Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Builder Niranjan Hiranandani’s personal haven amidst the high-rise buildings that flank his Malabar Hill apartment is a small and simply done-up terrace garden. "This is where I spend the better part of my mornings. I have my first cup of tea here with my father, read the newspapers and practise yoga for about half an hour. In a place like Mumbai there aren’t too many opportunities for spending time amidst greenery — which is why this is my special corner," he says.
A large part of the terrace is taken up by a variety of potted plants. There are several rose plants, a raat ki rani that draws attention to itself with its unique fragrance, a rubber tree and even a christmas tree. At one end of the parapet, a criss-crossed wooden panel is home to a bougainvillea plant with flaming orange and pink flowers.
The floor is done in marble and mosaic tiles. And at the entrance there are two marble pillars leading into the garden. At another end there is a marble statue of a one-armed woman. Next to it there is a marble dinner counter with a brick-coloured roof. "Occasionally we eat dinner in the garden," he says.
The garden has been done by Niranjan’s wife and his father. But it is he who spends a lot of time in it. "The atmosphere here helps me unwind from all the stress and strain and charges me up for the next day," he says.
