Rohit, Dr. Rohit send me an email saying that Chirag was dead. It has not sunk in and I can afford to be philosophical. I met Chirag in school, when we were 10ish. I was the naughtiest and funniest guy in class and we both started out by getting identical marks. I think in a strange way I earned his respect since I was doing well academically. We bungee on a tree I discovered on the far end of the school called "Spring Balance". The branch was elastic in nature and through the years we fell apart but I still had his respect. Chirag was always very ambitious and I was always very complacent and while he went on to study Engineering. I studied Arts. Dropped out, went back and completed a few degrees. He got into management and we both wrote for the same publisher Vijay Mukhi. I was famous for the wrong reasons since I sang on stage in school and just snicked in A grade, where as he went on to distinction.
When I got my heart broken he advised me a couple of times. He let me use his computer to finish "Love War and Computers" and I borrowed his books at will. He was like a brother to me and I just went and talked to him at any time day or night and he was the practical one.
Chirag was now a Doctor and CEO, WESRA India, Chairperson (DAML), NMIMS University, Vice President, FIST, Executive Director, IUCI and Member E&T Committee, IMC
I was a mere Masters degree holder and I wrote to him.
dear chairperson dear doctor
I am looking for a friend of mine that goes by the name Chirag. We used to swing on the swing balance and were best friends in 5th standard. I being the golden drifter have had a bit of fun, nothing too naughty but he is doing well so if you see him say hi and tell him if he wants to go through the nonsense I have been upto he can visit www.blackberrycats.com
He wrote back:
You are right - he is doing well but in addition to being Chairperson and Doctor he continues to remain Chirag. He doesn't have too many friends who like the swing anymore, but that is more to do with age than anything else. His friends these days seem to be more interested in stocks, governance and other such stuff that does not matter anyways.
He tells me that he would love to catch up with older friends who can either call him on +91-22-2671-3009 / +91-9820143070 or drop him a line giving their coordinates so that he can call them back.
I wrote back:
I am glad I did. Unfortunately due to innate immaturity i have not grown up much since the orange fluffy jacket in the 5th standard
====
I tried calling him a couple of times and Rohit said he was dead and I am still in a philosophical daze. I remember him fondly calling me a Bastard when he suggested I should marry Gretchen in Bombay as I should settle and I said her boobs were too small. He instinctively laughed and went "Varma you are a bastard".
He was there to talk anytime and I implore all my friends "Don't Sweat It". I am not great, in fact very childish and immature but hey! somedays its JUST NOT WORTH IT.
As for Chirag, we shared some very intelligent conversations, some PG Wodehouses and Alistaire Mcleans and Ludlums but not the same philosophy and such is life. Thus is death.
No comments:
Post a Comment