There was a girl i knew.

She was beautiful. She was ambitious. She was intelligent and articulate... and she was in love with life.

I used to see her often, and wonder what she was always so happy about. She always looked as she had some little secret which she alone knew and no one else knew. And she walked like she wasn't going to share that secret either.

Now I never did talk to her much. But lots of folks around here did. They used to tell me a lot of things about her. Things which I never suspected. She had a crush they told me. She wanted to take that somewhere. She had plans for the future. She had faith you see.

They told me she could make you wince with her acerbic tone. And she would cry just as easily when you didn't talk to her for making you wince. She was just a sweet  li'l girl you see.

 yeah, she loved dancing. I remember seeing her dance at a party at 2 in the morning. And then suddenly rush off to her room . The project was due at 9 you see.

They told me she would throw a big tantrum if you didn't team her up with the best player in a badminton 'doubles'. And then she would giggle the game away until her partner would be forced to concede and carry her away to the canteen. She just wanted to have fun you see.

Life was a carnival. And we all thought it would never end………………..

I wish now that I had talked to her more. I wish now that I had known her better. I can't do much, but I can  hope with  all my heart that she is happy. And safe. And content.

I hope she is in a place where the sun always shines, the birds always chirp and there is neither  sorrow nor pain…

I hope I shall see her again..one day. And then , I will talk..

I will tell her that we all missed her so. I will tell her that we all were very brave. That we stood together, we grieved together.

I will tell her that we didn't blame anyone, but god.

I will tell her that for all of us, things began to seem all right after some time, but nothing ever would be perfect.

I will tell her that we all were very proud of her, and some day, we would make her very proud of us.

I promise that. I will tell her all that..

And until then, I shall carry on with my life.

I shall cry and be sad, I shall laugh and be happy.

I will  work, and love, and be loved..

Just like her.

In everlasting memory of Neha and Nitesh…

On behalf of the entire IIM I family.

Mairal…