On a sultry August afternoon, I came across Izhar Wani, may his soul rest in peace, at his office in Srinagar. The year was 2010 and Kashmir was shut. On the first impression, his candid character was quite evident through his smiling face. Apart from a journalist, I found him kind, a worthy friend always down to earth. Not a minute thing has escaped my mind about him, his memories are etched there.
Before this meeting, we had never met anywhere. But being a caring person, he conveyed condolences telephonically on my grandmother’s death. Through a distant connection, he had heard about her demise and wasted no time to call me. It was so surprising to receive a call from a known journalist for whom I was just another unknown person.
Unfortunately, it took me around a year to visit him along with one of my friends, Faisal Khan. At first, we didn’t feel comfortable to move inside his office so Faisal stood outside. On learning someone was waiting, Izhar asked me to bring him in. So warm were his gestures that we cracked some jokes on MERC days. He even asked why I didn’t come early to meet him saying several foreign journalists had come for assignments. You would gain experience from them.
From that day, I met him occasionally over a cup of tea. During this brief time, I observed he was a devout Muslim who rarely skipped prayers, an impeccable person and a notable journalist of Kashmir. Last year, on a mere complaint of not meeting, his presence surprised me in the newsroom of Greater Kashmir, my last working place. Standing on the door, he called my name but my eyes couldn’t believe. Along we walked and chatted for more than an hour. And the best part was a heap of suggestions.
In our last meeting, watching me restless about career, he poured his heart out describing the ups and downs of his life.  But on learning I got a fresh appointment, he called from Mumbai with congratulatory message. And since then, we were in touch till coming across his treatment in SKIMS. Finally, I called him on March 29 but there was no response and accordingly texted him good health. While waiting for his reply, he left an unbelievable note. Izhar is no more!

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