Mahesh: My best friend

Mahesh Prakash, son of Shri Gyan Prakash ji from one of our family wing (Our ancestral family became too big, so it was known by its three different wings, namely mahelwale, kothiwale and our own wing.)- kothiwale.We were childhood friends. We were together in Chandpur and later in Meerut. Later he went to study Law in Lucknow University and I went BHU for my further education. We were known as the best friends .There are so many things which will will always remain in my memory. He was caring , dependable and most trustworthy person I ever had around. We had very clear understanding about each other, each other's feelings, emotions and needs.
He was not very intelligent but quite witty and sharp in conversation. He was always practical in his approach. He never had any second class in any of his examinations though in Law as there was no third division in that subject. He had several sisters and one brother . All his family members including his parents were living with him in Bijnor since he started his legal practice. He was fortunate having the succession of the most famous lawyer of Bijnor . Shri Jagdish Prashad left for the High Court leaving behind his office to be taken over by then his legal assistant, Mahesh. He took over nicely and within very short time he was very successful lawyer in Bijnor and became very popular in the District. Earned lot of money, constructed a big and nice house in civil lines; He took the responsibility of all his family members; sisters got married; brother got educated; He loved his family and took good care of all of them. He had earned all the means and resources. I feel sorry and sad that he could not do much for his own family- two daughters and a son as he died young prematurely leaving all of them on their own fate which was really bad for them. He died young at the age of fifty only with a prolonged illness of Neferitis Syndrom; perhaps, he could have been saved if his kidney would have been replaced timely. Knowingly or unknowingly, no body took care of his poor health what he deserved. My last meeting or to say departing meeting was in one of the evening when myself, Suresh and he had dinner together in his house. His office was taken over by his assistant, Subhash who later became very successful and popular like him. His parents died soon after his death as they were under great shock and stress because of their beloved and worthy son ; his son could not complete his education and entered into bad company and developed bad habits. His whole family was dislocated, had all kinds of problems; sold their house in Bijnor, shifted to Ghaziabad; almost ruined; rising to the top and then falling to the bottom; terrible end of his name and fame etc.A pure play of destiny. Rise and fall was dramatic and very sharp. I have yet to see so sudden rise and so sudden fall and such a case of pure play of fate and destiny especially of his wife Usha who has gone through all this play. A wonderful family with all happiness, riches and resources broken down to almost nothing. 
It looks like that he came for a purpose to settle down his parents family who all of them nicely settled.
July 2012: Virendra told me that his wife Usha died of blood cancer recently. I simply said that it is good for her that she is relieved from all these long sufferings. In fact she suffered in so many ways- financially, physically mentally, and socially . A lady who lived like a queen in riches and style, lived in rags and in miserable conditions after the death of her huuband.
I feel sorry and sad about his family. At time to time, I feel about him, his absence and his family. He will ever remain in my memory.

MY Father; last moments with him

July, 1973,; My father was very sick with broken hip bone at home , I received a telegram from home that I must immediately reach home. I did reached home immediately by first available train. As I reached home, my father was very emotional and started crying .... repeatedly mentioning that these are his last days, he is going to die soon. It was very emotional moment for me too. We took him to Bijnor District Hospital. ( How I managed to take him to Bijnor with his back broken bone ???; Also that why my younger brother left him in that condition?? of course , others were in their place of working away from the town ). He was admitted and taken good care immediately, given a place in semi-private ward for recovery.Myself and my mother were taking care of him. Through out , he was on Glucose drip , his condition never improved, worsening day by day. I have been planning to shift him to Dehra Dun.It was 25th July 1973, in the night that his condition got worst. To my ignorance, I could not notice that he was under heart attack. Doctor on duty was so careless, sleeping all the time. Even on my repeated requests and approach, he never attended him , just gave him Bromide mixture to calm down/ relax the system. In the early morning ( 26th July, 1973) , I have to call the Civil Surgeon, so nice of him, he immediately attended him and arranged the Oxygen cylinder. He came to visit him several times, told me that he was under severe heart attack and looking at his health condition, it would not be possible for him to survive, rather, it is matter of a few minutes and advised me to take out the Oxygen and let him breath naturally during his last moments. He did ordered to remove the cylinder and he died just after a few moments.It was Lala Gyan Prakash ji, Mahesh's father who was on his bed side, closed his eyes and covered his face.Terrible moment for me. He was staring at me as perhaps, he wanted to say some thing but unable to say as his tongue was speechless. He looked helpless to express himself but folded his hands for greetings. I wonder that he had the sense of Greetings..He died in peace; I did not notice any fear, pain or regret during his last moments.
Perhaps, he could have been saved if timely help would have given to him? Any way, he lived a meaningful and purposeful life by serving the people and the community from the core of his heart.
My mother left on previous evening for Ekadshi fast and prayers at home hence, she was unfortunate to bid farewell to her husband;
No body else , my brothers or sisters was present at this time. I was all alone.
I could not cry, though broken completely and thoroughly accused myself not to take care of his ill health during his living time;Regretted but for what use now?
It was my well wisher and friend, Mahesh who arranged every thing for his funeral, taking his body to my home town, JHALU in a truck and then to Ganj near the bank of Ganga for final funeral etc.
It was about 10 AM when I reached home , my mother was still worshipping at home.
My brothers came later , never bothered to ask rest of the things as how we managed to look after him in the hospital or should they share the cost / expenses of funeral etc.. As unconcerned as they were and they are even to day.
My father wanted to see his grandson, so I have to call Virendra who brought Malanki to Bijnor. My father looked very happy and satisfied after meeting my son.
This was the second death I witnessed in my life after the death of my grandfather on July 1, 1953 ( also by severe heart attack).