27 years back when I moved into our neighbourhood in Kerala at the age of 5, the first person I befriended was our neighbour, a Mathematics Professor at a famous college nearby. I can say that she was my first ever friend. She was almost in her fifties back then. Despite the huge age gap, we remained great friends all through my childhood, telling each other all our stories every evening when I came back from school. Even after I grew up and moved away from home, our bond remained intact. Today when she made her final journey to the funeral pyre, it is a very close friend that I have lost. RIP Prema Ammayi! I will always cherish the times we spent together. May you find peace and happiness wherever you are!