It’s been 10 years. It should sound like a lot of time, and objectively speaking, it is. But emotions don’t run on timelines. We lost Akhil and Ashwath a decade ago, but we will also never lose them because they will forever live in our hearts. Time is considered a remorseless and inevitable aspect of reality, and yet, time in this case is utterly irrelevant.
Some say you have to move on, but how can moving on be an option when you are always feeling the presence of two incredible young men? To this day, their memories give us so much joy and happiness, that they are a living reality. How can this be? It can be because of the sheer impact they had on all our lives. Optimistic, cheerful, handsome, intelligent, hardworking, empathetic, responsible, gentle, generous, vibrant, smart, helpful, the list of positive traits goes on and on. In today’s world, these qualities are nothing short of heroic. The brothers left their imprints on the hearts of whomever they met, even if only once. Of course, this is also a reflection of the amazing parenting the brothers were beneficiaries of.
The term “role model” is a cliché, but clichés exist for a reason. “Role model” is truly apt when applied to Akhil and Ashwath. If you have kids, you’d be happy to welcome the brothers to your home and have your children interact with them. It’s not common to find young adults who want to interact with children, and if you do find them, the children should also want to interact with the adults. Both brothers ticked both boxes, much to the delight of the kids. Getting the happy approval of children is not an easy task, and the brothers gained this approval as sheer naturals.
To parents, there cannot be a loss as profound as losing their children. Yet, the memories of the brothers’ lives are as overwhelming. Although they have physically passed on, they’ve left behind a divine energy that is providing sustenance to their parents. And thank God for that. Akhil and Ashwath wouldn’t have been able to stand the thought of anyone being dark with sadness, for their trademark was sparkling light.
It’s been 10 years. There will be many more years to come. We remember them and feel the unbearable burden of intense sorrow at times. And thinking about a future without them, well, that’s unthinkable. But we cannot – should not – be ungrateful. For we are very lucky that we were given the privilege and honor of sharing our lives with such noble souls. The future will come and go, as it must. It’s the nature of life that memories will be made and forgotten. But not the memories of these two brothers, bonded in life and the afterlife.
By Chetan Dhruve, close friend of Ashwath and his family
