Naren was my big brother. And I miss him dearly. I hope he’ll get a chuckle out of this post, taking a swig of Old Monk rum with that twinkle in his eye. My first serious encounter with him was when I had just finished high school, enrolled into college and planned to drop out. The family elders had designated Naren as the point man to drum some sense into me. So, speak we did one afternoon, but the topic very quickly moved on to life – and he said that all that really mattered was to be happy and have fun, and that I should do whatever I wanted to! I don’t think he was ever asked to counsel anyone else after that… I was around to welcome Shanthi (Sunita) into our family and being the youngest, was assigned all kinds of odd jobs by Naren...including tracking our grandmother’s movements - because he didn't want her barging into his room when he’d settled down with his favourite beverage in the evenings :) Fortunately, our paths converged 10-odd years later when we relocated to London. I fondly remember visiting Shanthi, Naren, Anish and Rudi at their lovely home in Petersham on several weekends with our 2 year old daughter, whom he’d grab from me and whisk away into their lovely garden. Millennium New Year’s eve was a riot – we had all gone to watch the fireworks by the Thames. It was a lovely evening filled with resounding “cheers” and merrymaking, and when the clock struck and we’d wished each other, Naren hopped off the ledge to find the loo and didn’t come back!! The trains weren’t running and there were no cabs to be found, so the rest of us had to walk back and reached Dulwich at about 2 AM - only to find Naren fast asleep in bed! In his defense he said he’d come looking for us and not having much luck thought we’d taken off without him…The fellow then managed to convince a passing minicab to drop him home!!! He got the yelling of the century from Shanthi the next morning, and after a quiet breakfast simply said to her “Sweetheart, what an exciting way to start the year!!” I have never heard him speak ill about anyone. I have never heard him say to me that life was difficult or that he was facing a challenge. He was the most positive and generous human being I have ever known – always ready to help, always willing to go that extra mile and always with that big cheery grin on his handsome face. We had our last bottle of Old Monk four weeks ago, even as Naren made his signature roast chicken for dinner. We shared a bottle of wine the next day just before I left to catch my flight. “See you soon” were his parting words. Never did I imagine that I would be writing this... Cheers Mate!