Some relations are by blood and some are by heart. It was 3 pm by my watch and I was enjoying high-tea when suddenly my mobile phone rang. One of my friends, Rajesh, was calling “Vandana, Puneet is in ICU at Jasola Apollo”, he said. I froze in utter shock. Perplexed and bewildered, I couldn’t understand what to do. Slowly I came to my senses and called my mum to inform her about the same.

We both decided to visit Puneet the very next day. But I couldn’t sleep that night as his face resurfaced as soon as I would shut my eyes. Everything started flashing back. It was my first year of college when my then best friend Sumana and I enrolled ourselves for the foundation course of Company Secretariat. We had to attend our classes daily at Mandir Marg, Delhi. There, in the class, we met Puneet. In fact, he himself approached us when he came to know that he was staying couple of blocks away from my place in Pushpvihar, New Delhi. In Pushpvihar, he was living with his brother and sister-in-law while his parents used to live in Aligarh.

Soon after, he started visiting me at my place, and contrary to our customs my mumma welcomed him. I and my folks were quite comfortable with him frequenting our place. He possessed all the qualities of a good person; good sense of humour, cheerful, very positive, always smiling, protective, loving, caring like a doting brother, and what not. The only thing I didn’t like about him was his habit of consuming Gutkha (tobacco). Both, I and Sumana, tried to convince Puneet, not once but time and again, to give up that habit, but he used to laugh and say that only a special person could be able to stop him from chewing tobacco. Somewhere, deep within, I could understand his despair. He was a very sensitive person and was not happy with the attitude of his Bhabhi (sister-in-law). Tobacco became a vent for him to let out the frustration of his life. Basically, his Bhabhi wasn't very happy with Puneet staying with them.

Well, our life progressed and took a different turn, because of which we could not complete our foundation course. Perhaps the destiny had something else in store for each one of us. While life was taking its turns, Puneet was growing closer to our family. In fact, he was nothing less than a family member. He was like a brother to me. But soon after, we all embarked on the journey of our married life and he shifted to Noida along with his wife. But things didn't change between us. After the untimely demise of my brother, Puneet supported my family in every possible way and became a go-to person for my mother. Later on, he was blessed with one daughter and a son.

Life went on and so did his habit of chewing tobacco.

One day he realized that he had ulcers in his mouth. The doctor of a private nursing home recommended for laser therapy. But his parents suggested him to take second opinion from AIIMS. But it was too late. His throat had swollen up and bulged out, rendering him unable to speak. His son was hardly 7 months old at that time.

The next morning, the day when we were supposed to visit him, I woke up and it was 7 am. Hurriedly, I reached my mum’s place to take her along. We both entered Jasola Apollo hospital and met his wife Alka at the reception itself. Alka told us that only one visitor is allowed to see Puneet. I couldn’t muster my courage to see him in pain. So, my mother went inside. And when she came out, her eyes had welled up. She broke down and couldn’t control herself. It was her second loss, after losing my brother.

On the way back home, she told me everything happened in the ICU. My buddy was on ventilator. Since he couldn’t speak, he was writing to my mother. He wrote to my mum, “Auntie I don’t want to die. I want to live and want to see my kids growing up”. At that moment, Puneet knew that death was crawling towards him. His wife was financially broken and couldn’t do much.

Two days later I got the news that Puneet had passed away. My heart was wrenched and filled with grief. The only thought came to me was that I couldn’t do much for him. My failure was that I couldn’t convince him enough to leave that bad habit of consuming tobacco. I couldn’t save him but it motivated in me to try saving others from the clutches of tobacco. So, I joined an enthusiatic group of people under ICanCaRe working extensively towards "Tobacco free India" and providing end-to-end system for tobacco deaddiction saving lives of many from an untimely death.

Puneet's demise has helped me find a new purpose in life. But wouldn't things be better had he listened to me? I wonder every day.