Excise inspector, always wanted to donate his eyes

Like any other day for this Central Excise Inspector, Sanjay was heading home to Goregaon from his Dadar office on that day. He died in the Bandra blast at 6.24 pm.

Says Sanjay’s sister Shambhavi, “There were two anchors in his life. Work and family.” A commerce graduate from Patkar College, Goregaon, Sanjay had joined the Excise department almost two decades ago. And everyday, after returning home around 7 pm, he would spend at least two hours with the children.

“He would begin by taking up our elder son Sanjit’s studies everyday and then play chess or carrom with the kids, depending on their mood,” says Shweta. For Sanjit, who is nine, Sanjay was more of a friend. “He would always confide in him, telling him about the smallest of incidents at school.”

These days, explains, Shweta, Sanjit misses his father’s painstaking explanations about all that was happening in and around the city. “He would tell him about important newspaper articles or tell them a story that was significant,” adds Shambhavi. For all his love for work, Sanjay was quite a home bird, too, always eager to help around with chores. “He didn’t cook, but helped in whatever way he could, like setting the table or chopping vegetables etc,” says Shweta.

Shweta has moved in to her sister Suman’s house in Vile Parle. The move has also meant that the children had to change schools. Living within a family, she feels, will help her adjust to an outdoor life. Always a housewife, Shweta must now get ready to take up a job at Sanjay’s office.