Lost a Friend

This is perhaps not one of the best reasons to write a blog but I can't stop myself. Through an online forum of JNUites, I got to know today that one of my best friends is no more. I am talking of Vimal Kaushik. It was July of 1996 when Vimal and I joined JNU - same school, same center but different courses. I chose to go with International Politics and he chose Disarmament.

How we got to know each other is a very weird incident. 24th November 1996, the room next to mine was playing loud music and bout of shouts, laughter, singing - the works. I was in #137 (first floor) Kaveri Hostel. Some guys who were preparing for their Civil Services mains got disturbed and then suddenly there was a mad fighting scene outside the room. Hearing the altercation, I also came out of my room. I saw a few students (some I knew, some I didn't) were arguing furiously. I, out of habit, tired to meddle. It was then when I got to know that Vimal Kaushik lived next door...imagine my reserve nature that since July till Nov 1996 I didn't even know who he was. I asked him what was the reason for loud celebrations while suggesting to tone it down. He told, "today is my birthday." I was a little surprised. 24th Nov happens to be my B'day too. "It's my Birthday too," I replied. Things settled down. Vimal invited me to his room and rest is history.

Soon I decided to move to one of the 'not-so-liked' hostels of JNU. It was Brahmaputra. It was far from the hustle-bustle of the main campus. It was known as a working men's hostel/hostel for aged guys. I shifted to there without much thinking because I was more in favour of a single room than the campus life. Vimal continued living in Kaveri for sometime. One day he came down to see me and told he is also shifting to Brahmaputra. I was very happy. He got room number 8 on the ground floor. I was in # 148 on the first floor - just above his. By then we were buddies. Vimal was an ambitious, extrovert guy but very social, adjusting, and quite easy going. He had that rustic flavour in his life-style. I also come from a very down-to-earth, lower middle-class background but was more urban in expressions.

We went well together...Most of the time we were spotted together - be it eating out, libraries, center, badminton courts.

I have tons of stories to share about him. We spent a great deal of time together not only on the campus but even after that. I got married in 1997 December. That's when I left the campus. But Vimal continued to live there. We remained in touch. He helped me in finding a house at Lawrence Road area of New Delhi. He kept visiting us. Until the time I left for Mumbai in 2001, we were in touch. Some differences cropped in between us. We again met in year 2003 in Manu's wedding (my old college friend) at Agra. We drove back to Delhi together. He dropped me at Nizamuddin Railway Station from where I had to catch a train to Mumbai. That was probably the last time I saw Vimal. We lost touch soon after.

Today when this news came to me, I wasn't able to relish it. He met with an accident. It wasn't the first time. I still have those memories fresh in my mind when he first met with a fatal accident in year 1996. He was driving back from Meerut at night. It was his 2nd of 3rd trip to and fro Delhi. Many a times I told him not to take such risks but he never paid any attention. I was in Jaipur when I got to know that he had rammed his Gypsy into a stationary truck and has sustained fatal injuries, I rushed back. I went to see him in Yashodha Hospital Ghaziabad. It was the day of Diwali. He was still smiling. He told me the horrifying tale and also admitted that he slept while driving. He had a miraculous escape that time.

This time when I heard he met with an accident...all those horrifying pictures resurfaced. I visualized the old incident.

I am yet not able to relish that a friend who stood by me, who always smiled, shared joy with everyone, helped people out of turn has gone away from us. I will take my own time to come out of the deep slumber. I only wish his family copes up with this tragedy and untimely death of a young man, a teacher and a friend.