on April 29, 2021.

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