VASCO
For Sushant Mahale, the collapse of two balconies of the dilapidated Happy Apartments on Friday morning was more than just another city accident. It forced him into one of the most painful decisions of his life — to shut down or shift the shop that has been his second home for over three decades.
Located in the basement of the building, Mahale’s shop was far more than a business. Over time, it had become a place of memories and friendships with customers who felt like family. “I started the business in 1993, though the shop existed since the 1980s. Back then, the rent was just Rs 450. In 2018, after years of saving, I finally purchased it for Rs 12 lakh. This shop is my journey, my struggle, my identity. Deciding to close it feels like losing a part of myself,” he said, visibly shaken.
Friday’s incident deeply unsettled him. He usually opened the shop early but arrived late due to the rains and had just lifted the shutters at 10:15 am. “The roads were unusually clear after Ganesh Visarjan. As I stood there, I suddenly heard stones falling. That had never happened in so many years. I felt something was wrong, as if the structure above had absorbed too much rainwater. Instinct told me to move away. I even suggested removing the bikes parked nearby,” he recalled.
That instinct saved lives. Within minutes, two balconies came crashing down. No one was injured. “It was like a sign from God. Just before the collapse, we had moved to a corner. Even a bike rider passed seconds before the debris fell. We were lucky, truly fortunate,” Mahale said.
Yet survival relief is clouded by uncertainty. With the government announcing strict action against unsafe buildings, Mahale fears the premises may soon be sealed. “I’ve requested authorities and our MLA to at least allow me to move my stock and belongings if they seal the place. I cannot risk lives by reopening. But it breaks my heart to walk away from a place where every corner holds a story,” he said.
For Mahale, the shop is not just walls and shelves but decades of struggle and countless bonds. Closing it feels like ending a chapter that was never meant to end this way.
