KOTTAYAM: 28 hours had passed when the mortal remains of Oommen Chandy was brought to the middle of the sea of people waiting at Thirunakkara with broken hearts. The sadness that had been suppressed till then burst into a shower of tears. People shouted out slogans meaning the dear leader is still very much alive in the hearts of the people.

By the time the procession reached the Kottayam district border, it was five in the morning. Then it took six hours to reach Kottayam. Crowds of people, even with babies, were waiting on the streets to get a glimpse.

The procession reached Thirunakkara at 11 am after a public viewing at DCC office. There was an indescribable influx of people including children, women, youth and old people. Those who forgot their age and fatigue in their unquenchable desire to see 'Kunjoonj'. Actors including Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Dileep went through the crowd to pay their last respects. No one went after them. A man named Oommen Chandy seemingly looked more popular than them.

The bus carrying Oommen Chandy's body took half an hour to reach the venue from eastern gate of the Thirunakkara ground, which is barely a distance of 50 metres. People shed tears, offered flowers, shouted slogans and surrounded the bus. These are people who got their life issues resolved with a phone call and a signature of Oommen Chandy. These are locals who loved and respected the name OC. The OC who bought everyone's love went to his beloved Puthupally around 3.15 pm...the sea of sorrow in Thirunakkara was not calm even then...