Deepu Thomas

People usually have a best buddy in school when they are growing up. I

was fortunate - I had two; Anand and Deepu. Eventually - the 'growing

up' did end and fate placed us on different points of latitude and

longitude, prohibiting contact for months, sometimes, years together.

It is at Anand's request that I write this article today.

Try as I may, it is impossible for me to write this piece without

being overwhelmed. And so, if I err, I kindly ask you to forgive me

just this once. I write with enormous compassion and great humility

today - for today's article is about our best friend Deepu Thomas.

I was 5 years old and 2 feet tall when I first met Deepu. Since, I

clearly can not claim to be mature at the time, it is entirely

possible that those numbers are a trifle off-mark. What I do remember

clearly, was the universal likability of this boy. Quiet, shy and

easy to get along, Deepu had the makings of the perfect 'good boy'

from an early age. Anand joined us soon after. Indeed for a large

portion of my school years, we did everything together and soon

enough the school teachers had a rule of not letting us sit together.

If Anand portrayed intelligence and I portrayed arrogance, Deepu was

the living definition of simplicity. Immensely talented, yet

endearingly humble, he was the kind of boy who talked less yet spoke

more. His presence had a way of unconsciously teaching life long

lessons through the smallest of actions.

Lunch hour was an unusually tumultuous time in our lives at the time.

And so I wasn't surprised, but agitated none the less when it reached

new heights one day...... We were having our usual 'peacefully

chaotic' meals - when a bigger boy toppled Deepu's lunch box. Deepu

was never the one to get into fights and probably wouldn't have said

anything, so I took the honorable duty of hitting the boy as hard as I

could. This clearly took my adversary off guard as he must have

thought me to be mad to take on a boy his size alone. Needless to say

- his following punch was a great set back to my morals. I looked at

Deepu with a "Now what??" expression - and so in our common interest

he joined the battle. Fortified with new valor, I launched into a

fresh assault on our enemy - this time targeting his nose, using his

ample long hair as hanging ropes... through the corner of my eye, I

caught a glimpse of Deepu randomly hitting the guy - and so we kept at

it - till our enemy thought he had enough and decided to make a run

for it.

Oh yes! We were then made to kneel outside the classroom. I must admit

I felt a little guilty, to make Deepu suffer the punishment with me.

He looked at me kindly though, and we giggled our way through the

lecture. Later on Deepu showed tremendous restraint, as I play-acted

(over acted) the fight to my friends over and over again. None of us

was smart enough to observe, that my versions were varying in detail

at each iteration.

Alas! our glory was short lived! Soon later, seizing an opportune

moment, our former Mr 'Big Boy' trapped me at the end of school one

day. Behind my back lay the steep walls of "Cretch Grounds" -

impossible to scale and the only exit out of the ground was cut off by

Mr "Big Boy" - only this time, he had ensured back up in the form of

two other equally Big boys. It was the end of our P.T. session and my

class teacher was leaving with other students - already out of the

grounds, I could have yelled for help - or might have even ran away

with a little scuffle, but neither of these options were viable

without loss of honor, and so terrified as I was, I decided to put on

a brave face and face my enemies.

Needless to say, I was pounded mercilessly. The grounds provided with

ample stone though, which I proceeded to use, except I forgot, they

would use them too. Pinned by two boys on either side, I was beaten

left, right - centre - there was no escaping it. Deepu, must have

noticed I was missing, since he came back to the grounds, looking for

me. I still remember being enormously relieved to see him. Yet, it

was clear - there was no escaping this day...

He plunged into the fight right away. And then........ we both got

pounded. Neither of us quit, and we would have probably beaten

ourselves up for good, had it not been for another teacher, who broke

the fight. Our attackers ran away, and we were taken to the first

floor staff room, torn clothes - cut lips - yup - we were quite the

sight to see. Amidst detol induced tears - I looked at our sorry

states - and yet, felt immensely proud and light...

