Both Virendra (12) and Dashrath (13) Rathod had dived into the Rayla Devi lake to save two friends chasing a plastic ball which had strayed into the muddy waters last Thursday. Two of them - Ajay Balel and Virendra - drowned in the murky depths. Dashrath, who had jumped in last, tried to drag both his brother and friend Imran out. But when the bedraggled kids emerged, their five team-mates, from the Rao Saheb Padval Vidyalaya, saw only Dashrath and Imran. Virendra had suffocated in the grime along with Ajay, whose cries for help he had felt compelled to answer.

The Rathod family, residents of Shanti Nagar in Wagle Estate, are yet to reconcile to this cruel twist of fate. Relieved to get Dashrath back, they are still wrestling with the loss of Virendra. Later, their sorrow will melt into bitter-sweet memories, for theywill always remember the energetic 12-year-old for his act of courage and empathy. But how do you console a grieving family which has just lost its youngest member?

Perhaps the Rathods' family tradition rooted in the army will provide some consolation. With several family members having served the Rajputana Regiment, the Rathod brothers were anxious to be a part of this tradition as well. They attended military training at Colaba every Sunday and when duty called, on the eve of Independence Day, they answered without hesitation.

The citizens of Thane plan to make a representation to the President of India to recognise Dashrath's unusual act of altruism.But Shanti Nagar is still enveloped in gloom. Etched in their collective memory is the face of a cherubic boy who placed the life of his friend before his very own.