Pratap Bhogilal Journey Through Life

Author(s): Rauf Ahmed
Publisher: Bhupendra Singh Anand

Page 40

34 | PRATAP BHOGILAL - JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
It had so happened that on my visit to Kapadvanj for the inauguration of the orthopedic dispensary in Menakaki's name, I surprisingly met Vadikaka's grand nephew Pankaj who was raised earlier along with his brother in Andheri but later on his father had shifted to Bombay. As such, I had lost touch with him for a number of years and I could not recognise him because he had a beard. He called me and I came to know that he was living in New York and had a business in New York. When I told him that we were going for Bhagwati's knee operation in New York, he said that he would do everything possible for our stay there. This was also a God sent for us since they met us at the airport, took us to their house before dropping us at the apartment we had booked just next to the orthopedic hospital and they looked after us very well. Pankaj's wife Gyanda used to bring for us every day food that she had cooked in the morning before going to office in the morning. As such, our whole stay in New York became very pleasant and most satisfying and Bhagwati's operation was very successful because she could bend the knee that was operated by Dr. Ranawat fully. Ever since then, my association with Pankaj's family and Gyanda has been continuing.
She loved travelling with me and accompanied me on many of my trips abroad. Her presence helped me in my business. Being genial and friendly by nature she could make friends easily and she socialised with the families of our associates abroad, which was a great help. Though simple otherwise, she was very clothes-conscious. After 64 years of a happy married life, my wife had a serious illness and in 2002 around October, she suffered from a disease called Diverticular. She suffered for almost a year and ultimately passed away. She was the live spirit of the Ladies Group at the Willingdon Sports Club and all her friends have felt her loss.
Her loss in September 2003 has left a big void in my life, but thanks to her, my children have been a great source of comfort to me.
When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self
-Confucius