My buddy Kiran

In 1993, I joined a youth association which organized monthly outings. There, I met a guy named Kiran and we immediately befriended each other. We got along remarkably well and it was the beginning of an extraordinary friendship.1993-1994 are years which I remember fondly as we would hang out every week-end, we would sleep over at Parvez's, we would go dancing and I would even go and help him out at work. Kiran was a very sentimental guy, a womanizer who spent his time getting entangled in all sorts of dramatic affairs. He would eventually call me at night and I would walk all the way to colline candos and meet him on the special mobile force's shooting ground just to listen to his stories. We would sit there until late at night, watch the stars and I would patiently lend my ear to his latest narration about how his heart got broken. I also recall that evening where we had so many beers that we fell asleep on the beach in Grand Bay to wake up panick-stricken at 6am the following morning...lol

Then came Ashwinee whom he starting dating, a tempestuous and rocky relationship which lasted 2-3 years before they eventually got engaged and tied the knot in 2005. I witnessed the pre and post apocalyptic years of this passionate relationship and quite hated being asked to take sides. I was present on their wedding day, attended Kir's father's funeral (one of the saddest moments of his life) and even helped him out financially when the couple moved to Canada. We kept in touch very remotely once he had left the country but then reconnected when he called me to inform me that he would become a father. Kiran and Ashwinee came on holidays after many years, I visited them, brought a gift for their son, we had an awesome dinner and we bonded again. Over the years viber helped us exchange messages for birthdays, christmas etc...

I have only good souvenirs of this brotherly relationship which makes it even harder for me tonight when Kiran texted to tell me that he had got stomach cancer and had to undergo a painful emergency surgery where 90% of his stomach has been removed. He is only 42. A bacteria named helicobacter pylori has been in his body for the past ten years causing the cancer. He was so afraid not to survive the operation that he did not know how to tell me. He is presently weighing 45kgs and will start chemo next month.

- "You are most welcome to visit me, you know you are more than a friend".

I would fly tomorrow if I could.