He was a selfless and carefree man Chris Rodrigo-by Champa Mellawa

Chris Rodrigo

Chris Rodrigo

I met Chris last year on a beautiful evening in Singapore. We took a cab to a restaurant in Mount Faber for dinner. It took only twenty minutes to get there, but during the ride, I felt as if I had known him all my life. He was open like a book, heartfelt and no show-off. I started liking him, chatted till late and left as good buddies. He stayed a close, caring friend till the end.

Chris had childlike, unwavering faith and adored Mother Mary with deeply inculcated other beliefs about God. During the height of COVID-19 in Singapore, when I was living alone, I got a sore throat. I prayed and drank warm water with a drop of holy water. Little frightened, I called Chris and said what I did and requested him to pray for me. He confidently said that I’d be okay not because of the holy water I drank, but the faith behind in taking it. A statement that I will cherish forever, which strengthened my belief in the power of faith to make all things possible.

When Chris joined our company the regular interaction made me experience more of his decency, caring and friendly demeanour. He treated all his colleagues like his siblings with a smile. He enjoyed good food and had a taste for quality. The morning cup of coffee at the office was his delight, which he thoroughly enjoyed while chatting with us. He was thrilled when I gifted him a larger cup, so that he got more coffee from Ramani, our expert barista in the office.

Chris was carefree and benevolent. His empathy for the less fortunate was endless. He never envied anyone, but was genuinely happy about all his friends and relations. He was always there for anyone, even for a very few he knew who had let him down. He was also a dreamer and shared many of his dreams with us. Those made his life moving as well as ours, and in the process we learned a lot from Chris.

His whole life was Trenilla, no world beyond that. He was happy the days Nishani tasted his meals and went on trips and day outs with friends and relations. Deep within, he loved being with them and the dogs he adored. He loved his mummy to the moon and sisters with whom he was in touch regularly. He said the daddy was a tough cookie, but loved and cared for him deeply.

I have heard that most people who cared for others are the ones who need more care for themselves. Looking back, it was so sad that his contagious smile and bubbly look hid his loneliness until he was gone.

Chris was carefree and benevolent. His empathy for the less fortunate was endless. He never envied anyone, but was genuinely happy about all his friends and relations. He was always there for anyone, even for a very few he knew who had let him down

Upon Chris’ demise three months back, while clearing his desk, we found a little “Things to do” note and realised that he didn’t have time to finish some of its tasks. I am still trying to understand the legacy he left behind and the lessons that I have learned from it. He insisted that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Now, I’m cautious in coming to conclusions about people before giving a good hearing of what they have to say, and try to read between the lines. Chris’ untimely death reminded me how uncertain this life is, and it’s too short to go by the social norm and abide by some of those rules anymore.

Dearest Chris, we all in the office miss you so much and remember how much we loved you, and the good times we shared. But, it makes us happy to see you sitting next to Lord Jesus, relating your endless stories with a smile.
Stay well buddy and may you rest well!

Corinthians13:13 – And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Champa Mellawa