A Tribute to Shailaja and Nanda uncle

I had this awful gut feeling that I am going hear the passing news of Shailaja and Nanda uncle back to back and there you go - I am awestruck; got the news about Shailaja yesterday and Nanda uncle today.Sailaja was in her early thirtees and Nanda uncle in his early sixties. Both were struck by cancer in early 2009 - A very bizarre co-incidence...
I have never met Shailaja in person, but it always appeared to me as though I knew her very closely. It is due to one of my close friends association with her and her encounter with cancer. I knew about her even before she was diagnosed with cancer in early 2009. Then life started on a roller coaster ride for them.. The same case with Nanda uncle. He was our neighbor and a doctor too. He was an orthopedics doctor and recently got retired from his job. He was helping people in the neighborhood with orthopedic problems for free post retirement. He even helped my mother a year ago with her severe back pain. Nanda uncle was diagnosed with liver cancer probably during early 2009. His illness was diagnosed accidentally when they had a regular checkup and the person that needed the checkup was his wife, not him. But irony, his wife had very minor problems whereas his was more serious.We grew up in the neighborhood where there were football and Cricket matches near our house. many times kids will get injured and go to nanda uncle's house and get treated for free. Once my sister had very high fever, and we ran to their house. He was always there when there was a need...
Shailaja on the contrary was starting her life and had enrolled for Ph.D program in chemistry department in the same institute as her husband. Both had a great life together until cancer monster hit them.
I guess life is such. We have to live in today rather than living in past or in future. As Gandhi said - "Kal kar so aaj, aaj kar so aab" and I think this is very appropriate for people like me who procrastinate a lot...
Both Shailaja and nanda uncle were great souls; spread happiness around them and people loved them dearly. With their passing, we have lost 2 beautiful people amongst us. But their soul will live on.
My heartfelt condolences to their family; may god give them strength to get over the grief. May their soul rest in peace. May people remember them fondly. May nobody encounters cancer in their lifetime - this is my silent wishful thinking...