It all started on a hot summer day in the roughened tarmac of Govt college of Engg., Salem.. A tough NCC guy was spitting out some instructions which we have to follow to get into the Air wing of NCC.. I have seen this tall lad with a spectacles who lives next door in the dorm and studies in the same class.. Never spoke to him though.. Never knew what made us stand together probably the similar height we share or its just destiny.. Getting back to the scene, We have to run in the hot roughened tarmac for about 1000m and selection will be based on the results.. He finished first and surprisingly I finished just behind him.. Selection done and there comes the twist, he has got a blistered feet thanks to the hot tarmac.. We exchanged our shoes to protect his leg and made the long walk back to the hostel.. I still remember that day when I met the best person of my life.. And luckily he turned out to be my best friend..
To tell something about us, we both aren't quite similar.. I am short tempered but I can't be angry on someone for more than 5 mins.. Thaya is quite opposite.. He has a lot of patience but once he loses his temper its tough to calm him down.. Im dominating he isn't.. I take things easy but he pretends to be :) But the things that makes me feel he is the best person I 've met so far is the fact that he keeps friends. loved ones and finally himself in that order.. A simple analogy I can think of is a Jack fruit.. Looks so rough from its shell but try tasting the fruit inside I can assure its worth the time and effort.. A very calm and collective support, one will feel so strong with Thaya at your back.. Simply he lets you be yourself and he ll be the same..
We have been tough at each other on many occasions but at the end of 3rd year somehow we fell apart.. I donot know whose mistake is that till this day.. We didn't utter a word to each other for 3 years... Not 1 or 2.. 3 whole years.. Tried making a zillion calls and attempts knowing how hard-nosed this guy is.. And finally the best part of Thaya comes up.. One night he calls up and started speaking as though he just hung up the phone to pee !! I never asked him the reason and he never told.. Its all understood I guess..
After a long long time got a day to spend with him in Chennai.. We were back to the old form.. Its supposed to be a shopping day (Shopping for his' someone spl :)) ) but asusual we did eat more than shopping !!! Measured the city limits with our bike and backs begging for rest.. Finally packed him up in the last bus to NITT.. When I reached home I got an sms.. Would never forget that.. "Don't wana thank you.. But Thanks da.. Without you it would not have been possible.." To get something out of Thaya is really special when all I did do was serving as his driver for the whole day.. I was so happy it meant a million words to me..
After reaching UK he was one of the very few I still had contact with.. His long long love stories which made me wonder about the side of Thaya I 've never seen before.. :) He likes to give surprises and shocks in weird ways one can't think of.. One midnight he wakes me up to tell he just rode his bike for 100 kms when I was like what on earth that has to do with my sleep ?? We weren't like everyday buddies chatting daily or roam with each other.. But the few mins of phone call every fortnight or so makes a lot of sense than years of being together as friends.. In short, he is the one of those people I can bet my life with..
With his love for giving surprises, he chose March 6, 2011 for his biggest surprise.. He has been playing catching up with me in most things so far but this time he decided to defeat me hands down.. He want to go first and he left us all to be with the gods.. Its been more than 2 months but I still believe he is around us.. He is even reading this blog and probably would have known India are the world champions even before they did.. When all of India celebrated the victory all I could think were the times when we were dancing with our shirts off during Ind vs Pak match in 2003 WC at the dorm TV room.. Finally someone said "Life is not about the years, but the moments where we actually lived", I would better choose the years with him as a friend than a few moments that bring smile and tears together..
I would say "Donot rest in peace so soon".. We need you with us.. Miss you Thaya..
