LR Sharma HE had been my schoolmate. Later, we went on to pursue engineering courses. This made us lose contact. But destiny plays its role in our lives. Embarking on my career, I found myself serving in the same department with my schoolmate, although we were in different wings. He had a strong liking for a career in the Army. His fitness and effervescence were his forte. As expected, he succeeded, became an Army officer and vanished from my canvas of contacts. The sand in the hourglass flowed for about four decades. Post-retirement, I reluctantly moved to a nearby town. My wife and children supported the decision. They valued the easy access to school and college more than the sedentary village life.