There are several stories on this memorial page about how you taught us something. A common thread for many of us is how you taught us to face our fears and overcome those to move ahead in life. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of being lost. You would always say,:

• "Your job is to try!"
• "Your job is to ask!" 
• "Acha, who will die or get hurt if this fails?"
• "Thoda paisa jayega, koi baat nahi"
• "If you get lost, you will find a new route" 
• "kuch nahi toh you will learn something!" 

and the list goes on ... never deterred by loss or failure, always taking set backs in your stride, you would march ahead to the destination you had decided. 

You made so many of us fearless and bold, uninhibited and resilient and the best versions of ourselves.

If we ever asked for money he would hand over his wallet! Never counted money while he gave it to us but ensured he took it back in full! A random small daily expense or a loan to invest in our companies, he was always generous but he taught us the value of that money! 

This one time I went to his room at 6:30 AM and I was lounging in the bed chatting with him. He reminded me about the money I had borrowed a few months ago and didn't let me get out of bed till I transferred back to him using the netbanking on my phone ... he joked and reminded me that I work on mobile payments and I should eat my own dog food to return his money . 

He just didn't like counting zeros .. 10k could be 100 or 10L ... :) 

A family that eats together stays together! Many of our family and friends have shared about our dining table and conversations around meal times. It was indeed the most special time in our house because of papa. 

When we were kids, mom had an active clinic from 6-9 PM. Papa would be back by 6 PM to take over and would play with us, make us do some homework but we HAD to wait till 9 PM for dinner. The rules were clear - everyone on the table together, no TV (which later changed to no phones) and share about your day! 

The first time I left home in 1999 to goto college I missed dinner time the most and I realised that it was easier to miss a meal than eat it alone. Over the years as our schedules changed dinner time rituals were adapted to lunch (when we lived in AIIMS and he would come home for lunch) and breakfast. If i missed more than 3-4 meals in a row he would gently remind me "This is a home, not a restaurant!" 

Over the last few years, he and I would meet at the breakfast table - smartly dressed, ready to take on the day! He loved reading the newspaper and would give me the article he wanted me to read. We would talk and then I would kiss him and mummy as we all left for work. 

Family and friends often joined us on the table for lovely conversations, sharing of their day or life decisions they were making and wanted to discuss. 

Without him, the dining table feels empty and the meals less delicious ... 

He loved saying thank you and often made a gratitude list.

The last 30 days were literally One Day at a time for us and to help us make critical decisions and manage daily routines was not possible without the love and support of a few people. Bonnie Bhaiya, Brig Anand, Rajiv Uncle, Dolly Massi, Dr Takkar and Archana Bua were there to make all the medical decisions, evaluate next steps, get tests and help with hospital admission. Just knowing we could message and call them to seek guidance meant so much. 

Rajan Chacha and Sashi Chachi, Vinod Chacha and Madhu Chachi for multiple decisions as we all feel tested positive. Ashwani Uncle, Sanjana Aunty and my dear friend Neha fed us good nutritious food as we could not run the kitchen anymore. Kineri, Dr. Gandhi, Mehak and Atulya helped organise oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders for us. Ritu Didi for the pranic healing and continuous support to heal him and give him strength. 

Their kindness, warmth and unconditional support ensured they kept us moving forward and nurtured us back to health. 

We also want to include the team at Medanta in our prayers today - Pankaj their CEO, Dr Govil the head of the ICU and his team of doctors and nurses, the ward boys and security staff who made papa's last few days as comfortable as possible. Especially Dr Shweta who showed compassion on the last day to the entire family and more importantly to papa. May God Bless them and give them the courage to keep serving as tirelessly as they do. 

Vinod Chacha, Madhu Chachi, Urvash Didi and Manu Bhaiya just appeared within minutes at the hospital after papa left us and just took over the process to give us time to breathe and process the information. 

In case I have forgotten anyone, my apologies to you. It has been overwhelming and we are grateful for all the support we received. 

My last memory of chacha is December of 2019 when as has been said by many others and as evident from the photo, he was making us laugh. I don't remember the joke but do remember the joy I felt in his presence.

When I thinking of the decision I made to move to Canada with a then 10 year old, I wasn’t sure if I should take the risk, Uncle told me that I should go ahead without looking back even once. He told me that teaching Aarush to be independent, confident and to have a thirst for exploration is the best gift I could give him. Fast forward 2.5 years, I’ve never regretted the move— neither for me nor for my son. 
Uncle had a way with his words, I, (as many others) thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the table, eating and chatting away nineteen to a dozen with him, Aunty and Saloni. I loved staying over knowing there will be a hearty conversation filled with laughter at each meal time. 
I am grateful for having known him and having had the privilege of seeking his advice. I will always remember those days with a smile in my heart.

