I was roommates with Arun Shankararaman in our second year at REC. Some of us had been tardy in securing roommates and found ourselves in the unique situation of being the last ones without any options for roommates. Among this group of fellow wanderers were Koorse, Thiyagu, Chandrasekhar, and, Arun. It was a great set of diverse and unique individuals, we had a really great time.

In a batch teeming with diverse personalities, Arun stood out for his gentle and kind nature. He was soft- spoken and that was as rare as it was endearing. In REC brilliance was commonplace; still, Arun's genius was truly exceptional. While us commonfolk relied on photocopies of Godha's notes or for a rare few, simply paying attention in class, Arun relied on none of those conventions and charted his own course to success, effortlessly acing exams somehow. Another memory that stands out is a day-trek we did to climb Kodaikanal, along with Rubin, and Ramki. Still lost in the forests at nightfall, a shared meal of boiled eggs packed earlier from the mess turned out be one of the tastiest meals. Other memories include regular day trips to town for food/movies, smaller hikes to Sammys for tea (no cigarettes), and endless hours at the TT table, all whilst chatting on a range of topics, or no topic at all.

As we look back on the years that have passed, we can't help but wonder or imagine what if. Arun left an indelible mark on everyone and we all dearly miss him.