Sarena, studying in St Andrew’s College for a Bachelor’s degree in arts, says: “Daddy loved old songs. Most days, after prayers and playing solitaire on the computer, he would slip into his own world where there was just him and his small transistor.”

Today, Sarena is other mother’s strongest support as her brother Ashley, 25, is in Qatar working for Qatar Railways. “He had just got a double promotion and both father and son had a fun get-together for about 10 days in June,” says Clara.

Three years ago, Louis had met with a serious accident after dropping off Clara’s sister at the airport. A van rammed his Maruti car. “But he first rescued our driver and washed his face with water from a nearby hutment, and only then got himself admitted in a hospital,” says Clara.

At the Sequerias’ warm home, there is a giant aquarium with several varieties of fish in it. “They were Louis’s pets. As soon as he reached home, he would first feed them and only then look at us,” says Clara.

Late in the night on July 11, three of the goldfish died. Many more died in the next few days.