All of milk

A former event photographer,Choksi worked till two years ago — till “age started bringing a slight blur to pictures”. He recalls his mother praying to Gods “of all and any religion” to get her son to eat food. Even while the best of food was prepared at home,Choksi could never be tempted to come close to the dining table. “My mother is 93 today and still prays that her son should touch food before it’s too late,” he says. “I still recall the time when my school teacher would punish me for sleeping on the last bench. Since I would only drink milk,soon after lunch break I would be dozing off to sleep. My friends would say ‘why don’t you hang a card or something on yourself so that you won’t have too many explanations to give’. What a childhood that was.”

A widower,Choksi lives with his son and daughter-in-law Elisa now. During his working days,he recalls having put in more than 15 hours on day shifts as an event photographer. There was this assignment he vividly recalls,which came from the home of former don Haji Mastan for his brother Noor Mohammed’s wedding. “It was for three days and three nights,and not many photographers were willing to take it. I just said I will do it. The fraternity said I will be the first one to faint and fall due to work pressure,but I stood the test. Even Haji Mastan came and bowed to me when he heard about me from his relatives on the last day.”

Small boxes that contain memories of a lifetim— visiting cards of friends,and people who have come visiting him; a few religious books and some basic tablets — dot his room. Neatly tucked below his pillow is a letter from his doctor,which states that — he is “on a only-milk diet and has not tasted anything else in his life. He enjoys good health”,for anyone who may have doubts.

There is no explanation,says Choksi,“for his behaviour” and compares himself to children who refuse to eat food. During early days when family would send him to shop for vegetables,he would get confused and even argue with vendors. “Imagine my plight,I have never tasted anything. And it is very difficult to tell the world that I don’t even know what is a vegetable and what is a fruit. I once argued with a vendor after he gave me brinjals. I kept telling him it’s not a brinjal and he would not budge.” That night Choksi was scolded by the womenfolk in his home for picking the wrong vegetable. “From then on I was always sent with a sample vegetable lest I pick something else and come. It was only last year I learnt what an onion is,I always used to see it in market.”

During his professional life,he used to splurge on five to ten cups of tea and milk during lunch time and breaks,though he would always take his wife and kids to the best of restaurants. “I would take them to Oberoi and Hotel Taj and watch them eat and be satisfied. I could only drink milk.”

Now little Lisa,his granddaughter,is trying what none of the other womenfolk in his house could do. “She just goes and stuffs a biscuit in his mouth. He spits it out. The exercise continues,” Elisa says.