'Abhijit Soman' Remembered....

Back in November '05, when my cousin was visiting me, we went visiting a few of her friends here in DC. At the end of the day when we were driving back home late, she asked me - Of all the people you met today, whom did you like the most? I said - Abhijit Soman.

He was a 28-29 year old guy, who had been her school friend back in Pune, India. He was smart, intelligent and modest. He had a good job, a nice house, a wonderful wife, good parents, money - almost everything you could ask for. In addition he also had something more - Leukemia!

In the one hour that we spent at their place, I saw him as a very happy and cheerful person. well we (at least I) felt sorry and pitiful for him. But I could see that he had no such feeling for himself nor did he expect others to feel that way for him. He did not live a sad and depressed life at all. He took an avid interest in politics, reading, in his job, in friends, family etc. He even drove to work. He was pretty independent in almost every aspect. (I wondered if he was like this too when he was alone and by himself...)

He talked to us about his treatment, about what exactly was medically wrong with him. His problem of finding a bone-marrow match, both in US and in India. He told us about his blood transfusion and about how each month, he spent 15 days in the hospital and 15 days at work. Every 15 days he drove himself to the hospital, had blood transfusion and drove back!!

(Wait a sec! Did I hear him right? Did he just say he drove himself to the hospital and back! - Yes I think he did! Whoa!! You must be kidding me?...)

He also had chemo at times. We asked - Doesnt it hurt? Is it tooo bad?. (I have personally seen my aunt go through chemo when she had jaw cancer and I know just how paintful it is!) He replies - Well yes it does. But there is no way out. It helps me buy some time till I find a match. (I soooo much wanted to help him but was totally helpless!!)

I dont know if he had zero fear of his disease - but I could see that he was facing it in the eye and facing it very bravely and seemed comfortable in his own skin and with leukemia.

We then spend some time talking, cracking jokes, they remembered their past school days, and did some catching up on what their other school friends were doing and then we left.

Yesterday I heard that he passed away. The doctors failed to find a bone-marrow match and so they stopped his treatment a month ago. Its unfortunate that none of the research and medical progress till this day could save his life!!

Hats Off to his family, especially his wife for having married him even though she knew he had been diagnosed with leukemia and for being really supportive and making their life happy for the last couple of years that they were together - Is this what we call true love?

Life is just sooo short and all of us take it for granted. We fail to appreciate and cherish the life we have and are constantly cribbing and complaining. We are sad for things that are trivial and fail to see the bigger picture. Personally I do have this realization and I want to live my life fully and cherish it and just be happy, but such events serve as a reminder.

There are so many people who walk in and out of our lives (even though briefly) at various points and each of them consciously or unconsciouly leaves a mark (even though a faint one!). Well, I did not know Abhijit personally, but I think the 60 minutes that I spent with him have left an impression on me and will always be remembered!