I pay a tribute to my friend, Ipshita whom I was associated only last year, but it seemed that we had been friends since the past so many years. She always had a smile on her face and a spark in her eyes. Though she was an introvert , she was always ready to lend a helping hand. Her passion was to string tunes on her guitar. She never caused any harm or trouble to anyone. She was a very happy-go-lucky type of a girl. And on August 28th 2010, she left us all shattered and heartbroken. She had left for her heavenly abode. When her tragic news was announced in the school, we all were shattered, wondering why did her kindling light fade so soon? Why wasn’t she able to enjoy life? We had never imagined even in our vaguest dreams that such a thing could happen to a girl who was only 11 years old. A girl like her, who was an optimistic person, who had enjoyed the short journey of her life . No one ever knew that destiny could be so cruel to have snatched life from someone who hadn’t been able to know what life is, someone who couldn’t even enjoy her full life. No one can ever understand the pain her parents and sister whom she left behind are going through. The few wishes she had were fulfilled. She was recently gifted with a mobile phone which she used to keep in touch with her school-mates in her last days as she missed school due to her illness. She longed to come back to school and celebrate her return, she quoted this on her Facebook profile. But, God willed otherwise. We all are still shocked HOW could this happen? WHY? Why Ipshita? Why not someone else? But, as they say what has to happen, WILL happen. Everything is in the hands of Almighty and everything will be according to how He wants it to be. And maybe, there is something good in whatever happened. If I had one wish, it’d be to bring back Ipshita, who was not only a friend, but a sister too. She has left only memories with all of us. Good or Bad. All her things, her books, her bed, her clothes, her school bag, everything will remind us of her. She was someone no one can forget. She was indeed a true friend. She was and always will be special to me. Her smile, I can never forget that smile. Without her, in the classroom, too, everything would feel so empty, so unfilled, so dull, and so incomplete. Ipshita endeared all. When I visited her home, I found her mother full of pain and sorrow. She was visibly broken and shattered but she recounted her daughter’s last few hours. It was tragic to hear the account. Her elder sister, was expressionless and without words. It was as if they had lost everything. We, at school observed silence and prayed for her today. She is gone but she will live in our memories. Her smiling face, cheerful habits and friendly nature will always keep her memory alive. When we prayed for her, all of us with moist eyes prayed to God to give her parents the strength to bear the shock. The school lost a brilliant pupil and the parents a loving child. The question I ask ‘Why did it happen’. I do not know the answer, but it is God’s will and her destiny. May her soul Rest In Peace. Friends and companions , whom you see everyday become a part of you. I cannot imagine that Ipshita is no more. Very much wanting to be present on her last journey, I cannot gather the courage to be with her when she is consigned to flames. With a tear in the eye. And a prayer on my lips, I bid her a silent goodbye. She is gone, but she will live in our memories, in our hearts with her deeds and her good qualities. I pray to God to give me her company again in her next birth.