My world collapsed on 10th July 2026 and I am still trying to pick up the pieces from the debris of my shattered life. It is not easy to come back from such a tragedy and I am living proof of the same. My younger brother, Pradeep, fought a long and hard battle with RCC but in the end there was too much damage done to his health by this disease. 

He became a shining star in the sky this July and my eyes have not stopped looking for him up there. When out on my walks, I talk to the sky and people wonder if everything is alright with me. Here’s the thing with loss and grief, you don’t care about what others think or how they perceive you. Have they gone through your trauma and tragedy?

When my emotional dam was on the verge of bursting and taking me along in the wake of my brother’s passing, I started writing about our love, loss, heartbreak and my unimaginable grief. Writing my feelings down in the form of poems was cathartic and life saving. His going away broke us emotionally and we tried to cope with it in our own ways. I chose poetry to express my deep feelings of loss and sorrow.

Do You Remember? is my ode to my brother’s larger than life persona and memories. He will live on in our hearts forever and continue being the source of loving inspiration for us all. The youngest of us four siblings, he was the first one to leave. He is gone but never forgotten!

Rest in peace, dear brother of mine. We will try to go on with our lives and be okay. Almost. Like they say, ‘It’s okay to not be okay.’ I am not okay but it’s okay for now.

My heart is an open book in the closed pages of my story.

This is one of my favourite poems from my poetry collection, Do You Remember? It is the story of the day our little brother, Pradeep, was born.

Nostalgia 

When we were little, not fully grown

We didn’t know where babies came from

One day we were excitedly told

A baby brother had come into our fold.

It was on a beautiful day of June in 1970

Three excited siblings, embarked on a journey

We walked for an hour before we were there

The hospital was far, but we didn’t care.

Our old grandmother was with us that day

Carrying our four year old brother’s weight

She made us two sisters walk, all the way

One was six years old, the other eight.

The three musketeers felt so happy 

Looking at the face of the newborn baby

Forgetting the long tiring journey

Marvelled at the fair baby, bubbly and chubby.

Four boiled eggs caught their attention

The innocent Trio forgot convention

Earnestly, requested their mother for the treat

Mummy, can we please these eggs eat?