Punya called last night. His blood sugar levels had risen so high that the doctors amputated a big toe. In his slum-like living conditions, rats smelt blood and ate away at two other toes. Gangrene spread up his legs, and doctors said they had no option but to amputate both legs. But before that could happen, he died. That is what I have been told. There is no way to confirm. Do I feel guilt? No. I feel an unutterable sadness. What a waste!

But I also remember walking to Punya’s house so often at night and seeing Arjun’s football-sized head silhouetted against the lights through the window and immediately, happily, looking forward to an adda where nothing mattered other than the quality of ideas. And the comfort of knowing that I had a true friend. I am lucky to have known him. Arjun Dasgupta, 1955-2009.

Sandipan Deb is the editor of RPG Enterprises’ soon-to-be launched weekly features and current affairs magazine, Open. sandipandeb@yahoo.co.uk