I’m thrilled that you invited me, Pheroze. I learnt so much about your fabulous community,” Lady Flora was referring to her presence at the reopening of the FD Alpaiwalla Museum last week, where she accompanied her friend, Sir PM for the big-ticket event on the city’s cultural calendar. Both were dunking their biscuits in pudina chai at the Cooperage Bandstand, for the Sunday late night soiree.

Sir PM’s broad smile was still writ large on his face as it was throughout that evening, at old Khareghat Colony. Clearly, it wasn’t a gathering just for the Parsi-Irani community but for all of Mumbai’s cultural ambassadors and well-wishers who were present to raise a toast to this milestone event. “My good friend Manchershaw Khareghat must be doing a jig in the heavens that this happened in the colony named after him. It’s been such a long, inspirational journey to see Framji’s [Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla] vision and passion get its deserved place in the sun. Kudos to all the wonderful Parsi philanthropists, benefactors and countless others who came forward to ensure the museum reopens. I bet if [Cowasjee Jehangir] Readymoney was contacted, he would have done further justice to his title,” chuckled Sir PM, adding, “It was such a well-attended gathering of the community; I swear I heard someone remark that only aapro Zubin [Mehta] was missing!”