Mohan Lal Mehta was called "Bhapaji" by everyone in Mehta family tree, with love and respect. The eldest member of the Mehta family, and the Derawal Sewa Sangh, I fondly remember Bhapaji for several reasons.

First, He was a very well informed, well versed in Urdu, Hindi, Derawali and English language. He was always up-to-date be it world news or current affairs in India. Bhapaji kept himself busy with reading and had a good collection of "Readers Digest".

Second, Bhapaji was a very patient, kind and gentle person. Irrespective of the situation, he never got angry and kept his calm. He loved his family very much and as a gaurding angel, he regularly visited all his siblings and members of his family tree and kept everyone knit together. Uptil his last years, he was travelling from Delhi to Hyderabad to Madras, several times a year to meet his family and children or for business work.

I should not forget to mention that every meeting with Bhapaji was a joy to young children because like Santa Claus, in his every visit or meeting, he would give children his blessings a good amount of pocket money cash gift. To all children, without a miss, to all children. I too got my good share from Bhapaji, until the age of 18 years.

About a decade before he passed away, once, I asked him for his favourite poem. He wrote an Urdu Sher (poetic verse) on a paper and gave it to me. He said this verse is accredited to Bahadurshah Zafar by some and by some others to Aurangzeb. I still have that saved paper (photograph below).

Helping others was a part of Bhapaji. He did not do good to others for any reward. His favourite verse tells us that he had his peace. He wanted no celebration or tears or noise, in rememberance but quiet and peace. We all miss Bhapaji. We talk about him, we think about him and wish he was with us. Bhapaji was a gaurding angel.