Moorthy was my boyhood companion and playmate. He moved to our village - Navindil in 1949 and we spent a great deal of time playing cricket, cycling together to Hartley college etc. Even post school we stayed in touch when he was at Aquinas and I was at the University . Soon after he got married to Pushpa who was my batchmate. But despite that my contacts with Moorthy less frequent and came to a stop when he moved to Nigeria. However, I did meet him once 3 years ago in London, where he lived close to my sister Vimala living in Barnett. He was not doing well even then and our conversation was limited to my questions with a brief answer or nod from him and Pushpa used to fill in the rest. It always hurts to bid final farewell to those who were close to you all along or for few years i our long journey of life. My condolences o Pushpa and his off springs, whom I haven't had the pleasure of meeting. Balendran.