Friendship doesn’t see border, culture, caste, creed, race, gender, and age. I am a witness to all of it and this time, especially with age.
It isn’t usual for me to connect with someone so elder to me. But it happened; somehow. Maybe there’s a divine design. Maybe there’s something else.
Maybe, there’s nothing.
Whatever, but I’d to tell this one — this story of Prabodh Godiwala who’s a usual man with unusual magic in him.
I don’t clearly remember how I met him but it was in connection with certain social causes I was working on my 4-year long sabbatical. We used to chat on Facebook and speak on the phone for a long time, until one day when he called me to his palatial home opposite the beautiful sea in Bandra.
I think what connected us was none other than the legend Jagjit Singh.
We both are an ardent fan of the legend; actually, he’s more than me and much senior in being a fan of the legend. He’s also written a book on the legend.
Prabodh is one of the lucky ones who used to have Jagjit in his home on occasions. I wasn’t even fortunate to see him face-to-face.
Anyway, but this blog post isn’t about me.
Coming back to my friend, he has been a wise businessman all his life and also a photographer. He’s taken photographs — and autographs — of numerous media celebrities of his time.
He’s now happily retired and keeps him busy with photography and visiting his family across the globe.
I can’t forget the sunset I saw from him home.
That was the best sunset I’ve seen from a home in Mumbai. Sadly, the home is no more as he has sold it — at a fortune that was also in a newspaper — to fulfill his responsibility before going.
He’s a wise man and he wanted to clear off everything before his final journey. I’m surely taking this tip; although I don’t have a palatial home and children like him.
Anyway, but this blog post isn’t about me.
My new 83-year friend is always in a state of motion. There’s so much to learn from him; especially about wisdom, business, travel, and joy.
I don’t know if I’ll ever live to see 80 and even if I’ll, I ain’t sure if I’ll be able to think, move, and live like this man.
Prabodh is an inspiration to all of us. He’s the one man I can truly call healthy, wealthy, and wise.