My fondest memories of Arun chacha are the numerous times spent in GK2 and Kalkaji - with both houses operating as 2 extended open houses that we all floated between - frequent visits growing up, always meeting at festivals like Holi and Diwali, and definitely on birthdays.

I most fondly remember chacha piling up all us little kids into a Maruti (including the trunk/dickie of the car) for spontaneous outings such as swimming at the AIIMS pool, and Children’s day outings, which coincided with his birthday. He was and will always be synonymous with being the “Children’s Day” chacha.

Another personal favorite story is that I’m a non-vegetarian (while Richa and Mom are not!), all thanks to Arun chacha. The story I’ve been told many many times by mom goes as follows: It was at a family function where chacha sat Saloni and me down and had us try chicken. And then there was no looking back for me...something I continue to be grateful to him for. I had been meaning to ask chacha about this story one day...

Thinking of him invokes warmth, love, fun and so many cherished memories from growing up. I'll miss him dearly.

Papa and Chacha have been sharing memories from their childhood, right from Arun chacha’s days at Shankar Road, visiting him at Banaras Hindu University where he was a student, and celebrating many festivals, especially Holi, and so many family get togethers, weddings, and birthdays together. Chacha shared that he still has a gift Arun chacha brought him from Jerusalem, some 40 years ago.

Everyone was very proud of him as he was the first doctor in the Malhotra family.

Mummy also very fondly remembers her earliest memories and interactions with Arun chacha, from the time when he was not even married and the only youngster in the house, when she used to visit the elders in Kalkaji with our Dadi.

We all are so sad at this loss and will remember him very very fondly.
Adarsh, Buchchi, Sumedha, Richa & Chunmun

This is a recollection of my first meeting with Dr Arun Malhotra, HOD of AIIMS who also happened to be Saloni’s dad.

It was one of those rather hot dry afternoons in Pune when I came back from college to our place at Green Acres in Bibewadi. I headed straight for Swagat’s room as he was the proud owner of one of those air coolers which grunted like an angry dog but it’s the best siesta you could have with cold air blowing right in your face. As I entered Swagat’s room I found him sleeping and went to greet him as we bachelors often did, with a lot of shenanigans and the choicest of words. But saw a strange man napping there who did not resemble anyone I knew. Absolutely horrified I bolted out of the room as fast as I could. Only later did I come to know that Dr Arun Malhotra who was in Pune visiting his daughter had been dropped off by Saloni at our place for him to rest. I’m sure he might have also had some choice words for me for shocking him the way I did.

My first impression of him was a man who could make himself at ease and totally at home in any situation, especially at a place rented by BVP engineers who weren’t necessarily the ‘tidy’ kinds

He was quiet a friendly and warm person the few times I got to meet him. I’m sure wherever he is, he has made himself and others around him as comfortable as he was at Green Acres!

We love you lots ❣️, we miss you even more ,

When we are children, our parents take care of our needs. However it is that impressionable age (teen and beyond), when we start to navigate into the world that we encounter people who shape our lives more then we know at that time. My chacha was by far the best person to have been in my life during this time. Go, he would say. Seek, he would implore. I would not know about the mudrika, or have learnt typing, or have had a dosa in Woodlands, or understood stamps and the traders who used to sell stamps on the streets of the Parliament Street Post Office. So many firsts, so many amazing things that I know only because I was pushed, I was encouraged, I was given freedom.
But of all the memories, the one that stands out for me is the first time I mentioned a girl to him and chachi. I showed them her picture and my chacha flipped the picture over and wrote "God bless the charming girl". He used the female symbol (♀) to start the letter 'girl'.  This was at a time when having a 'girl' friend was a no no. Having a girlfriend was breaking unspoken rules. So much time has passed and so much has changed, but the one thing that is not changed is he care and his passion that was evident that day, that was seared in my mind, and that is still etched in that picture. For everyone, he was caring, he was smart, he was dapper, he was eclectic. For me, he was and always will be my chacha. I will miss him, but if I have passed even an iota of his passion to my son and to my nephew, I will had done what he would have wanted me to do.

