A family of some local renown has lost all their life's earnings in the share market and are scrambling for food and shelter in Ghatkopar West. Penniless, homeless and hungry, the old mother and her two middle-aged children have been on the road for about three weeks, scrounging for assistance. Messages about their misfortune have become a talking point on Twitter. The family, 68-year-old Ranjanben Desai, her son Bijalbhai, 44 and daughter Seema, 45, were spotted by DNA at a BEST bus stop at Patidarwadi in the central suburb, all their belongings bundled into a couple of ragged cloth bags. Things were not always this rough for the Desais. The downturn in their relatively well-to-do existence came about a couple of years ago, when Ranjanben's husband, Navinbhai, a stockbroker, died of a heart attack. He and his son used to trade together in the share market, and even had a business that did well for years. But they made a series of investment calls over the years which turned out to be bad, leaving them reeling under debt. By the time Navin passed away, the family owed more than a crore rupees to various people and entities. The family began borrowing from relatives and friends. The kin lent to them until they realised they were never going to get the money back. The Desais had to sell off every last bit of their belongings, until they had nothing left but the roof over their heads. Two months ago, they had to let that go as well. They sold off their two apartments to pay off what they owed. The distress sale, however, only yielded Rs 40 lakh. There are still more dues left and the family has no means at the moment to settle them. Fellow Jains from the area are supporting the trio in its search for employment and shelter, circulating messages on WhatsApp and Facebook seeking donations and shelter. Speaking with DNA, Ranjanben said, "My husband, Navinbhai, was a share broker and invested lakhs of rupees in the share market, but he lost everything. He died a while back. We had to sell off our flat at KJ Patel building and another at Prince Palace at Goradia Nagar in Ghatkopar. We had paid off loans for the flats. Today, we are on the road, without any food or shelter. We are begging from people." Incidentally, one of the houses was sold to raise money to invest back in the market on the off-chance that it would turn their fortune around, but it was bad judgment. They lost that money too. Bijabhai said, "My sister Seema has health issues and my mother is old. I know I can't keep them out on the street here. But I am not getting any work." Nilesh Purabia, a local activist, said the Desais were in "big trouble" as they had "lost everything in the share market including their two houses and all their gold". He said: "We have created groups on social media and WhatsApp to seek help for them. I appeal to people to help them with food and shelter, if not with money." Vishal Puj, another activist from the Jain community, said even after selling their two homes, the Desais still have loans to settle. "We are looking for a home for them in Dombivali for about Rs 5,000 a month. We also seeing if we can get Bijalbhai a job. His sister Seema is mentally ill and needs medication which alone costs Rs 3,000-4,000 a month. We are trying out best." He issued a caveat: "It's a lesson for everyone else not to invest blindly like this. You have to think about your family's future as well." Until a home is found for them, the Desais will have to continue sleeping on the narrow steel benches of a bus stop.

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