26th April – 3rd May 2015 [Shifting House]

 

 House stories:  I was born in Mumbai and I lived my first few years in Sindhi Building, ground floor, Ghatkopar. A far away suburb, open grounds, dirty roads, fresh air and sunshine. Those were the days when home really was made up of four walls only. No net connection, no TV, no Fridge, no Cooking Gas, no Air conditioners, no Music systems, no Telephones, no Cell phone, no fancy furniture, no wall units. For entertainment, you had radio, movies and friends.

Before I was five, Dad – Mum shifted base to Ahemdabad, Gujrat. Here we lived in rented houses. Dad settled down finally after changing two places in a flat near ‘Kankaria’. By my 9^th birthday, we returned to Ghatkopar, Mumbai.

We lived in same Sindhi building, but this time on first floor, where Anil Chandan is staying nowadays. From there we shifted to second floor and stayed there till August 2006, long period of 40 years! Akshay – Kashyap both were born there, did schooling while living in that place. Whereas first Lali, then Avi and  Mummy shifted to Pune, followed by myself in 2006.

Mummy has lived in various localities and cities, and changed home for maximum times. [In Mumbai city, 3 locations, Gwalior Tank – Santacruze – Ghatkopar – In Ahemdabad city, mainly in Kankaria area – and in Pune city, 2 locations Mira Society and Wanwadi.]

In current generation, Kashyap has lived in maximum cities and changed many homes.  [In Mumbai city, Ghatkopar – Andheri, England (London) – In Pune city, Wanwadi area, but two locations]

 1^st May 2014: Finally our ‘Dhana Pani’ in Sacred Heart town society is over. We had planned a shifting marathon, all on Labour Day, so that we remember the labour involved in shifting. 

All of us will cherish the memory of B-7 very fondly, no two opinions. It is most peaceful, serine society, all necessary requirements available, excellent garden view, very near to office, ample space and decent neighbors. What else you need. Landlady got good offer and wanted to sell it. Our agreement was getting over by June 15, so we agreed to shift two months in advance.

Muskan with her precious 'Bhagwans'

In one day, all family members got busy in shifting from one society to other. We started at 9 am and completed on 5.30pm. This was achieved in very constrained budget. 

No commercial movers were appointed, who asked 25k. We did successful shifting with our staff and our routine transport boy. Dhwani, her mother who has come down to help, took charge of setting new house, I along with Muskan and her right hand maid, Namarat was in charge of packing and dispatching, Lali – Avi – Akshay - Kashyap kept rolling the pipeline, so that this assembly line of movement of goods never stopped. Load Xylo / Tempo, unload at Parmar Park, move it to 5^th floor and from there in its proper room/place.    

Along with this shifting, Tata Sky connection was restored at Parmar Park, minor carpentary work was finished along with plumber job. Pinky – Mummy supplied us with the fuel to run along. Excellent ‘Rasam – Rice’ made by Pinky – Mummy filled our plate.  By eight 85% setting was finished, now we will start re-arranging, this I assume will take few weeks.

First Tea on First Day, Ash Court, Flat 510, Parmar Park Wing 'A'

Meanwhile, I and Kashyap plan to sleep out in vast terrace.

 

by P G Dodeja