My dear Brother

I can't imagine that Chandra is  no more.  I spoke to him on 12 July 2015 before leaving for Aurangabad.  He said he had some breathing problem.  He had been eliminating various causes for breathlessness.  He said the Doctor had told  him that it was not because of heart.  Since he had the problem of bloating tummy, he felt that it could be due to either a liver problem or a prostate problem.  He was to consult the doctor.

I returned from Aurangabad on 16 July 2015 evening.  At around 1.30 in the afternoon Dr. Sekar telephoned to me to inform me that Chandra was found unconscious on the bed and the doctor advised them to take him to a hospital.  Hence they were taking him to a hospital in an ambulance.  In a short while I got a cryptic message from Dr. Sekar: "We are returning".  I messaged back: "Is he alive or dead ?".  There was no reply.  I called his phone and he handed the phone to Mani.  Mani informed me that Chandra was dead; the hospital pronounced that he was brought "dead".

Mani informed me that I should carry out the rituals of cremation and the other Karmas as Cheena was not in India.  We rushed to Chennai, catching the late night flight. We could not get the 3.40 pm flight because by the time we got the confirmation it was already late for the tickets and there was in fact no ticket available in that flight.  The flight was delayed and we at last departed from Pune at around 2.00 am.  By the time we reached Maya's home it was almost 5.00 am.  We had a quick rest and started for Virugampakkam in the morning.  We reached there at around 8.00 am., on the 18 July 2015.

All the near and dear were there.  Chandra's body was kept in a refrigerated box.  His face was calm and quiet.  A smile was there on his face.  When I looked at his body I could realize that he left this world peacefully.  A blessed soul !  Somehow I was feeling that he had been breathing and his heart was beating.  I felt that his chest was moving gently.  I came to know from Maya that she and Indhu also had similar feelings.  God has ordained that I did the Karma's for Chandra - more of a friend than an elder brother.  Poor Manni !  I felt bad for her.  She has to face the life alone !  God should give her the strength to live a peaceful life.

I learnt from Manni and another friend of Chandra that he had a lot of love and affection for me.  He had a sort of pride in my being his brother.  I had not spoken to him in the recent past as a brother; but as a friend. In fact during our last telephone talk he even cracked a "blue" joke, after a lot of  hesitation and after getting my permission, clearly showing that not only did he love me but also had respect for me.

When we were young, say when we were at Nellikuppam and Pettavaithalai, Mani and Chandra were strangers to us.  Chandra was studying at the ER High School, Trichy, staying with Swayambu Mama (i.e. my mother's mama); later he studied at the National College, Trichy, and then at the New College, Chennai.  Hence he was always away from home.  Mani also had a similar pattern; he was with RK Thatha, and then moved to Islamiah College, Vaniambadi.  We used to see them only during holidays.  Contacts with Chandra improved only after Appa retired and Chandra moved to Nellikuppam.  I had visited him quite a few times when he was in Nellikuppam.  He was always curious to know new things and about new products in the market. He used to cook at his house before marriage.

Somehow, he had been having a running "feud" with Sharada Manni.  I don't think that ended till his death.  He had written many of the "controversies" in his blog, which I happened to write for him in the initial stages; later he started writing his own blogs. Through these blogs "Tambiku Vambu", he has been communicating with me all his views, opinions, issues, happenings around etc.  This blog was active for almost two years between 2007 and 2008; later he stopped writing blogs.  I have just gone through some of them after his death; they remind me of his presence even now.