He looked for office space in the Masjid Bandar area of Mumbai because he was planning to get into the business of spices.

In Aden he had done some survey on this. He had also speculated (satta) a bit in the sugar commodity trade. The British company Burmah Shell, where Dhirubhai served in Aden, never allowed private jobs, but Dhirubhai nonetheless entered the commodities marektplace. It was Ramnikbhai, Dhirubhai's elder brother, who invited him to Aden in 1950. Incidentally, my brother Indubhai and Dhirubhai were on the same ship that sailed to Aden.

Till I met Dhirubhai my life was dull. With great difficulty and that too after three or four attempts, I cleared my matriculate examination. This was frowned upon by my brother Chanubhai. He was from Aden and working in a British company and he thought I didn't have any general knowledge. He was quite 'polished' compared to me.

I had studied in a Gujarati medium school and my English was quite poor. During that time there was a fad to learn 'typing.' It was believed that if you could type, you could get a job as a clerk. I joined a typing class, but how do I learn to type without knowing English?

Wherever I applied for a job, I would get rejected in personal interviews. My brother treated me like his son so he started worrying about me.

Once, Chanubhai told Dhirubhai, "You have just returned from Aden. My brother is loafing around. He has only one basic qualification, which you don't have. He knows the lanes and by lanes of Mumbai. All he does is roam around the city all the time."

Dhirubhai said, "Never mind. Tomorrow, come along with me."

Meanwhile, Dhirubhai fixed up a place in Masjid Bandar. Dr Dalal was a medical practitioner at 240, Narsi Natha Street, Bhaat Bazaar, Masjid Bandar, Mumbai. That become our first business address.