DESHAMANGALAM: Edavanna natives Velayudhan (68) and Ayyappan (68) were close friends. Velayudhan was a forest watcher and Ayyappan was a mason.

When TV channels flashed the news that Velayuthan got charred to death in forest fire, Ayyapan’s heart stopped for a second.

He dragged his feet and came out of the house. His wife reminded him of his bypass surgery and requested him to stay inside the house.
But Ayyappan walked forward, overheard people discussing his close friend’s death. Finally, his wife caught up with him and persuaded him to return.

Ayyappan was exhausted and tired when he was back home.

He suddenly developed breathing difficulty. Though he was admitted to Mulankunnathukavu Medical College, he breathed his last before long.

Velayudhan and Ayyappan were thick friends. They met every day and went for strolls.

For the past two years, Ayyappan had also been suffering from heart ailments.