Obituary: Neetu Jain

Neetu Jain: 'Always smiling, happy and cheerful'

More than anything, Neetu Jain lived for her job as a computer analyst.

"She used to travel the world as part of a recent job, to America and elsewhere, " said Adarsh Kumar, a relative.

"She was always smiling, happy and cheerful."

Ms Jain, 37, and a Hindu, was born in Delhi, India, but was brought up in London.

[Neetu was a] very spiritual, down-to-earth, loving person Gous Ali Why did my girlfriend die?

Making her way to her office in Old Street, in the City, on the morning of 7 July, Ms Jain's normal commute, which took her through King's Cross station, was interrupted when the Tube system was evacuated.

She boarded the No 30 bus which was blown up by a suicide bomber at 0947 in Tavistock Square. Ten minutes earlier she had called her sister to relate the chaotic exodus from Euston Station.

Colleagues' praise

She also called her boyfriend Gous Ali about the same time. After the blast, he set out on a desperate search, clinging to the slim hope that she might have survived.

Mr Ali described Ms Jain as a "very spiritual, down-to-earth, loving person" who "would not hurt anybody".

Her charms were equally evident in the workplace. Former colleague Mike Kelly, who worked with Ms Jain on dot.com ventures for some years, remembered a cherished colleague.

"I can truly say that I never once heard her complain about work, about colleagues, about anything at all.

I'll always remember your warmth, your openness, your smile Laurence Gruet Colleague

"Neetu was really a pleasure to work with, and always made the effort to be a friend outside of work. I hope I speak for all those who knew her when I say that she is a great loss."

Another colleague, Laurence Gruet, appreciated her support when "things were bad, and work was often bad".

"Could there ever have been a gentler, kinder person than you?" he wrote in a letter to Ms Jain after her death.

"I'll always remember your warmth, your openness, your smile. You were ready to give your support to everyone who needed it, never judging, always helping.

"You didn't care about race, religion or riches, or any others of this world's tokens of superficiality; the beauty of your heart was there for all to see," he wrote.

"I remember your last email, when you were trying to get Jeannine, Rachel, Ros and I all together for a meal. I can't believe it never happened.

"I can't believe there was always one of us too busy to meet up. What a waste!

"Why do we always believe there will be another day? "