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A serene, not-so-well-known colony in a lane off Lamington Road is where I have lived for 17 years of my life. Shapur Baug is known among the older generation because of its geographical proximity to the Aslaji Agiary.

Unlike the other colonies in south Bombay, it is not a happening place. The tenants here are mostly above 30 years of age. Hardly do a bunch of kids come down to play as it does not have a huge playground. As a child, I have seldom experienced ‘colony life’ and have missed the fun and socializing that I have seen in Cusrow Baug or Rustom Baug. The youth of the community are not so familiar with Shapur Baug as they barely have friends from there.

There are seven blocks in all, from ‘A’ to ‘G,’ with 140 flats. The balconies face inside the colony and there is a small well in one corner. It is one of the very few baugs that has a lift in every building. I have always loved my colony, for a number of reasons. School was just four buildings away from home, which meant a saving in traveling time; any place or location is within easy reach since Grant Road station, Opera House, Nana Chowk, Tardeo are walking distance, which makes work comparatively easier.

The first two blocks, ‘A’ and ‘B’ have huge flats where one can actually play hide-and-seek with one’s friends. Each flat has two bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen with a huge balcony that can accommodate four cupboards. At times as kids we would play hide-and-seek, hiding in one of the blocks or in someone’s house on the ground floor, disturbing our neighbors’ afternoon siesta.

Shapur Baug permits all vendors to enter, from a fish seller, fruit seller to even a dhobi (washerman). A caterer has opened a canteen for take-away and tiffin meals at the rear of the colony. It’s a first for our colony and the service makes life so convenient at times. One of the facilities we have taken for granted is the 24-hour water supply. Never have we been urged to take a quick bath or wash utensils before the supply gets cut.

Once a year, we have a jashan in a small hall in one of our blocks, which most of the youngsters attend along with their grandparents. It’s fun when a marriage takes place in one of the families. We all come to the balcony to catch a glimpse of the groom/bride and their entourage before they proceed to the wedding venue.

I remember my birthdays which would be celebrated along with my school mates and a few close relatives. My mother would decorate the entire drawing room and adjoining balcony with streamers, balloons and return gifts stacked on one side.

During Diwali, we burst crackers with our neighbors or friends from outside the colony, since Parsis celebrate every occasion treating it as their own.

Shapur Baug is jointly owned by seven siblings of the Broacha family and hence, when a tenant wants to dispose of his flat, he is liable to pay 50 percent of the amount to the family.

Residing in a Parsi colony gives one a different feeling. It makes one feel so safe to be surrounded by members of one’s own community, despite their diminishing numbers. From a neighbor’s birthday to Parsi New Year, we celebrate all happy occasions with sev-dahi. Conversely, when people fight with raised voices, it echoes till the next building resulting in ears being picked up and neighbors going to their balconies to check out what is happening!

Aslaji Agiary, one of the most frequented fire temples, is visited not only by the elderly but also by college going and working youngsters. Though the worshippers are reducing in number, one can see a long line outside the Agiary early in the morning on mah Meher, roz Meher, blocking the Congress House lane. It must be the most profitable day for the fulwala (florist) and sukhad (sandalwood) shop which are located at the mouth of the lane leading to the Agiary. Another famous place of worship is the Sai Baba mandir (temple) diagonally opposite the Agiary, which is patronized by innumerable Parsis, especially on Thursdays.

A spicy and salty combination is what makes life interesting, a blend of which exists in my baug too. We may crib about the tenants living below us, but we would not hesitate to be with them when they need us. 

Final year student of Bachelors of Mass Media — Journalism at Lala Lajpat Rai  College, 20-year-old Maha-freen Mistry resides in south Bombay.