Raju, why this early?

Raju, friend, cousin or class mate...
You were more than all these...
We grew together, played together
studied together and traveled together
but for a short span when
we finished our schooling...

When you were overburdened
with as many as seven siblings,
two elder, a brother and a sister
and the rest younger and all girls,
i could chose rather a 'safer' life.

But you bore the burden so
happily to reach them all
to safer shores...

Leaving all of us
so early for good,
your children seemingly
have not reached anywhere,
but were equipped enough
to reach the shores by themselves.

You were almost silent always
other than when you 'drank!'
That made you a darling of all,
curiously enough even for your in-laws!

You were never a weakling,
but toiled always for the family
even at the hour of your death
you were awaiting your
colleagues to call you.