Chandrakant Sheth, one of my brothers, who was working with my uncle had gone to Aden in 1950. Another brother Indubhai, who is currently working in Reliance, had also gone to Aden around that time. Dhirubhai, too, was working in Aden at the time. They came into contact with each other because the Indian community was quite small in Aden.

That's how Dhirubhai came into my life.

After coming to Mumbai from Porbandar I was staying at Jaihind Estate, in my cousin Dinu's home in the Bhuleshwar area of old Mumbai. Liladhar, my uncle and Dinu's father, was also working in Aden and knew Dhirubhai well.

In 1958, Chandrakant, alias Chanubhai, had come for a short holiday to Mumbai from Aden. When both of us were walking down from Bhuleshwar to Kalbadevi my brother saw Dhirubhai who had returned to Mumbai just two months before that.

After exchanging kem chhos? (pleasantries), Dhirubhai said he needed a place to stay for 4 to 6 months. He said he would buy the residence a little later.

Chanubhai said: "Come and join us in Vandha Vilas (bachelors' home) at Jaihind Estate."

The next day, Dhirubhai joined us where I, Dinu and Chanubhai were already staying. When he came back from Aden, Dhirubhai was alone as his wife -- Kokilaben -- had gone to Jamnagar with their less-than-a-year-old son, Mukesh.

Dhirubhai had been told by Liladhar in Aden itself that he could seek his son Dinu's help in getting accommodation in Mumbai.

Dhirubhai was plump and quite hefty. He was a jolly good fellow; he loved eating and was full of bright plans for his life. In the evening while eating gandhiya (Gujarati salty- snacks made of gram flour), Chanubhai asked him, "What are your plans?"