Tribute to Late Ashwini Kapoor

How does one come to terms with the fact that a classmate, friend, car pool sharer, memory maker is no more?

Ashwani who was fondly known as Ashu, amongst other nicknames, was a person who can never fade away since he lives in so many laughs, Diwali card sessions, songs he sang, drives we went on, and is inextricably entwined in almost every happy school memory.

His persona, temperament, extremely soft hearted approach, wit and friendship were traits which are missed by me daily. He never minded all the jokes he was the butt of from being a fatty to just plain hilarious. Large hearted and generous to a fault, he was constantly fighting to not only treat me but also ready to pick up the tab for the many coffees and meals with my cousins.

This meant that not only did I share an extremely close relationship with him but it extended to my family members too.

Memories of Ashu during school days include his lunch never coming on time, his passion for music keeping him playing the sitar all night, his Pandara Road food trips, his constant losses during Diwali….

Though shy, he sang almost daily during my wedding dholki nights, regaling my family with dirty Punjabi songs and flirting with my 75 year old Bua, much to her delight.

Ashu being Ashu and always crazily impulsive moved to the U.S. with Alka and settled there between California and Alaska. That’s where presently, his three lovely daughters live with their mother Alka and Ashu’s permanent presence or should I say absence?