She keeps brother alive through FB,music & tears

Today,the FB wall reflects the life he lived,and how he continues to live on for so many of us. It is heartwarming to see his friends miss him in their good times,and I know this void will never be filled for some of us.

He was one of my two older brothers,probably the closest I was to in the family. His sudden departure made me realize many things. My parents,my eldest brother and I have realized how we take our loved ones for granted,and expect them to be always around. Sadly in reality,nothing lasts forever. There is a reason for everything that happens in the universe,and finding those reasons helps you go on and not completely give up hope. The sorrow of losing one brother has definitely brought me closer to the other,and that is one reason I can think of.

There has not been a single day one of us has not cried,laughed or celebrated in his memory. We feel him with us all the time,and I know we will continue doing so. Someone whom you have grown up with,protected you like you were still a little girl,guided you between right and wrong,fought with you,supported you for your silliest fascinations,understood you like no other and loved you unconditionally,cannot be forgotten. He lived his life to the fullest. When I look back,I feel proud to have had a brother like Vikas. What disheartens me is,he was not given a chance to live long enough to fulfill his dreams and prove himself.

I left Pune soon after the incident,and even though we left due to unpleasant circumstances,Pune will always be where I have the most memories with him,and one reason I know I will return. We both spent the last six odd years there with each other,and there are much more memories in Pune than Dubai,where we actually grew up. Pune will always be close to my heart,despite what it did to my brother.

Those lucky to have known him will agree that Vikas was too good for this world,probably why his time was up. Having said that,it does not justify the cowardly act that took him away from his loved ones,so soon,so young. A huge amount of hatred and anger has built up inside my family and me for those people who kill each other on the pretext of religion. Terrorism is always an ‘issue’ for people to talk about,until it enters your home and steals your loved one from your arms. If only countries and governments realized the anguish a common man has to go through over boundaries created by them.

(Dubai-based Preeti Tulsiani is the younger sister of Vikas Tulsiani who was seriously injured in the German Bakery blast of February 13,2010 and who succumbed to his wounds on February 21. Vikas,24,had completed his engineering from DY Patil College and was preparing for GRE to go abroad for higher studies.)