In my post on Iraq, I had mentioned Hatim Kathiria and mourned his death in Iraq. When a friend sent me the news little did I realise that Hatim's death was a personal loss. A lapse on my part. A bulb should have glowed as soon as that name was mentioned. I just didn't put two and two together until a chance conversation yesterday with another of my buddies. Hatim was my college mate.
Hatim was in different stream and I saw little of him in the college. Our acquaintance was limited to the pushing and pulling in the College Bus and more significantly to his room; just five minutes away from my own.
He was sharing a room with a close friend of mine and I have spent many hours in their room; frantic studying on the eve of exams, playing NFS on Hatim's computer and general hanging out together and bantering dollar to a cent. He had shown interest in my GRE preparations and my grand plans of higher studies in the US and I faintly recall that he had intention to go to the US himself.
I never knew what happened to him. Like several others in college I lost touch with, Hatim faded in to the dark recesses of my memory. Until today, that is. Now I shall remember him fondly as the roomie of my friend, a jolly guy who didn't speak a word of Tamil and survived with us chattering Tamil baboons. A guy with little dreams. A very simple man. God grant him peace. God grant us peace.
1 comment:
How's the swamps? From the pictures you look rather dark! I'm like hot damn! She black! I miss you, men. :( I haven't had a good laugh in a while... & those are beneficial to my survival! The day after you left I woke up & I was about to call you.. to tell you come over.. but I remembered you left me.. *sigh* oh, I had a dream about Joshua.& Cole..*awkward silence*.[can't say the details via internet] ;) I've been talking to my host family and what not. They love me.. already.. I think. I was talking to someone about you. & they said: When she comes back maybe she can make better rice now.. & they miss you as well. I don't know the exact date of when I leave but I hope its after you come back! So I can see you in real life again.. before my journey.. *sobs* Please be safe out there, young grasshopper. I LOVE YOU MAN! *sends virtual hug* Oh, it’s a girl going to the same place as I am.. & she asked me to teach her English.. but she’s from a Spanish speaking country!
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