Not a single day goes by without his name crossing by my mind. And as I recall those conversations I had with my 1st semester roommate, I’m writing this just to preserve the moments I had with him. A few of them which I can specifically attribute to that Mallu guy with “Flash” written on his back of the T Shirt, as if he knew since ages that he’s just a flash for this planet.

It was 29th of June 2010 when I first saw him in the Examination Hall during our admission interviews. When I reached the SNAS’s desk, SNAS passed over a chit which had “Room Number 214 – BH II – Mahesh Gopan” written on it. He was then giving a lecture on what to do and what not while I was scanning the scene behind me to find that Gopan Guy. And well, I see him waiting right next to me. Waiting for his turn to receive a chit with my name and to listen to the same SNAS cassette. I shook hands with him and said “Hi… We’re roommates!.. Asad” and he reverts back saying “Hey! Nice. My name is there re, on that chit you’re holding!”. … Putting a titter on our faces, we then headed to our room.

While Sparta was cleaning our room…( at least he was pretending to), I introduced my roommate to my dad while he introduced me to his dad. The same followed for the mothers. Though I don’t remember the entire conversation my dad had with his, I remember his dad asking mine, “Which batch of LLB did you pass out from?” and my dad replied “1977”. His dad startled a bit and said “Aaah.. Even I’m a 1977 pass out!” and my dad replied saying “Nice! And our sons will pass out from the same batch as well”. Both of them laughed hysterically while I and Gopan stared at each other. Obviously, he had the smile he always had. Always! As if it was just as inherent as one of the parts of his body. Or maybe, that was just Gopan. He had the same smile even during some professor’s bawl out for missing his attendance.

Initially, all we shared were our ragging experiences! How we escaped and how we were trapped by our brute seniors. How our schooling went and who all he dated and hated. The conversations weren’t often personal. He usually turned up late to bed and woke up late. Generally, the only time we used to see each other awake was at around 8:30 in the morning when I used to try waking him up for the class. “What’s the first class dude?” was his default reply. Back then we were given the Time Table and I stuck it on my wall from where I used to give the answer to his question. He then used to shoot some lame excuse to hit the bed back again saying “It’s okay re… I’ll see you in the next class!” Sometimes I did try tickling and feeling up his body, just to wake him up. But that affected him in no way and he did tell me many times that he isn’t ticklish. During the end of that semester, whenever we met, poking each other was the natural way of greeting. And oh! we all know this, if someone had knocked on some door at around 1:30 in the night, no one even had a slightest doubt that it wasn’t him touring the hostel for food. “Dude… Have you got any food re?” was his common dialogue at every door.

And the time passed as we shared a lot of personal things. Definitely way more than normal friends do. We were not just friends, but good ones. And obviously the conversations, by the virtue of being personal, cannot be disclosed here.

28th June 2011 – At the staircase near the gym on the first floor. He was sitting on the first step looking at a colourful birthday card. On asking who gave it, he smiled and said “Someone re!”. Well that was enough for anyone who knew him to understand. We were still smiling while he got up said he was going somewhere and the last thing we did, obviously, was to poke! He poked me and when I tried, he escaped! .. That unsuccessful poke, really hard to believe, was the last one!

Wondering who actually the loser is now, I don’t think it is Gopan who’s missing the world. It’s us who’s missing him. He has gone away living the best of years and leaving a lot of memories. He managed to escape the phase where you’re to work, earn, take care of your family and friends, grow old, get on a wheel chair and of course to struggle with whatever difficulties life would give. He flew away taking off during his birthday party, that too while swimming!, with no need of putting on the landing lights again.

Praying that his family gets the courage and strength to deal with the loss,
Asad.

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One of his Favourite Quotations on Facebook reads:

In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm! – Woody Allen