Aunty Dorothy was more like a mother to me than an aunt because both my elder brother Errol and I were brought up by my grandmother, Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Venith at their home at Rear Helal Bldg., Mazagoan, along with their own seven children all younger to me. At one time there was about 15 of us living in that small home, but it was never too small for comfort because what kept us together and very happy was that bond of love and respect for each other unmatched by anything that I see today in any family. Besides us children there was my other Uncle Arthur and his wife Aunty Julie, my grandmother, and two adopted “servants” all of us having meals together, and at bed time made ourselves comfortable at any part of the home whether the living room, kitchen, the loft or the passage outside. Those were the best days of my life that I cherish dearly, when we had no TV, telephones and at one time not even a refrigerator or ceiling fan.
I could write a book on my life with my grandmother, Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Venith at Rear Helal where I lived since I was about one year old until I left for Dubai at the age of 17. Aunty Dorothy was a very simple down to earth person, soft spoken and very intelligent who could multi-task in a manner very few could. How she managed the daily household chores of preparing meals for so many, the washing and cleaning, getting school uniforms ironed every day, taking up the kids lessons, etc. etc. is mind boggling when I think about it today. There was a lot of fun in that home but also strict discipline and none of us were spared the cane from Uncle Venith when it came to being corrected. Every night after the family Rosary all of us kids were made to stand in a line and give him an account of what we did the whole day. My grandmother and aunty Dorothy would watch and smile when any of us were being told off for doing something wrong, at times asked to put our hands out for a whack of the cane. I could go on and on with so many fond memories of growing up with Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Venith, it is that bond of love and discipline I experienced growing up that has molded me into what I am today.
I visited Aunty Dorothy when I last went to Canada in Sept. 17, and that meeting was just too emotional for me. I had no idea that one of the staff members at the home who was so taken up seeing us together took a short video clip of us together that I shall be glad to share with you. She brought back memories of me that I never heard before. It brought tears to my eyes when she called my darling son and how she remembered calling out “Clement Baba” and I would go running into her arms when I was two years old. She remembered my playing in the band and how I never refused to do anything she asked of me to do. I promised I would spend lots more of my time with her when I next visited Canada, but did not make it to Canada after that trip to see her again.
I remember doing errands for her as a little boy with so much excitement going running down to the “Banya” shop and coming running back. I remember her teaching me to say “Alla, Mirchi, Kothmir” and giving me 10 paise to give to the shopkeeper with instructions “Just say “Alla, mirchi, kothmir”, and take what he gives you, not realizing what it meant or what he would give me. I soon learnt what some of these cooking ingredients looked like and it was fun doing these errands. When I grew a bit older and started playing in the band at the age of about 12 I remember this one incident when dancing “Twist” became popular. We organized a dance on our terrace at Rear Helal and all at home could watch the dance, since the terrace was on the same level as our home. When I came home after the dance Aunty Dorothy said to me "I like this new dance very much”. Coming from her being such a simple person and commenting on dancing, I was confused and asked her why? She replied “I like it because the boys and girls do not have to hold hands when dancing” I could not stop laughing, but that was my Aunty Dorothy full of simplicity and love. I could recall so many other pleasant memories but it is not possible to record them all. These are two of the precious ones I am sharing with you.
Clement Misquitta
