I have had this post in my draft folder for over five months. Each time I started to write this, I would cry and stop. But here it goes. I hope you all have or find a friend like Rajinikanth.

Rajinikanth, a really good friend of mine, passed away in February this year, and I have been thinking about him almost every day for the last few months. I have had so many good memories with him over nine years of knowing him. Before covid, every year for the previous nine years, I, Sneha and Rajini have gone travelling at least once. Planning the trip, enjoying the journey and planning the next trip a few months later. I would look forward to the call every year.

There were so many good memories, but these two conversations that I had with him are something I will remember forever.

We always have an option of not inviting you

I, Sneha and Rajini took the first trip to Bali in 2015. Other than the airline losing my bag, we had a really good time on a short three-day trip. Once back from the trip, I am not sure who put the thought in my head, but when planning the next trip and when on the call with Rajini, I asked him if he was sure about me joining him and Sneha. “we always have an option of not inviting you” he said. He said I should accept the offer when people ask instead of questioning it. A lesson I will remember forever. Rajini made me feel welcome.

I want to spend as much time with friends and family

I remember this day like it was yesterday. On the way back from Raglan to Auckland in New Zealand, I, Sneha and Rajini were in the same car. Rajini asked me what plans I had for the rest of the year/life, and I mentioned how I wanted to start a business, build excellent software and travel more with friends and family. I asked him what his plans were, and he said, “i just want to spend as much time with friends and family”. After returning from that trip, those words became part of my yearly goals—less time on the computer and more time with friends and family. Every year has been better thanks to that advice.

I will miss Rajini very dearly. I will miss getting that phone call from him every year, meeting him, drinking with him and sharing the stake. I hope you are having a great time up there, my friend. My world will not be the same without you.