‘We were going to speak on Christmas… now I’m left with regret’: Childhood friend grieves Hyderabad student who died in U.S. fire
The death of 24-year-old Sahaja Reddy Udumala in a house fire in Albany, New York, has left shock, disbelief and a trail of memories for her friends and family thousands of kilometres away in Hyderabad, who knew her as a bright, friendly girl from Ramanthapur. The young Master’s student in Cyber Security, who had moved to the U.S. just over an year ago, succumbed to severe burn injuries after the blaze on December 4. For Sahaja’s childhood friend Elizabeth, someone who knew her more than 15 years ago, long before her dreams took her across the world, the grief carries an unbearable layer of regret. The two had reconnected just two weeks ago, when Sahaja sent her an unexpected Instagram request, years after they had drifted apart over a misunderstanding. “I accepted it immediately,” she says. “I even asked my brother if I should message her. I decided I would text her on Christmas; that day was always special for us and the perfect time to start afresh. I imagined her sending me her new …

