Let’s invite Shanta Gokhale ji to the stage to accept the Crossword Books Lifetime Achievement Award,” and with that, veteran journalist and author Bachi Karkaria introduced the veteran cultural stalwart on stage amidst a standing ovation from the who’s who of India’s literary circles who were in full attendance at the lawns of an Andheri five-star last week. But prior to that, Karkaria, in her warm, charming, and typically witty introduction of her longtime friend, spoke from a space of familiarity, warmth and great respect for her celebrated, diverse body of work, as a writer, theatre person, as well as translator. She gave the audience an insight into their bonding over culinary exploits, where she reminisced about being thrilled to drop over at her home, where she enjoyed Gokhale’s Hungarian Roulade as much as her Maharashtrian pohe. “Thank you, Shanta, for your friendship,” was the line that warmed hearts the most, before she handed over the trophy to her friend of many decades. If the literary community in the city was yearning for that classic photo-op moment, this was it.

Next, the host Hrishikesh Kannan invited ‘Shanta tai’ — as she is fondly referred to by so many — to say a few words. Minus the false, rote-like laundry lists that we are so used to hearing at most award shindigs, this one was straight from the heart. Gokhale went on to single out two names, whom she called her “right hands” as she began her acceptance speech. The first was her house help of 50 years, Alka Dhulap. She was grateful for her support through thick and thin. The audience was in splits when she said, “I inform my publishers that not a word will be written in the month of May. It’s when Alka goes on leave, and I become Alka!”