Let's not review how you got into the pool, how a possibly good swimmer, tall enough for a swimming pool drowned or how you left us, forever. Let's retrospect the good times instead.
You were just a week elder to me and living in the neighborhood was the best thing happened to us. Even being someone with the sharpest memory, I don't remember having another friend than you at 5 or 6. And your company had made me one of the mischievous guys than a soft spoken girl.
But, did we have anything in common? Not at all. When your head chooses the south pole, I would rather travel to the north. When you loved nonspicy food, my choice always was the spiciest. When you wanted to play hide and seek, I preferred watching television. When you wanted to sing, I wanted to sleep.
And then we grew up, in different locations, went to different schools and colleges. While i remained as one of those guys, you became the 'angry young man' and our choices clashed every single time. But weren't we still connected?
We became adults, making you choose one of the toughest decisions of leaving the country. And that was it, I saw you changing, I saw the soft side of you as a friend, brother and son. Never did I know till then that you loved all of us so much and didn't we get closer again? The bike rides, heart to heart conversations, chocolates, gifts, your humor, that 'Maggi, you pay the bill' in a restaurant, foodie me non- foodie you- we had different choices there as well, your stupid smile and my impatience to know your secrets - it was all surprising for me when you came down to visit us the previous time and you don't even know how happy I was to see that compassionate side of yours.
You were simple and never felt ashamed to admit that you are not a Burger-Hotdog-Pizza loving guy. Recently, when you criticized one of my write ups, i was happy to know that you read through and wanted me to improve.
But never did I know that it would be the last and those memories will make me cry instead.
And you came again, a short surprise visit, like you were in a hurry... To meet all of us, and do a lot of things. As if you were running short of time. And you were surprisingly glowing and looked your best, and we couldn't stop explaining how handsome you looked. Did you really know that you may not come back again, ALIVE?
You were to receive my guy on my wedding day, and I was supposed to help you tie that 'thaali' on yours. And that has now faded away, along with you.
Now, when I turn on WhatsApp, I expect to see a message from you asking me 'Makale, entundu' (what's up my girl), see my messages getting delivered and the last seen change to online. Though I know that will never happen, but may be, I wish for a miracle.
You are lying there in a coffin, so far from us - torn, frozen... And everyone is waiting for you, to see you for one last time. But not me. I don't want to see you now. A dead body as they call you now, is not what I wanted to see. I would rather wish to have those sweet memories of that guy who grew up with me than replacing them with a cold body.
You were the best brother I could ever ask for, but took me a while to realize, and before it could sink in, you left forever.
Can't believe you are gone, and its been too painful when i had to type you 'were' instead of 'are', meaning you were something from the past. Can't imagine thr struggle you might have gone through when you fell into the pool, or could ever remember that phone call we received in the middle of the night to inform that you left us. But, when I slowly get in terms with the loss, I realize another thing that I loved you so much. And you don't worry, though no one can replace you, you parents and brother will always have me.
NB : My brother, cousin brother Anoop Chand was found dead in his apartment's swimming pool on 12.8.2014. He was 27 when he was passed away and was working as an Engineer with a reputed company in Dubai. He was a great artist and had won many awards including 'Balashree 2001',
You were just a week elder to me and living in the neighborhood was the best thing happened to us. Even being someone with the sharpest memory, I don't remember having another friend than you at 5 or 6. And your company had made me one of the mischievous guys than a soft spoken girl.
But, did we have anything in common? Not at all. When your head chooses the south pole, I would rather travel to the north. When you loved nonspicy food, my choice always was the spiciest. When you wanted to play hide and seek, I preferred watching television. When you wanted to sing, I wanted to sleep.
And then we grew up, in different locations, went to different schools and colleges. While i remained as one of those guys, you became the 'angry young man' and our choices clashed every single time. But weren't we still connected?
We became adults, making you choose one of the toughest decisions of leaving the country. And that was it, I saw you changing, I saw the soft side of you as a friend, brother and son. Never did I know till then that you loved all of us so much and didn't we get closer again? The bike rides, heart to heart conversations, chocolates, gifts, your humor, that 'Maggi, you pay the bill' in a restaurant, foodie me non- foodie you- we had different choices there as well, your stupid smile and my impatience to know your secrets - it was all surprising for me when you came down to visit us the previous time and you don't even know how happy I was to see that compassionate side of yours.
You were simple and never felt ashamed to admit that you are not a Burger-Hotdog-Pizza loving guy. Recently, when you criticized one of my write ups, i was happy to know that you read through and wanted me to improve.
But never did I know that it would be the last and those memories will make me cry instead.
And you came again, a short surprise visit, like you were in a hurry... To meet all of us, and do a lot of things. As if you were running short of time. And you were surprisingly glowing and looked your best, and we couldn't stop explaining how handsome you looked. Did you really know that you may not come back again, ALIVE?
You were to receive my guy on my wedding day, and I was supposed to help you tie that 'thaali' on yours. And that has now faded away, along with you.
Now, when I turn on WhatsApp, I expect to see a message from you asking me 'Makale, entundu' (what's up my girl), see my messages getting delivered and the last seen change to online. Though I know that will never happen, but may be, I wish for a miracle.
You are lying there in a coffin, so far from us - torn, frozen... And everyone is waiting for you, to see you for one last time. But not me. I don't want to see you now. A dead body as they call you now, is not what I wanted to see. I would rather wish to have those sweet memories of that guy who grew up with me than replacing them with a cold body.
You were the best brother I could ever ask for, but took me a while to realize, and before it could sink in, you left forever.
Can't believe you are gone, and its been too painful when i had to type you 'were' instead of 'are', meaning you were something from the past. Can't imagine thr struggle you might have gone through when you fell into the pool, or could ever remember that phone call we received in the middle of the night to inform that you left us. But, when I slowly get in terms with the loss, I realize another thing that I loved you so much. And you don't worry, though no one can replace you, you parents and brother will always have me.
NB : My brother, cousin brother Anoop Chand was found dead in his apartment's swimming pool on 12.8.2014. He was 27 when he was passed away and was working as an Engineer with a reputed company in Dubai. He was a great artist and had won many awards including 'Balashree 2001',
