Out at 97... A life well played..

It was a buzzing morning in one of Bandra`s middle class neighborhood. Nutan Nagar, located on the banks of the Bandra talao was home to young couples, immigrants and nuclear families who started their modest living in one room kitchens away from the hustle bustle of the so called proper Bombay.

In one such household of this buzzing neighborhood, a young mother was busy completing some house hold chores, and supervising her 9month old young daughter. Her 5 year old son, Gautam came running in like a hurricane ‘ Subhabi, Subhabhi he uttered enthusiastically, in a tone signifying that he had discovered his biggest invention. “There is lady who stays on the top floor, He name in Nimbuben and she knows how to make beautiful clothes, let’s go right now and meet her. She can make frocks for my sister’

Subhabhi tried to calm her son down and told him she would go and visit her later in the day. When Subhabhi  meet Vimuben( not nimbu ben), both of them would never have imagined that this simple meeting would be transformed into such strong friendship between them and their families(Patels & Shahs)

Both of them bonded immediately, while Vimuben stitched frocks for Hema, she taught Subhabhi to knit, sew and dream. Subhabhi introduced her to her cuisine and her husband Satish an engineer helped repair her sewing machines. Hema become sister to the Patel brothers.

When Vimuben`s family decided to move from Nutan Nagar to a suave apartment on St Martins road, Subhabhi`s humble request to Vimuben was to sell the bigger room of Nutan Nagar they lived when they vacated it . Vimuben insisted, Subhabhi to come and have a look at the apartment, and purchase a flat in the same complex .  Subhabhi could not afford to buy such an expensive apartment, but once she visited the place, she promised herself to buy the apartment at any cost and she did.

Anand Vihar began a new chapter in the life of these 2 friends and their respective families. Vimuben started her sewing and knitting classes in her house. She also made unique bags, and dolls with cloth and crotchet.

Vimu Dadi was always a loving grand mother to me. She stitched  a beautiful white dress for my first birthday and many more through my entire childhood. I still have very fond memories of eating the handva she made. I used to really like it and she would always send it, whenever she made it. I applaud  her enthusiasm,  in  the last few years in spite of a weak eye sight she was determined to teach and share her knowledge of cloth and wool craft. Unfortunately, I was never interested in learning any of this, although Vimu Dadi did try to teach me one summer.

   

We have often laughed on her birthdays and spoken about her celebrating her 100^th birthday. She was determined to celebrate a century. But unfortunately she had to get out at 97.

 Well played is all I can say…