Tributes to Noshir and Roshan Pundole on their 40th Wedding Anniversary, 27 March 1985

From Shehernavaz

From Kershasp

From Hootoksi

Beloved Ma & Pa,

Just as a river flows endlessly leaving behind it fertile soil, so you have been in my life. You created a warm and secure nest, a happy home in which your three chicks grew and flew…. You made me the person I am today and have been a constant source of love, inspiration and understanding. I know you are always there for my family and for me. Thank you for being THE BEST parents in the world

Your,

Moga.

I would like to share some Early memories I have of you my beloved ma

I remember being in your arms on your favourite rocking chair listening to you sing “Poree oh thore ma”

Your lying on the bed and saying to me “Moga mara jara pug dbavse?” (Moga, will you pressmy feet please?)and “mara pasa ma sui ja” (come into my arms and sleep with me)

At the end of an exciting Navjote day I was sitting on the potty in my pink, frilly dress and you called out to papa and said “Apre nulli powder puff” (our small powder puff!)

You used to sit up with me at all hours of day and night rubbing my back as I gasped for breath when I had asthma attacks.

I remember your practicing your scales on the upright piano singing “It’s a lovely day today, It’s a lovely day today…………..”

Getting into our Consul car and going to see the lights on Republic Day …………………

Spending weekends with Uncle Jimmy and Phi Masi in Aksa…………

Visiting granny in Colaba where you always discussed the price of eggs! “Aje eda no soo bhau che?” (what is the price of eggs today?)

Falooda on Papeti and going to Metro shoe shop to buy new shoes for Navroze

I vividly remember your explaining why you had to send me to boarding school in Kodaikanal. Dr Pesi Badshaw felt the clean dry air of the hills would be better for me and it was!

I had a very difficult time settling into boarding school and I ran away three times but only got as far as the Kodai Market before I was hauled back into school again. The third time, Mother St John asked you to come up and take me home. You sat in the formal parlor at school, and I sat in front of you. You looked squarely at me and told me “I just want you to try this out for one term. (4 months) If at the end of that time, you still feel miserable about being here, I promise you can come back home to Bombay” I knew you would never break your word and very soon things turned around for me and I loved being in boarding school. At the end of the term after the school holidays I was more than ready to go back!!

I loved the egg savories you made for the wonderful parties you threw at our home in 20 Nepean Sea Road.

I remember those parties with you sitting at the piano and Kershasp handing out percussion instruments to all present. Everyone was actively part of the fun!

I remember coming back from the J . B. Petit High School in my Uniform. You would always be home to welcome me in your pink or yellow shorts and you never failed to ask me “what happened at school today”

………you are absolutely THE BEST mother a girl could ever have and I love you SO MUCH!

I would like to share some early memories of you my beloved Pa

I can still ‘feel’ the tickle in my tummy when you hoisted me up in the air on your feet! I would keep asking you for more and more and more and even if you were tired, you always gave me that last hoist!!

All three of us getting into bed with ma and you. I can still hear you say ”are are, maro tukyo garam kari nakso!” (oh goodness you will all warm my pillow!)

You would be sitting in the arm chair in the living room reading your Lodge book and I would climb into your lap and listen to you repeating something but I can’t remember the words!!!

I remember walking with you to Variety Stores where you let me choose a doll and I took the longest time to decide on which one to buy. You patiently waited for me and I finally bought a Bride Doll.

I took part in a talent contest in Bangalore where I sang a song but did not get a prize. You explained how proud you were of me taking part because that was important, not the winning. I had always wanted to own a pair of hand-made shoes and on that day you walked with me to a Chinese Shoe Shop and I chose my first pair. They were brown with silver buckles, two sizes too big for me but I insisted on having them and you indulged me.

I remember the endless trips we made to the airport to pick you up and we would often beg you to take us to London and your response always was “OK lets go, start walking”

I remember your telling me that it was important to say our prayers even though I did not understand what I was saying. “The words and the rhythm of these texts which have been unaltered and come down to us through many generations of Zoroastrians, are efficacious in and of themselves. Recite them, they will never fail to comfort you” You are so right papa, they always do comfort me.

I always remember your kindness to Goradia. He was an old friend from school who had fallen on hard times and once a month he came to our home to shower and have a meal. I remember his greatest wish was to own a shark-skin suit!!!