Two students of Nadi Sangam Primary School were eagerly looking forward to be part of a birthday party celebration yester­day at Legalega, but sadly it turned out to be a cremation for their late classmates.

Lashika Devi Raju and Krisha Chetty were both present in school uniforms, among their peers, to bid final good-bye to their respective classmates in sister’s, Sana, 11 and Samarah, 8.

Lashika and Krisha along with the two sisters were anticipating on catching up during the planned birthday celebration yesterday for one-year-old Samaira Kumar who was found alive be­side Sana and Samarah.

The duo were among the five members of a Le­galega, Nadi family who were discovered dead last Monday morning at the Nausori Highlands.

The two sisters were beside their mother Nilesh­ni Kumar, 34, and grandparents Nirmal Kumar, 63, a carpenter and grandmother Usha Kumar, 54.

Lashika Devi Raju, 10, was at the Votualevu Col­lege Hall to bid farewell to her classmate and best friend Sana, who they attended Year Five together.

She brought a wreath to place on the casket.

“I have known Sanah since pre-school and we have been great friends since” Lashika said.

“I was invited to Samaira’s birthday party which we were looking forward to. When I learned of what happened to the sisters and their family I cried and cried.”

Krisha Chetty, a Year Three student and best friend of the late Samarah said they were also best friends since pre-school days.

“We always sit together until last Friday. That was when I last saw her,” she said.

According to Krisha they would not change their seats and they were close.

“Lashika and I were both invited to the grand birthday party for Samaira. Samarah was telling me that it was going to be a big celebration. That kept me looking forward to today, but it turned out to be her cremation. I will miss her so much.”

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj