Shashi and I go back a long way - as early as our schooling at Don Bosco, Matunga. I'm sad because Shashi was like a brother to me. The only time I've felt so gutted over losing a friend was when Budhi Kunderan [former India wicketkeeper-batsman] passed away in 2006 and on both occasions, mid-day delivered the sad news to me. Shashi and I sat on the same class bench at Bosco's. We had our share of failures in school because he was into his acting career and cricket kept me busy. I remember we deciding to buck up by preparing for our examinations together. We sucked at it because our efforts started and ended in tomfoolery.

Farokh Engineer