Meherbai hosted a ‘Chai-n-pakoras’ afternoon at her house. Keks: I’m very sad because I lost thousands of rupees while doing an online net-payment. Meherwanji: Net payments are for youngsters, not for people over 80 like us. I prefer ‘good old cash’ because my Rs. 100 note can’t be hacked. If I’m robbed, I lose only 100 or 500 […]
The Mandli ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ (all over 80) met at a posh coffee shop to celebrate the festive spirit. Meherbai: We grew up in an era when coffee-beans were roasted, put in a grinder and brewed to perfection. Meherwanji: Yes dear. This was before the era of instant coffee, bolstered by milk and sugar. Coomi Kaajwali: Forget coffee. […]
The khanar-pinar, farnar-harnar Mandli members wanted a new gastronomic adventure. Lunches, breakfasts, and tea-parties were all old-hat and under Meherbai’s influence, the entire Mandli was into healthy living by not eating anything after sunset. Hence, Meherwanji, the ever-supporting, fun-loving husband suggested a farsan and mithai party at their home, which was welcomed by the young, full of life members (all over 80). […]
Meherbai gave a ‘Nostalgia Party’ for her Mandli and even served nostalgic food, like Kumas, Saandhra, Popatji, Malido, Varadh-varaa, Taari-Na-Bhakhra, Khaman-Ladoos, which hardly anyone prepares these days. Keki Khadro: Meherbai, I haven’t had breakfast today, so can we have an early lunch? Meherbai: You mean brunch? Keki: Brunch, punch, bunch, lunch – call it what you want! Keki’s Khadhri […]
Meherwanji loved his Saturday mornings when he would become faregat on his Bapavaji’s easy-chair and read Parsi Times, while his wife pampered him with tea and bataasas. On a recent Saturday, Meherbai read an article which said, ‘Go On A Date With Your Spouse To Keep The Spark Alive In Your Marriage’. Khallas! That was it! She took […]
Since Meherbai’s obnoxious neighbours, the twin sisters – Aloo and Jaloo – were still looking for the love of their lives and were open to the idea of marriage, the Mandli held a discussion to help them. Aloo: We girls (both were over 60) have had a series of failed relationships and are waiting in vain […]
Meherbai loved Goa in the rains, so every year, she, along with ten other senior-citizen couples, took a trip to Goa, to experience the rains there, calling it her annual ‘happiness-pilgrimage’ with friends! This year was no different except that the rain-Gods decided to descend upon Mumbai causing a deluge for two days. All the […]
Meherbai had gone overboard with deliciously rich and sinfully calorie-loaded goodies during the Navroze season. On Independence Day, she went to the Parsi Gymkhana for the flag-hoisting and had a huge breakfast. It was also her friend Ketayun’s birthday-dinner that night and she went crazy with the desserts. Also, it was their friends – Bomi […]
Spiritual consciousness is omnipresent, yet we are oblivious to it. It’s all around us, but few find it. Why? Because the monkey-mind needs to focus on our physical plane through which we can reach spiritual consciousness, especially in troubled times (vighna). This is where the lovable trouble-shooter Ganesha (vighnaharta) steps in. Ancient Indian literature, spiritually and historically refers to […]
Meherbai always says, “Dikra, I am not superstitious at all – touch-wood, touch-wood! Only, I don’t walk under ladders and I stop in my tracks when I see a black cat (mui avvar kaari bilari).” She refuses to see that the black kitty is also God’s creature like any of us and has as much […]
Your family is supposed to be the safest, most loving place in the world – but what happens if your family means sadness, jealousy, frustration, greed, anger, betrayal or any other disappointments? Mostly, immaterial of your age, you turn to friends and before you know it, they become your adopted family. Those facing daily hostility […]