Monaco-Ville, Monaco. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. The beach is livelier than usual at this hour. Devarsh and I are in folding chairs, watching the yachts pass by on the coastline.
Devarsh points to one of them and says, “That’s the model that I own.”
It’s considerably larger than the rest of them. I chuckle to myself. “Does it come with its own basketball court too?”
Devarsh, smirking, replies, “No, it’s actually a football pitch.” We laugh as the shadow of a cloud shelters us from the sun.
Devarsh served as Business Manager of Zephyrus in his final year on staff. He pauses to swat at a fruit fly that landed on his luscious beard, which he tells me he grew on a trip to Norway. “I feel like being on the Ed Board was really important for my growth: not just on staff, but also as a person, allowing me to work with others on the common goal of helping to improve the publication.”
Walking back from the beach, past mobs of paparazzi journalists and ecstatic fangirls, both excited to see Devarsh, he tells me about his plans for the future. “I’m going to Dartmouth to study government,” he says. “I don’t know whether or not I’ll pursue a minor once I’m there. That’s something I’ll figure out when I arrive on campus.” After stopping to talk to a fan, Devarsh continues, “I’m hoping to pursue law school, but everything is flexible. It could change once I get on campus.”
Later in the day, as we grab a bite to eat, Devarsh finishes ordering his $1,000 golden steak before recounting the experiences he had here, at boring, drab, Edina High School. “I never really had any problems,” he says. “All the people that I met were very nice and friendly to me. I was able to make a strong friend group of people, not just in my classes, but mutual friends and all that.” He stops to thank the waiter for bringing his food, as he begins to split his rib eye down the middle. The edible gold sheen shines light into my eyes.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 20, 2025
