Losing a dear friend is heartbreaking. Though life is uncertain, we all know, yet we do not expect a tragedy to befall so suddenly. We live in hope for the best. And here is the sudden shock.

My dear friend for the last 15 years here in the US , Mr. Vinod Kotahwala , a diamond merchant of New York and a well known person in the community had reportedly gone out of New York for a professional exhibition. According to his elder brother Haridass Kotahwala who I spoke with this morning , Vinod had a heart attack on Sunday night, followed by brain haemorrhage on Monday morning, to which he succumbed , after having been kept on life support,  on Tuesday, Feb 12 morning.

I don’t know how his wife Sushma will bear this terrible life shattering loss. His lovely children who doted on their father must be in terrible pain. His friends, like me, must be in a state of shock, just as I am. Life will never be the same again for his family and friends.

I will miss his cheerful disposition, his cherubic smile, warmth of his affection, his concern for me , and for others like me. He was a spring of encouragement, hope and love. I don’t think the void his sudden and untimely demise has created can ever be filled. There can never be another like him.

I recall nostalgically my many meetings and sittings with him and the pleasure each encounter with him brought me, and feel a nerve shattering sense of loss at his sudden departure.

Like all others, I do understand we cannot prevent Death from plundering life at Will. I also know we cannot do anything but accept the Will of God. What is left to us is pray for eternal rest to the departed soul. So I do in all love for Vinod, and in all humility to the Almighty to grant eternal rest to my dear departed friend. I pray to God Almighty to give strength to the family to bear the terrible loss.

Vinod will for ever live in the heart of his family and friends. Amen!