Tuesday, October 9

Lalit - may your soul rest in peace!

My cousin bro Lalit Mohan has left this world on 21st Sept coz of an road accident just minutes from home. He was someone who I could confide anything and everything. We grew up together and we were partners in pranks, mischiefs and fun.

Just the thought that all that is left of him "is the good times we spent in the past, '' pains and he is now only in the mind. Miss u buddy. No words still to express my mind, its just too heavy and big a loss...

Lalit with his just born daughter Ila in Bangalore
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Lalit at the Chennai house
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along with my friends in Bhatia Gardens, Chennai


Following beautiful tribute from my cousin sister , is touching our hearts and is a testimony for what Lalit is to all of us..........thank you ... this means a lot to us and we feel really proud....
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Son. Brother. Husband. Father. Friend.......

Lalit was many things to many people.

And the bottom line is that we were all just very, very lucky to have him in our lives.
Who is to say that 29 is too short?

Brief as his life may have been, he still lived one that was pure, full and free from petty anxieties. He learned, traveled, pursued, understood and discovered things that half the population twice his age have never experienced.

Do not weep for he is in a better place than we can all imagine. The Creator takes away those who are dearest to him so be thankful that his life touched yours, however fleeting it may have been.

MoMa/ Sundari Aunty (his Dad and Mom):

Be proud. Be very proud. You two set the foundation and provided the care and guidance that shaped him into the person we all remember. Your son was kind, generous and full of positive energy that was felt by everyone around him. Continue your lives in the knowledge that you two created something truly beautiful together, which will only inspire the rest of us. Your son is smiling and happy and forever safe in the hands of the Creator and will never ever shed a single tear again. His earthly passing has only guaranteed his future abundance of joy and happiness.

Rama (his wife):

We should all thank you for reciprocating his feelings when you did and showing him the meaning of true love
and for giving him the greatest gift of all – your child together. For this alone we will be forever indebted to you. It was you who made the last decade of his life one that was full of new promises, experiences, passions, confidence and undeniable satisfaction. You were his rock and a love like that will never die. He is your guardian angel now. You must embrace life and learn to love again for that is what he will want.

Malu (his Sister):

If you have ever wondered what the purpose of your life is, then this is it. You are the captain of this ship now and it is you who will proudly steer this family forward. It is the very same Creator who took your brothers life that spared yours. Now is the time to be brave and to mark your presence in this world. Keep your brother’s memory alive for your niece and for your own unborn children so that they may benefit from the goodness of his legacy. Your parents need you now more than they have ever before. Hold them, protect them and remind them that Lalit is now in total comfort and peace.

Ila (his daughter, celebrated her 1st birthday on 29th August in Chennai):

What a precious gift you are!

Your dad is a thousand winds that blow.?
Your dad is the diamond glints on snow.?
Your dad is the sunlight on ripened grain.?
Your dad is the gentle autumn’s rain.?
When you awaken in the morning’s hush, your dad is the swift uplifting rush?Of quiet birds in circled flight.?
Your dad is the soft stars that shine at night.?
We will not let you stand at his grave and forever cry.
For he is there. He did not die.

And lastly, in the words of a poet both Lalit and I shared a mutual respect for;

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand
and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

- Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

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A sincere nice tribute to Lalit from his cousin sister Bindu Thampi, Florida.

Taking a cue from Deepa's beautiful message, I wanted to share some of my cherished memories of Lalit.

I still remember his big wide eyes as a child, standing at the railway station with his dad admiring all the "gooss trainss". His taste for Energy flavoured milk, right from babyhood - with loud cries everytime the bottle got empty - right through his teen years. The funny way he sang hindi songs as a child. Especially the song that had his favourite munchie item in it, "Chowpatty jayenge vel poori khayenge....". The way he enjoyed eating chocolate even as an adult, savouring every bite and tempting onlookers.

His appreciation for all the fine things in life while still maintaining simplicity in lifestyle. His fun attempt at growing an afro and looking pretty cool in it!!! The zany kurtis he liked to wear that matched his fun spirit. Our unforgettable trip to Esselworld, Mumbai where he didn't mind sqealing loudly on the monster rides to mask our screams and kept us in splits all through.

The softness in his eyes when he looked at people he loved. A big smile that always reached his eyes and lit up his entire face. He never complained about anything and always shrugged his problems away. All in all I would say there are only pleasant and happy memories of my bro in my mind. While we will all miss him so much, we cannot deny the fact that he lived his time happily and to the fullest. His last 3 weeks in Australia were the happiest times for him and his family of three. He taught us that there is so much to look forward to in life. Rama: he had shown you a glimpse of what he wanted life to be like for you. Please take that vision and build on it for you and for Ila kutty in his loving memory. That's what he would have wanted most. I'd like to visualise him flying - like he always wanted to.

love,

Bindu.

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