What can I say, There's way too many things to talk about but truly emotional. All I can say is that I hope you are at peace where you are. And I know you are looking down at us and smiling. I'll miss those little MSGS on MSN asking "what the dilio" or sending me your poetry, your recent written lyrics, talking about our perfect someone. It was awesome how we connected after all these years. I remember you when you were in 3rd grade. After school you would return home, throw your back, and get to your video game. We'd watch cartoon together after. You were always so adorable. I always wanted to pull your cheeks. My dad told me how you prayed with him when he lived at your place. You would wake up early in the morning on weekends to pray with my dad. That brought shivers. I remember when Tonoy and Ridoy would visit, you (and Moumita) would go to the next room and play with'em. Memories last a life time. I will miss our little talks. Making fun of you know "who" and the usual. I miss going on MSN and having to read your msgs. I still click on ur nick just to see if you'd respond back. Strange but I do it. I thougth I was going to visit you this summer. And you were going to come up the next time so I'd take you to a poetry joint here. I know we will meet again and I know that you are with us always. Love and Miss you Asi xoxo

Asif and I considered each other to be soul brothers. We had met 7 years ago at Wallkill High School in upstate NY early in our junior year. Immediately we hit it off, later finding out we had the same birthday, and strangely enough born just minutes apart 1/2 way around the world. We had many great times, we would spit rhymes, roll around town and have a blast, many times we would talk about philosophy, astronomy, politics, life, metaphysics, and all the subjects of academic knowledge for many hours. But we always joked and made fun of the crazy world in which we live in and the crazy things that happen. When he moved back to Queens we always kept in touch, keeping a strong relationship through the years, speaking weekly and seeing each other several times a year. Every time he came upstate he would mention how he loved the clean air, and the intact nature of upstate. He loved going to a local mountain look out, where you can see for miles into the valley below. I never met a person who didn't just like him, but also was a better person for just knowing him. I regret I never got to spend more time with him in his hometown of Jamaica, but the times we did have were always special and I think about him many many times during the day. But his words to me help me go on, and knowing he's in a better place. Asif my brother, you will be missed, but your spirit was so strong you soul lives here on earth in the form of your Music, poetry, art and the memory of being with such a great person. The world was not good enough for you. Peace out Soul brother.

Here's to Asif, the most positive and loving soul, I think I have ever encountered. I met Asif, while working for a non-profit organization in NYC. That, in itself, just goes to show the type of man he was-- always giving and reaching out to others, regardless of how much he got back in return. From the moment he first walked through the doors, he filled the room and all those around him with a positivity, warmth and brightness like none other. While canvassing together, I would often spend my lunch breaks listening to him spit some of his phenomenal poetry or beatbox...or just talk about life from the Asif perspective. It was a wonderful way to escape for a few moments....it always made the rest of the day seem so much more enjoyable! Asif seemed to have a contagious smile, which he was always wearing. He was just ALWAYS so happy! And he had a way of making you feel happy, too, no matter how crappy your day really was. He was just the type of person who was always fun to be around and whom you always looked forward to seeing. Because of this, I gave him the nickname, "Awesome." As in, "Hey, Awesome! How's it going today??" He truly was an Awesome person-- he inspired awe in all those around him and his presence was so great and encompassing that he, himself, was just AWESOME. Even after we both eventually left our jobs at the non-profit, we kept in touch often. I even moved overseas and we still would drop each other a line every once in a while to see how the other was doing. I always looked forward to visiting him the most whenever I came back to NYC. Because I live so far away, news travels very slowly to me, so I just found out about this terrible tragedy. I still can't believe that the Awesome-ness in my life is gone...it just doesn't seem like reality to me. Though I only knew Asif for a very short time, he has touched my life in unimaginable ways and I will never, ever forget him. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and to all those who are affected by his loss. I count myself among the lucky to have had him in my life for even an instant. I will miss him so much.

I very much remember when he was younger - I would play with Asif (and Moumita), and then I would wrestle with him and beat him up a little (like a brother always does), and then even after I would beat him up, he would still follow us around to play more. When I look at his pictures now, I would still recognize his face from when he was little because he kept that same face. I could still see his old baby face behind his beard, and I remember his face very well.

Words cannot express the numerous memories I have of me and my brother. Although we have a younger brother Nafees, he is only ten years old, thus Asif and I spent a lot of time together as just the two of us. Words also cannot express the sadness and emptiness that his absence has left behind. But I can safely say that Asif has left behind so much for all of us, it sometimes does not even feel like he has left. My heart is still beating, and since he is still in it, Asif still lives on.