Memorial Service

Yesterday, there was a memorial service for Gullu in college. Nearly half of the batch was there. A few of his friends said a few things about him, we showed his pictures and finally lit candles and prayed that he may find peace. His parents were also present with us. May God give them the strength to live through the biggest pain.

Here is what I said, it was almost as though I had much to say but it just could not be put into words.

"Though words cannot describe how I feel, I would still make an attempt.

When we first joined IIFT, there was a seemingly loud and obnoxious guy in my class. I instantly disliked him and I knew that he reciprocated my feelings. However, first impressions don't always last.

Later through the year, the same guy became my closest friend. He would always say to me that he'd never thought he'd speak to me, let alone become such good friends with me. I would smile and agree.

Every single day without him is a quest to, somehow, find strength to get on with life, for I know that he would be annoyed with me if I didn't. And yet, when I try to do all of that, I realise that life will never be the same again. I find myself going to places he liked going to, doing things he liked doing, as though I hope to bump into him. Then I am reminded of how I cannot bump into him because I am carrying him with me.

I look back and remember the state of bliss and the absolute happiness that came with his friendship. And that is how we all must remember him; for the cheer and happiness he brought to our lives.

Uncle, aunty, I know that your loss is insurmountable and irrepairable but I hope that in time you can find the strength and peace he would have wanted you to have. He could never bear to see you in pain and, trust me, that is still the case.

I would now request all of you to join me in praying for his soul by observing silence for two minutes. Thank you."

Bablu

Bablu is the ordinary guy who, along with his brothers, runs a dhaba outside the North gate of our college. Bablu has good PR skills and tries to get students to avail the services of his dhaba instead of the one adjacent to it. Gullu, like a lot of other guys, had an ongoing account with Bablu. Initially I thought that it was to take advantage of the credit service Bablu offers. Moreover, most of time we just walk out of class during a break and forget to carry money; this is when Gullu's account came in handy. One day we had a relatively large bill so I told Gullu that I'd pay instead of writing in the account. That is when I got to know that he actually had a prepaid account! He had deposited some money, around 400 bucks from what I remember, with Bablu so that he can eat there without guilt. I was amazed.

Bablu also went out of his way to help Gullu. Gullu used to fast on Tuesdays. He would eat once a day and his food was required to have no salt in it. He would request Bablu to make special salt-free aloo paranthas for Gullu and Bablu would do that! Another time we ordered food from another dhaba outside IIFT and ate at Bablu's dhaba since we had a test and had no energy to walk. Bablu readily gave us cutlery and let us sit inside his shack and eat, since no chairs were allowed outside due to some police issues.

Gullu kept one notebook for the entire term in the last trimester. That notebook got lost and finally Gullu found it with Bablu! We were highly amused, teased him how that had become way too much of a hang out place for him.

Yesterday, I got to know that the account that Gullu used to run at Bablu's dhaba has 100 rupees extra credit. I suppose it is meant to be like that, Gullu wanted it to be so.

Gullu, I am missing you a lot here, seems like "life" is missing.

MISS YOU

Hi dear,

It's a little more than one month since you left... and to me its still so unbelievable.
I can't write anything about you... I don't have any such long sweet memories that others have shared, either being your classmate or your companion in parties and stuff. I did not meet you, did not party with you, never saw you snoring away merrily in class or bunking classes merrily... so what do I write... Just...
I MISS YOU and to do that I never had to meet you...