Supporting act

8220;Even casual conversations with my husband have become special. We spoke just before he went for dinner. I never dreamt it would be our last conversation. He always said to me that I would realise how much he loved me when he would be no more8230;those words are echoing in my ears now,8221; she says of the dynamic CEO of Satellite Builders.

In 2001, the late Pankaj Shah made his presence felt in the art world. Tao had just opened in Worli under the directorship of his wife. He had come to see if the show had been put up satisfactorily. His presence commanded authority. 8220;Though he was a quiet person, Pankaj was instrumental in backing his wife, for her venture into the art world as a gallery owner and art connoisseur,8221; says artist Akbar Padamsee, a friend of the family.

Currently, the shutters are down on the ongoing exhibition. Shah and her entire family, along with 19-year-old son Sarjan and 14-year-old daughter Sanjana, had opened their home to receive close friends and extended family as they paid their condolences on Saturday. A prayer meeting was also held on Sunday.

What opened as a small gallery in the Atria of Sarjan Plaza has now turned into a luxury three-storey art complex and residential suite for the Shah family. However, sadness looms over the premises now.

Sanjeev Shankar, an advocate at the Supreme Court who was visiting the Shahs while in Mumbai, recalls that Shah was 8220;a true business man, a good man at heart and very dedicated to his city8221;.

8220;Pankaj was 20 when he took over the family business since his father died suddenly. Now history seems to be repeating itself. My son is 19 and he has to take over the family business,8221; says Kalpana whose son has flown down from the London School of Economics to be with his mother and sister. 8220;I want to be strong for them, like a rock, the way my husband was there for us,8221; she says. She had toured Paris with her husband where she met artists like S H Raza and later M F Husain.

Her love for art was nurtured and supported by her spouse. 8220;He was so wonderful and supportive. I never lacked any thing in life while he was alive. Though initially we did struggle while Pankaj was taking care of the family8212;he helped so many people. Finally it seemed like we had everything, professionally and personally. This shock is going to take me a long time to recover from. I would give anything to relive a few moments with him. But I have to accept the truth and continue with life8212;I do it only for my children.8221;