To my dear Chitthappa, My earliest memories are of you carrying me on your shoulders, teaching me how to whistle, how to play the Mirudungam and feeding me with your own hands on a daily basis when we all lived together in Lewisham. I remember as a young child fighting with Appa when you moved out because I wanted you to stay. I have no words for how I feel but these last 7 days have been a new feeling that I have never felt in my life. I have so much to thank you for that I can never put into words but I want you to know every memory I have of you is my most prized possession today. All the things you told me, taught me, private conversations we had will live through me and I will honour all your lessons. I am sorry that as I grew older that I did not speak to you as much, life has a horrible habit of teaching us to be complacent and to assume that tomorrow is always certain. When you went into the hospital, I received regular updates and no matter how bad it was I always thought, 'my chitthappa is my childhood hero, it's ok, he is strong and I know he will return'. When Sowmy called at 2am I froze and have been in and out of that moment ever since. I would be grateful if you can at least appear in my dreams every now and then so we can have one last conversation, the ones where you always ask about how everything is going for me but this time I want to know how everything is and was with you. My favourite memory of you is when I learned to do kick-ups in your garden, I told you there was a skills competition at school and you said 'ok, don't come inside until you can do 25'. You watched me for one hour as I failed again and again. I was happy when I made it to 25. It re-affirmed your daily lesson to me that 'practice makes perfect'. I don't ever think I told you that I won that skills competition and it was all down to you. All my victories are down to the willpower and endeavour to work hard that you instilled in me. I love you so much. You are my hero.