Loss of a good friend

On 2nd December morning I checked for messages in my Asus and found one from Daniele. His message said " Massimo died this Friday. Aless would appreciate if you would inform our friends". I could not believe it.

Massimo and Alessandra are from Verbania, a village at the north west border of Italy. They are friends of Daniele and Valeria. Hearing a lot of praise for Kerala from Daniele, they decided to go and see for themselves in 2005. I was in Kerala after Libya and arranged for a 15 days trip for them in Kerala. They did not want to go to all the fancy places frequented by tourists, but wanted to see the real Kerala and interact with common people of Kerala. They arrived on 31st December in Kerala. The next 15 days, we (me, Charlie and Dr. Abraham taking turns) took them to new year celebration in Meridien, a hindu marriage, 4 temple festivals, Elephant farm, large veggie market, 2 church festivals, Wayanad, Kuttanad, Fort Cochin, Periyaar and finally, we said Arrividerci during a dinner in Brunton Boat Yard. They thoroughly enjoyed the trip and vowed to come back for their marriage in Kerala. Since then, I had been to Italy in May 2006 and visited them in Verbania. They have just bought an old house and was renovating it. They were also preparing for their first child. Lorenzo was born on 9th January 2008 and they were happily living in their new house.

They were a very adorable young couple. Massimo was into long distance running, cycling and swimming and was lean and healthy. Alessandra, being a pharmacist was also very conscious of health and was lean and healthy. When they came to Kerala they were friends of Daniele and Valeria. When they left they were our friends and friends of Kerala. During their stay in Kerala, they interacted with villagers, ate local food, used even local dress and stayed in homes. They were thoroughly taken in by Kerala and its people. They left after making a lot of friends.

Daniele called me later and explained the circumstances. Massimo attended his office as usual on Friday 28th November and during lunch break he went out to give swimming lessons. He came back to office and collapsed. None of us who have met Massimo could believe it. How could this happen to a person who runs 8-10 km in a stretch and swims regularly? He doesn't smoke or drink much. Unbelievable. Poor Aless and Lorenzo. I called her, but didn't know what to say. Such a lovely family, everything was looking bright and shining and suddenly.... But who said life is fair?

We can only pray for his soul and join Aless and Lorenzo in their grief.