Mangalika - a friend during any difficulty
It is hard to believe that five years have gone by since Mangalika left us so suddenly and inexplicably. Her untimely passing was an enormous shock and an inconceivable loss not only to her beloved family, but to us her friends who were associated closely with her for more than five decades.
My friendship with Mangalika dates back to our days at the Primary school at St. Bridget's Convent. We remained friends during our carefree childhood years, through adolescence and emerged from our teen years into maturity and adulthood. She is remembered fondly for her merry and infectious laugh. She would laugh like no other I have known, bent in double with her face turning red and the tears streaming down her cheeks. Her forthrightness and quick temper were foremost in her nature and we, her close circle of friends were at some point at the receiving end of her sharp words. She was not afraid to speak out her mind, but what stood out above all else among her attributes were her intense loyalty to her friends and her deep faith in God. She took a while to make friends but once she made up her mind, you were her friend for life. She was also a Mathematics whiz and would work her way through complicated Geometrical problems unruffled, whilst we who were less endowed in that sense would be literally biting our nails and tearing our hair out in our attempts to solve those same problems. She was also very disciplined and God-fearing, adhering to the teachings and principles that were inculcated in us at the convent, hence one could unhesitatingly say she was as straight as a die.
Mangalika was the first among us to get married; her love affair with Gamini began at the age of 16 years culminating in marriage a few years after leaving school. Gamini and she had three lovely and talented daughters, who all excelled academically and also went on to bring much credit and honour to our Alma Mater. Mangalika's aptitude for Mathematics stood in good stead when she painstakingly tutored her daughters herself in preparation for their public examinations. It was solely her encouragement and confidence in their abilities that motivated them to come out with flying colours not only at school but later on as they pursued their respective careers.
She would always be the first to come forward to help out a friend during any difficulty, and would selflessly and steadfastly give her time and support to see one through a crisis. She had the ability to sympathise or empathise, advise or keep silent, encourage or remonstrate, as each situation required. Many of our friends will endorse my sentiments when I say that one comes across such a friend as Mangalika only once in a lifetime, and I was one who was truly blessed to have had her as a trusted and special friend.
Her life revolved around her family. She was a devoted wife, beloved mother and cherished grandmother. Her regular visits to London to be with her children's families secured the strong bond with her grandchildren, who were inconsolable and uncomprehending at her sudden and untimely death. She took on whatever enterprise she had at hand with determination and pursued them to their completion. Up until the last, she continued to impart her knowledge of Mathematics to pupils who she tutored with her dedicated coaching.
Mangalika was also a very private person hence only a few of us were privy to the doubts, anxieties and fears she experienced relating to a sickness bravely borne and which eventually claimed her life.
I continue to miss her immensely; to say I have lost a dear friend would be sorely inadequate. She was more a sister, a pillar of strength, a trusted confidante and my 'partner in crime'. I had no reservations about sharing confidences with her in the secure knowledge that she would always respect my trust in her. Her exemplary life ended abruptly and much too soon when she rose up to meet God’s call, leaving some tasks she had at hand unfinished. I am certain she has found her eternal reward with the Lord. May you Rest in Peace, my dear friend.