To a Friend

Dear Atharva,

Hope you are doing fine, kiddo. We really miss you a lot, man. We all do; and we really love you a lot. I wish to dear life that there was some way we could bring you back. Sadly, there is none.

You have been a great friend, a fantastic son and a very good person. I have enjoyed all those times we have spent together. Those Thursday afternoon when you walked in with half of your shirt out and muddy, dirty pants. The driver used to drop you off and tell you to call Deepa kaku which you very conveniently chose not to. Then kaku used to call up, all worried, wondering where you were. Our lunches were delightlful with shewayichi kheer at the end that managed to make you drowsy just as it would be time to study. And then Baba used to scold you lovingly and make you stand and recite tables - especially 29s backwards. And you got really good at it as time went by. I remember this one time. Baba told me to poke you as you were about to doze off on your math textbook. You "woke up" all startled and them smiled and got back to doing what you were. We miss your cute smile that was always...and I mean, *always* naughty.

We had a great time watching you progress rapidly as you showed your immense potential in each and everything you did - academics, singing, badminton - everything. I remember us, celebrating Ganpati for the last 5-6 years followed by your sweet and delightful songs. Well acad-related stressful talks followed as Deepa Kaku and Aai talked. During this, the two of us secretly joked about how much parents fret and worry about life; both totally chill about everything. Those were great times, man. So much fun.

I didn't get to see you a lot over the past two years but whenever I was home, I did meet you and Deepa Kaku a fair number of times. Gym vagare karun jordar body zali. You seemed a lot different in those short trips back home over the past two years - progressively mature, hard-working and quiet; and taller than me :)

You didn't have to go to make us miss you or make us realized how much we love you. We love you just the same today and we always will. Its hard to think that you are not there anymore when there are so many things planned and ready to be done, waiting for you. You missed avartana this year and it really will hit us all very hard, every time we wont hear your recitals during Ganpati. But we are all proud of you, my friend. We always have been. Even very close to the end, you kept reminding us of your potential with your astounding values. It will hurt us all to know what you mean to us but to accept that you are a tad distant from us now.

For now, rest well and take it easy. See you in another life, brother.

Love,
Ved