Really heart breaking to realize that We will no longer have the company of Malhotra Sir in Nuclear Medicine fraternity. I have known him for more than 30 years. First as a student then as a speciality colleague and then as a friend. He had a unique personality of being friendly even in scenario when he was examining or interviewing someone for the job. A very relaxed person in control of the surroundings in a meeting or a party. He could easily surmount tough situations by saying let bygones be bygones, let’s move forward. He was still active in the Nuclear Medicine fraternity and one would always look forward to meeting him. He made it a point to interact with as many people as possible and specially the students. His love for the speciality is well known and he strived for its progress. At personal level he was a guide whose advice I sought and he was always there to help. Will be immensely missed. Let’s celebrate his life and philosophy. RIP

Arun uncle was highly disciplined, passionate and energy bomb. He was a loving soul and more importantly, Uncle had time for all. He talked to everyone in a gathering and paid special attention to kids and young ones. He used to come next to you, sit and chat with you. Sharing a few memories here :
     - I remember once when I told him, I got my interview done and would be joining a new place soon. He said, tomorrow you would be joining as a junior executive but you should aim to be CEO of that place in next few years. Always aim higher and work harder!!
    - Till date, whenever I dig a spoon in ice cream tub, I think of him :)
     - There was one particular day when cook didn't come for preparing lunch, he made Kadhi for us and surprisingly he knew exactly where xyz ingredient was kept in the kitchen - I hadn't seen him much around the cabinets before. 
Arun uncle was no doubt a rare gem of a person - a true Scorpio :) 
God bless his soul!

My heart felt condolence to Dr.Arun Melhotra.he was one year my junior.I can never forget the help he has given to my husband when he was in AIIMS.He was so helpful and respect for senior.he will be always in my thought.May GOD give strength to family to bear this Los

I remember being awed when Saloni first told me what Uncle actually did. It sounded larger than life: Nuclear Medicine - words that I knew individually but wasn't aware of their function together. Discovering something important and useful in something so small. In retrospect, it seems, that's what he had been practising in life too. Which is why, many of us will remember him for cracking jokes, bringing smiles to our faces, putting us at ease and making us feel important (he would always earnestly listen to us, our ideas... as young college students.) 

I think of Arun Uncle and of all the fun conversations we had over many many lunches at Reboot. From discussing food to plants and of course his stories :)

“Tell Saloni to work less” He said often.. hopefully I can convince her :) 

Thank you for the amazing memories Uncle and for always encouraging us to keep going :) 

Will be thinking of you with a big Smile & a Heart full of Love 

Dad and I - we went tile shopping together - we bought tiles like one would buy clothes. Shitij has inherited this from dad too, and we will continue enjoying the legacy of shopping for tiles together! 

I met dad for the first time in Pune over a dinner at Chinese Room. That was the first time I heard life stories from the great storyteller...
He narrated the story of our first meeting to everyone who came home over the dinner table. He knew how to make anyone feel so so so special!

Almost every morning on the way to work while carpooling with Saloni, I would see dear Uncle, who would come out to walk Saloni to the car and say hello to me. Imagine this adorable ritual being part of your mornings! 

Last when I met him, he was beaming after his first haircut of lockdown! He would keep doling out funny stories and give me so much apnapan. He just wouldn't want to stay home all the time. Last year, when the lockdown was just relaxed, I remember once when visiting, I needed to buy something from the nearby market, so I was stepping out of the house for a while. Uncle jumped to come out with me and showed me the nearby Mithai shop with interesting details of its sweets. 

All the things I heard from him, from dear Aunty & Saloni - said so much about his principles, his life philosophy - all so progressive! So many different and adorable personalities in this family, all rolled into this one huge unit of immense love, warmth & welcome for me. And at the helm & head of this friend-family I have been so fortunate to acquire, was Uncle. I can't stop visualizing sitting at that large dining table, with Uncle right across, talking about so many amazing things under the sun. Time always flew with him around. 

he loved a good laugh ... jokes for every occasion! One would be amazed at how he'd pick the most appropriate one every time ... his light hearted energy in every difficult situation made it so much easier to go through life. 

His favourite COVID joke was 

Doctor: Do you understand what is quarantine? 
Punjabi: There is a spelling mistake. It is "quarter at nine!" 

Cheers!  

Every time I met uncle, he’d ask me in a Punjabi accent “Kanneda kaab ja rahe ho” and then merrily laugh about it. I remember sitting on the table and eating (rather devouring) food with him, Aunty and Saloni and talking about anything and everything under the sun— from their time in Iran to talking about our work to where should we go for dinner. When I told Aarush (my son) that uncle passed away... he said “oh, that uncle who sat and watched cricket with me”, he met uncle when he probably was 6-7 years old, he is nearly 13 now. I’m not sure what they talked about, but he left a lasting impression on him. 

He always had something positive to say, and a smile on his face...
He will be missed...

He loved a disciplined life. Wake up at 5:00 AM, morning walks t 5:30 AM and sharply dressed and ready for the day at the breakfast table at 9 AM. A clean desk and cupboard at all times, he would pause if and when he needed to! Our mornings were precious as were the evenings. He insisted that all meals be at the table with everyone present without the TV or Phone. Digital Detox with Dad ... 

And his discplined routine also included ice cream at 2 AM :) 

I still feel he is out for a conference to some exotic location and enjoying his days with his Nuclear Medicine Community. He'll be back next week ...