It was the year 2001, and on joining the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), I was posted directly under Dr Vasantha Muthuswamy, Senior Deputy Director General and Head, Division of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS). She offered me a seat in her own office and a place in her heart, and this was the beginning of the most extraordinary and warm relationship with the outstanding human being she was. I watched her closely, in awe, day by day, discovering more about her. She was kind, loving and thoughtful like a mother. With her brilliant mind and fluency in several languages, I also found her super interactive and loads of fun. Time would fly when she spoke, there would never be a dull moment and one could admire her unique style and ability to analyse complexities and present them in a manner for anyone to understand. Her command and grasp of the subjects dealt within the BMS Division was enormous, her arguments absolutely wonderful, and she so loved to talk. I observed that she remained unbiased, fair, and fearless despite the undue pressures common at her level. She seemed to know automatically what was right, and I found myself taking mental notes on her amazing persona.