Manas was amongst the last to join in the first year from my state - Gujarat and since Agate was full was pushed into PG hostel. I think that was one regret he always had - unlike others he said he made bonds only from the second year. As a fellow "Gujju" and then as hostel and wing mates in Coral and Ruby , we became close and stayed in touch till the very end. He was possibly the only one who used his vacations to go around India - be it going to meet his friends in Gujarat ( his parents had shifted in his first year) or freaking out with Sahoo in Orissa. And his laugh That was heard in the entire wing....

As much fun he had in pulling people's legs he also knew when to be serious and boy was he serious when it came to his studies.

He did well to go to the US and did well in his job. A couple of us met in Vegas in 2005/6 and he was the best host we could have had.

Despite challenges in his personal life, he kept in touch with a few of us.And never lost his trademark laugh. His death came as a shock and 7 years on is still difficult to come to terms with. If only we had talked more......

I was in Srirangam earlier this year and I remembered 1996 when I went there for the first time, one early morning with Asthana.

Hope he is enjoying Ghee Roast where ever he is .