Throughout the ordeal, Deepu never made extravagant claims nor did he

blame me for causing trouble.. Silent and quiet as ever, his actions

had spoken much louder than any words I could ever speak. To, this

day, I keep that incident as my standard of friendship, simple and

always true, such was the lasting influence of my friend on those he

came in contact with..

Our friendship took new dimensions when Anand joined us. Sparkling

with intelligence and delightful humor, he took my mischief to new

heights. Whatever be the venture, Deepu would always end up being a

reluctant yet assured accomplice.

It still makes me laugh to think that Deepu hadn't seen a porn film

till he reached junior college. Anand for sure, saw this as a flaw in

his education and decided to remedy it by procuring a 'Blue-Film' -

it is telling that he instinctively thought of my home to be the

perfect venue, for watching it! I was more than happy to help - and so

it came to be - that Deepu lost his visual virginity in my living room

as Anand and me kept guard.

"If it hurts them so much! Why do they do it??" - Deepu asked.

"Thats the whole point!" - said Anand. (which seemed to have confused

Deepu even more)

"Oh! Most of the times - they are faking it." - said I - with the air

of one who has seen things beyond his age. ..

Little did I know - it was the last time I would see him.

Soon after Deepu went to pursue his bachelors in southern India. Me

and Anand stayed in Mumbai and pursued Engineering degrees. During

those four years, I remember meeting Anand twice, but I could never

meet Deepu. In another three months after I finished my Bachelors, I

flew to the United States to pursue my graduate studies, Anand I

heard, had flown to Baharain, to work in his Dad's firm.

My first return to India took longer than I had anticipated. And so it

was only after a long 30 months that I saw the twinkling lights of

Queens Necklace again.. During my stay in the U.S. I had made it a

point to meet international people and ask for specimens of their

currency. We had a hobby of collecting coins from different countries

- back in the school days... I intended to surprise Deepu - on my

return - with the collection of coins and currency notes, I had so

diligently preserved ...

I met my favourite school teacher - the very next day and we chatted

happily about my experiences in the U.S.

I had a sumptuous lunch and got ready to leave.

"Where next??" - my teacher asked.

"Oh - to Deepu's house, I have a coin collection for him, hes gonna be

so excited!"

"Sit down Sanket." - my teacher commanded. And so, I did, confusion

and bad omen filling up my mind.

"What is it??" - I asked.

"Hasn't anyone told you??" - she asked.

"Told me what!"

"Deepu died a year ago - in an accident " - she said.

I spent the next fifteen minutes in denial and anger, and smashed a

glass in her house. "How could you guys not tell me! This is not

possible!"

I left her place - remembering to be as angry as I had ever been in my

life. After, I came back home, I yelled at every person I knew and

was disoriented for quite some time.

I asked my sister, "What happened?"

"He was at a bus stop - when a drunken truck driver hit him. He was in

coma for a while, but couldn't survive the accident." - she said.

I was never a religious man, but I remember, locking myself in my old

room that day and asking GOD a repeated question - " He never harmed

anyone - why him??? why him??"

My sister later told me ...

'The school his funeral was filled to its capacity with people from all

walks - some knew him as school friend, some knew him as a student,

some as a friendly boy in their neighborhood. Every single one of

them - were gathered that day, grieving with deep sorrow - they had

all lost a person very close to them.

Courageous, loyal and wonderfully simple, Deepu - was the finest human

being - I ever knew. No contest.

As I try to collect my thoughts today, I am at a loss to explain, what

it is to have such a person being taken away - so mercilessly - so

unjustly ....

A wise person once said - "Many that die - deserve to live, and many

that live, deserve death, It isn't up to you - to give it to them"

Deepu Thomas certainly deserved to live, live much longer and happier

and his loss is undoubtedly one - that we shall never quite repair ...

All, I can say to coming Don Bosco students - is "Gear up boys! You

have some big shoes to fill! May you always strive to be as virtuous

as my friend and buddy - Deepu Thomas"

Offering as proud a salute as I can.

Sincerely,

- Sanket