A final farewell.

Dateline 05 Apr

Had spent the night at the flat-that-was-hired-for use-after-the-transplant, close to the KIMS hospital. Though all of us were dog tired, Sanil's memories kept us chatting till well past midnight.

Earlier, we'd overseen the shifting of Sanil's body from the ICU to the morgue and completed the formalities so that we could take off early in the morning itself.

Got up at 4, went through our chores and was ready by 5. The ambulance - actually, the hearse - left the hospital's premises a trifle after 5. And we sped towards Ayoor.

We were at Mini's house much before 8 and Sanil was lying in state, immediately thereafter. People came trickling almost continuously. Meanwhile the preparations for the cremation were in progress.

Around 2, the body after being accorded the farewell ceremonies, was placed on the pyre and Sanil was consigned to the flames. Ammu had lit the pyre.

A quiet evening thereafter. We'd gone across to Raj Nivas to collect our luggage as we were gonna be at 'Anjanam' for the next fortnight to enable Mini, Ammu and Mithun to tide over theses stressful times.

A comparatively early evening.