Mumbai is full of
surprises for me. I was sitting on my desk and one of my colleagues from Art
Department came and asked,
“So, when are you coming at my home?”
He is Bimalbhai, working in JAICO for last 8 years.
He doesn’t know more about me yet he likes me a lot. We often have good chat
during spare time as he is a Gujarati. So I immediately replied to him,
“Today! I am coming today.” It’s Navratri and it’s the best time to
watch Garba because I never play. In the evening we both headed together towards
the Churchgate and he seriously asked me,” Chintan. Are you really coming?”
I said, “Yes.”
So he called his
wife and informed her that I am coming. Also he asked her to prepare food for
me. I also requested him not add garlic in dinner as I do not like them. And we
boarded on Virar bound local at 6:11 evening. It was full of commuters and I prepared
my mind to go by standing up to Virar as beside me, a boyfriend was sitting
taking her girlfriend in his arms. So there wasn’t any possibility to get a
seat. We kept chatting and the local reached Kandivali. It was strange and that
boyfriend stood up and offered his seat while his girlfriend was sitting. “Oh!
God bless both! He offered me seat!” I thought. Meanwhile Biimalbhai pulled me
from my seat and took me to his side and told everyone, “We wanna chat.”
We reached Virar
and walked towards his premises. He told about his daughter Krutika and showed
the school where Mrs. Bimal was serving with. We reached his apartment where he
lived on the 5th storey of A wing. I was welcomed by his wife, his
little daughter and his mom & dad. We all were introduced to each other and
had a long chat. As I am fond of food, Bhabhi had made Dhoklis, a typical
Gujarati food and actually my favorite dish co incidentally! It was the first
occasion to have this dish after my sister prepared for me in New Delhi on Sundays.
It was almost one and half year ever since I ate it. First she served the Prasad which was bought by both her and
Krutika from her school. She served the dish pouring oil on it and salad made
of Onions and Tomatoes. It was very tasty and simple dish. Later she served vegetable
fried rice. Their parents left for their Satsang program in east.
Completing the
dinner, we carry on chatting about half hour and I said, “Now I should leave.”
Bimalbhai said,” Where are you going? You are staying tonight with us.
It’s very late now.”
I said, “So what Bimalbhai. I can manage myself. Mumbai isn’t that much
cruel. I need to go. I cannot make you feel uncomfortable. If anything will
happen, I will go to Jivdani Mata Mandir and sit there till morning.”
“That’s not the matter. We have aarti
starting soon and playing Garba then. So you have to come with us.” Mrs.
Bimal said.
I agreed and
later we went for Garba in the building premises. We sang many aartis and bhajans. Completing those, women started playing Garba. I saw
little girls were crazy for Garba. Though they didn’t know how to play, they
started along with their mammas. Mrs. Bimal, with immense stamina, started
playing Garba at 10:30 o’clock and played till 12:30 AM continuously. We
returned to flat at 12:30 and again chatted for an hour. I told Mrs. Bimal that
she has immense energy and she played nice. She told me that when she was
unmarried and living in Vadodara, she would start Garba at 12 O’clock night and
continuously play till morning 6. I was exclaimed listening her and soon we all
went asleep.
I got the
reservation ticket of Bandra Surat Intercity next day and so I peacefully ended
my sleep. Mrs. Bimal woke up early morning and served me coffee with some biscuits
and Farsan. Having that stuff, I
thank them both for a beautiful moment spent with them and left their place. I
really liked their place as even it is situated in Mumbai; it is quite
peaceful, less noisy and beautiful atmosphere where cool breeze blows. The
famous JIVDANI Mata’s temple is seen from their kitchen window which
is quite luckier for them. I believe they are blessed by her. The family not
only gave me love but also reminded me my sister, brother in law and little
Jiya. It’s hard times to separate from our beloved every time when it comes to.
My day was blessed by Mr. & Mrs. Bimalbhai and their princess daughter
Krutika.
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