Happy Birthday, Hridi, wherever you are. We miss you.

Jeona bolini kokhono tomae
Bhebechilam, kothai ba jabe tumi?

Koto kichu bolar, koto kichu korar baki chilo...
Tobu chole gele koto dure tumi

Debona jete tomae, bhebechilam koto bar
Tobu bolini jeo na chole tumi

Bhebechilam judi onek bhalobashi tomae
Hoitoba... theke jabe tumi

Bujhte ki paro amader buker betha?
Shunte ki paro amader kanna guli?

Judi jantam, chole jabe amader oshohoye kore...
Buke joriye dhore rakhtam, shara jibon ei

Hagumoni, just saw Frozen movie with Eli for the first time. She loved it, wish I could talk with you about how Nobu felt when she watched it for the first time. I miss you…

"What is grief, if not love persevering?"

Our friendship began when I handed Tas, my dorm neighbor, a glowstick in the student lounge. Over nearly 15 years, it became something more like family.

We have witnessed each other grow through all the highs and lows, the hardest and happiest times. I was a lucky bystander to see her fall in love and eventually marry Faheem, one of the best men I know. She taught me how to cook. I've held each of her two adorable children since they were newborns. I've slept at her home more than anywhere else outside of my own. I've jokingly asked if she'd host my wedding in her backyard one day. She had agreed and I didn't know she even shared it with Ananya.

I will never be able to fill this void of memories we were never able to make from a life tragically cut so short. But I know I will try to keep all our past memories alive in it. As Nobu and Dhrubo grow up, I can't wait to tell them all the stories about Tas and hope it helps them know how wonderful their mother was.

Rest in peace, Tas. I'll love you forever. ❤️

Eid Mubarak dosto!

My day would’ve began by sharing a video-wish from noah and then waiting for all your uploads and talking about each other’s deshi attires. You know you’re still my biggest stalker on social media, the one who liked most, the one who commented most. And the fact that this need-to-know-everything survived the era prior social media is a wonder on its own!

I invariably remember this one incident lately when we were 6th graders in dhaka and long since separated into our individual group of friends based on sections. And us kids didn’t get to go out much right. But this one time there was a party at Doris’ house I think and some of us were there including Sadia. And late in the evening I suddenly realised I had your residential address memorised by heart and it wasn’t too far from where we were! I had this sudden fit to go see you. I had to. Like my life depended on it. Nobody else volunteered to cross the main road to navigate Mohammadpur streets in the middle of the night a bunch of little girls on their own - sadia agreed to accompany me - and we were like Frodo and Sam, walking through concrete jungles and blaring cars and buses, two hobbits, two little girls scared and jumpy. I just knew that I had to find and see you. Once we entered the building that I recognised to be yours all the lights went out - yes a common evening blackout of Dhaka from the 90s. In a panic we climbed the stairs in a hurry and started thumping on the door where I thought you still lived and out came a confused looking guy holding a candle wanting to know who we were and I burst into tears, scared out of my wits.
Later of course I reenacted the whole episode in school to you during break time and you laughed and laughed and also mentioned you no longer lived in that apartment but it remains till this day one of our most defining stories.

I hope there is another life, hope we get another chance and a candle to light up my way back to you.

Hi dida, we miss you quite a lot. Praying for you everyday, but I'm sure you are with us in every thought and every moment. Hoping you're having a time out there in the heavens. Please say hi to my ammu as well..

Happy Birthday, beautiful Hridi. You went too young, but your light continues to shine through Nobu and Dhrubo. Rest in peace. Love to you and your family. —Farah, Jon & Sofia

Thinking of you today Tas. Wishing your family peace.