What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

After five decades of life, you inevitably amass a collection of artifacts, each a silent keeper of memories. These objects, tied to moments long past, hold stories that resurface with a glance. Today, I’m sharing the oldest treasures in my possessionand the bittersweet tug-of-war they spark.

The star of my collection is a hulking steel cupboard, crafted by Godrej, a trusted Indian brand. This wasn’t a giftit was a forceful addition to my home, courtesy of my father-in-law. I’m notoriously stubborn about accepting presents, even from family, but in 2008, when I bought a flat in Mumbai, this cupboard arrived unannounced. No time to protestjust a loud crack as it chipped my marble doorstep. Six workers wrestled the beast inside. Already 20 years old then, it’s now pushing 40.

This cupboard, one of a pair from my in-laws’ Mumbai home, carries decades of their history. Yet, despite its sturdiness, I’m ready to part ways. My wife and in-laws insist I lug it to our next home in 2026, but I’m standing firm. My plan? Donate it to the contractor who paints our housesa practical farewell to a heavy relic.

While the cupboard’s days are numbered, other artifacts cling to my heart. I hoard boxes of electric and electronic cables, tangled relics of devices long gone. Throwing them out feels like betraying their potentialsurely, one day, I’ll need that specific cord! Then there are clothes, some two decades old, still wearable and steeped in nostalgia. These, I keep, guided by a belief: hold onto what’s useful, as long as it doesn’t crack the floor.