Three years ago, I lost a dear friend.  His name was Sanjay Nathani, and he was just about as old as I am.  Until a few weeks prior to his death, he was a hale and hearty individual with no history of any major illness.  Then, one day, they discovered a tumor in his brain that was already in its last stages.  Soon after, he died.

Two days ago, on the occassion of his third death anniversary, the wife and I went to a close friend’s house to honour his memory.  I’d seen death in the family many times before, but this would be a first for a friend. 

What do you do at such an event?  How do you honour someone’s memory after they’re gone?  Do you talk about them, recounting stories when they were around?  Do you share photographs with each other?  Do you build a website or setup a Facebook account in their memory?  Does it even matter?!

There would be more questions than there were answers… And there would be no right answers, in any case.

Then, I recalled that only a few months ago, I had returned from my aunt’s funeral and had started penning down some thoughts on this very subject.  She was the closest friend or relative my mom has known, and therefore, had come to occupy a significant place in our lives.  What I’d started writing then, would be completed today…

Photographs of times with your family and friends?
Those hideous shoes and your fashion sense?!
 
How naughty or responsible you were as a child
Your choice of carpet or how your kitchen was tiled

Maybe two kids and a loving spouse
Or how you just wouldn’t budge from that house

Your favourite icecream flavours or how you liked your tea
The recipes you willingly shared with every one and me

When it’s time to leave this Life unkind
Is that all that you manage to leave behind?