Catherine Mittal, who has written 2 articles in e-pao and who was a darling of every one in the e-pao chat room passed away day before yesterday (Aug 11, 2004).

The news of her demise came as a shock to me as much as it was to everyone whom she had known and was closed to. It is a great loss to her family and friends. She was the sweetest girl that I have ever talked to. She was liked and loved by everyone. She was a good natured, honest, fun loving, kind, gentle and cool girl.

I started talking to her when she understood very little Manipuri. She was just another girl with whom I talked to in the e-pao chat room. E-pao chat room was very much a part of her life. She used to frequent the chat room even in her last days fighting her way through with the nurses at the hospital and her nani.

She had a virtual family here – her jiji, jiju, mom, dad, bro and friends. I would chat with her in Manipuri intentionally, knowing that she didn’t have any idea what I was talking about. She had a very strong enthusiasm about the Manipuri language and everything about Manipur. She wrote this article in e-pao
http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.EI.canadian_born_confused_desi
which shows her enthusiasm.

As I continued chatting in e-pao chat room, we became very good friends. She was a fast learner. She mastered Manipuri language in almost a year’s time although her pronunciation was still very bad. She understood everything I typed in Manipuri and would even tease me "yengningdeko, henmalleko". That was Catherine - witty, intelligent, confident, hard working and a very good human being.

She was very well aware that her end was coming close. She wrote another article in e-pao
http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.EI.Unfulfilled_dreams_and_Roaring_spirits
which very well describes her experiences in life and last days. She was a brave girl and embraced death with a smile.

I am sure it was a very easy get away for her without experiencing any pain. In her article, she says that she will not go to hell and she will be watching us from heaven. Catherine, watch us from heaven our every move. We love you Catherine and you will live in our hearts forever.

As I am writing this, tears are running down my cheek, never knew that some one I know in the chat room would be very much part of my life.