In the morning my classmate, Savio George, the doctor from Chicago had called up to say that Ramesh was critical and that his end could be coming anytime. Soon after, MS Mohan Nair, another friend and classmate had confirmed it. Arakkal Narayana Pillai Ramesh(As he liked to call himself, while at school) or AN Ramesh was admitted in the Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences last Sunday when he complained of pain around the abdomen. The tests confirmed the worst... he did not have much time in this world.
Colonel AN Ramesh was diagnosed for colon cancer about six years back and was under treatment with the usual combination of chemotherapy and radiations at the Amritha Hospital. As a result, he'd lost his hair and had acquired a bit more of weight but the greatest thing was that he continued to smile and regale us with his sense of humour, never once showing his discomfort to anyone of us, including Bindu, his wife. Last Sunday's tests had confirmed that the cancer had spread like wildfire and there was nothing left for the doctors to do. He'd to be kept away from the pain and that was done by putting him on a drip of morphine, along with other sedatives.
Ramesh had joined the Sainik School in '66 and his roll number was 408. I joined the same class, a year later and my roll number was 519. We're in Prasad House under the care of Mr. KK Muthanna, the House Master and Mrs. Sarojini Sreedharan, the Matron. Being on the heavier side he, automatically, was assigned the nickname, 'Chakka' by the others and was always on the sunny side in behaviour. He was what we in the defence forces call an 'OG' guy, meaning he took everything seriously and insisted on doing it meticulously.
He could be a hard task master and to cite an example, when made the class leader, he used to put down our roll numbers on the board - because we dared to move or question his authority - that resulted in us tasting the cane of the supervising teacher during the evening study time! He was a master prankster too. Good at Academics and an enthusiastic participant at the outdoors, we're House Captains together, in the final years at school - I was of the No.5 dormitory while he was in the neighbouring No.6 dormitory.
After passing out from school, he'd joined the Army and we went our ways without meeting for a long time. I, however, used to get plenty of inputs about Ramesh through his juniors who'd great admiration for him! It was this quality of his that stood out and his flat on the 15th floor of the Kent Glasshouse at Vyttila was a place that many of us looked forward to spend time while being at Kochi. Whenever, we used to go to Kochi in connection with Lekha's quarterly medical review, he used to insist upon us to stay at his place. During those late evening sessions - mind you, he was a teetotaler - what he used to look forward to, the most, was when we talked about each of our classmates from roll numbers 276 to 642, trying to recall the details of each, along with the anecdotes associated with them while at school and as to what they're embarked upon at that moment! Those were non stop laughing sessions.
Last March, we missed that tryst and I feel bad, now, for it.
RIP, Ramesh. My salute, prayers and tears to a good friend who never let his discomfort overtake him and laughed away through life. Here's wishing that Bindu, their daughter, Ramya and the entire family have the strength to tide over these stressful times.
Tailpiece.
Could start from Guruvayur only by 1400 hrs. The traffic was heavy and we reached the outskirts of Kochi by 1615 hrs when Josekutty Thomas prompted us towards the Ravipuram crematorium as Ramesh had begun his last journey from home. Reached there at 1645 hrs to see a shrouded Ramesh awaiting his turn on the pyre. Lekha and I were sad that we couldn't see his face for the last time. Perhaps, that was destined as he didn't want us to see him in that condition! Was lucky in joining Mannali, among us classmates, to lift him on to the pyre. A short ceremony ensued and soon, tongues of flame engulfed him and the jolly good 'Chakka' Ramesh had become memory.....we shall cherish every moment spent with you. And Bindu, you're strong.....we're with you in this hour of grief!
Colonel AN Ramesh was diagnosed for colon cancer about six years back and was under treatment with the usual combination of chemotherapy and radiations at the Amritha Hospital. As a result, he'd lost his hair and had acquired a bit more of weight but the greatest thing was that he continued to smile and regale us with his sense of humour, never once showing his discomfort to anyone of us, including Bindu, his wife. Last Sunday's tests had confirmed that the cancer had spread like wildfire and there was nothing left for the doctors to do. He'd to be kept away from the pain and that was done by putting him on a drip of morphine, along with other sedatives.
Ramesh had joined the Sainik School in '66 and his roll number was 408. I joined the same class, a year later and my roll number was 519. We're in Prasad House under the care of Mr. KK Muthanna, the House Master and Mrs. Sarojini Sreedharan, the Matron. Being on the heavier side he, automatically, was assigned the nickname, 'Chakka' by the others and was always on the sunny side in behaviour. He was what we in the defence forces call an 'OG' guy, meaning he took everything seriously and insisted on doing it meticulously.
He could be a hard task master and to cite an example, when made the class leader, he used to put down our roll numbers on the board - because we dared to move or question his authority - that resulted in us tasting the cane of the supervising teacher during the evening study time! He was a master prankster too. Good at Academics and an enthusiastic participant at the outdoors, we're House Captains together, in the final years at school - I was of the No.5 dormitory while he was in the neighbouring No.6 dormitory.
After passing out from school, he'd joined the Army and we went our ways without meeting for a long time. I, however, used to get plenty of inputs about Ramesh through his juniors who'd great admiration for him! It was this quality of his that stood out and his flat on the 15th floor of the Kent Glasshouse at Vyttila was a place that many of us looked forward to spend time while being at Kochi. Whenever, we used to go to Kochi in connection with Lekha's quarterly medical review, he used to insist upon us to stay at his place. During those late evening sessions - mind you, he was a teetotaler - what he used to look forward to, the most, was when we talked about each of our classmates from roll numbers 276 to 642, trying to recall the details of each, along with the anecdotes associated with them while at school and as to what they're embarked upon at that moment! Those were non stop laughing sessions.
Last March, we missed that tryst and I feel bad, now, for it.
RIP, Ramesh. My salute, prayers and tears to a good friend who never let his discomfort overtake him and laughed away through life. Here's wishing that Bindu, their daughter, Ramya and the entire family have the strength to tide over these stressful times.
Tailpiece.
Could start from Guruvayur only by 1400 hrs. The traffic was heavy and we reached the outskirts of Kochi by 1615 hrs when Josekutty Thomas prompted us towards the Ravipuram crematorium as Ramesh had begun his last journey from home. Reached there at 1645 hrs to see a shrouded Ramesh awaiting his turn on the pyre. Lekha and I were sad that we couldn't see his face for the last time. Perhaps, that was destined as he didn't want us to see him in that condition! Was lucky in joining Mannali, among us classmates, to lift him on to the pyre. A short ceremony ensued and soon, tongues of flame engulfed him and the jolly good 'Chakka' Ramesh had become memory.....we shall cherish every moment spent with you. And Bindu, you're strong.....we're with you in this hour of grief!
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