Arshad Ahmed RIP

Arshad was a senior of mine from engineering. He was a sharp brain and was really tall, dark and handsome. He taught me Z-transforms amongst other things. He also taught me some engineering mathematics. He was just a year older than I am. He had amazingly infectious laughter and was mostly laughing whenever we met. He was one of the few guys I kept in touch right through engineering and after, until 2008. I wanted to be like him and adored him.

He began running sometime in 2006, influenced by his girlfriend who was an athlete of sorts and we exchanged a lot of notes about typical issues one faces when one starts out. He had run a super fast 5K for a beginner and was planning a marathon sometime in life.

He died in a road accident in Apr 2008. His mom also died in the same accident (god bless her soul).

I found out today and haven't been able to rest for a moment since I found early in the morning when I met a batchmate after 10 years, at the airport. I feel miserable that it never struck me to find out why he had stopped emailing for nearly two years.

I cannot be sadder.

God bless his soul.

Why do such bright and cheerful people have to die so young?

Arshad, Wish you were here...