Issue 1 · Case 5 · 10 August 2026
Bombay school desk · 1957 · Sushila Ketkar
The Bandra Ferry Packet
A tide notice packet missed its 1957 crossing from the landing office.
REPORT: Bandra, 1957 — A packet of tide notices did not reach the ferry landing office before the evening crossing. The booking clerk, boatman, messenger and tea seller left marks in the booking hut, mooring steps, waiting room and supply shed beside a ticket punch, canvas pouch, lantern and receipt book. The harbour office recorded four claims and one error. The desk adds one line for the record: the Ticket punch is the item under enquiry, and its keeper that evening owes the desk the first answer.
Library counter adds a rainy-afternoon register
The Five Gardens reading room has set aside a ruled register for borrowed umbrellas and satchels while the monsoon clouds gather over its verandah.
Mohan Borkar enters the evening register
A handwritten line in the landing register assigns Mohan Borkar to the Booking hut before filing.
Tram bells carry through the first drizzle
Morning riders were advised to keep their fountain-pen notes wrapped as a brief shower made the pavements near the circle slick before breakfast.
Mooring steps is named in the station paperwork
Evelyn D’Costa's route ends at the Mooring steps, according to the landing register entry.
Handwriting medal shared by two patient pupils
A small Matunga school awarded its copybook medal jointly after two pupils kept equally clean margins through the term, according to the head clerk.
Ledger copy keeps Suresh Naik on the record
Suresh Naik appears beneath the Waiting room heading in the landing register for the shift.
CLASSIFIED
Ferry lanterns trimmed for evening crossings
Bandra Landing Stores sells wicks, glass chimneys, and the small courage needed to carry papers over black water.
Harmonium rehearsal opens the annual-day programme
A neighbourhood music teacher will lead a short harmonium rehearsal before the curtain rises, with the handbell kept by the stage manager until the final cue.
CLASSIFIED
Signed copy leaves Fatima Shaikh where readers can find it
The ferry office notes record Fatima Shaikh at the Supply shed in the movement column.
Cycle shed key to be returned before noon
The caretaker asks families using the rain-dark shed to leave its brass key at the front office, so the younger pupils are not kept waiting at dismissal.
Evening copy names Signal office before closing
A clerk marked Nalini Borkar at the Signal office in the landing register before tea.
CLASSIFIED
Palm Court Irani Café keeps the sugar jar ready
Palm Court Irani Café offers bun maska, brun pav and a strong cup of chai beside a bentwood rack of old weeklies. School satchels may rest under the table, not on it.
Mohan Borkar enters the evening register
Mohan Borkar's signature closes the issue line for the Ticket punch in the register.
A request-card bundle waits for a future wireless desk
The postman collected a tied bundle of song requests addressed to a small harbour studio, a quiet early note in the larger case-world archive.
Canvas pouch is named in the station paperwork
A stock mark records the Canvas pouch in Evelyn D’Costa's hands before closing time.
Ledger copy keeps Suresh Naik on the record
Suresh Naik's name sits next to the Storm lantern in the harbour issue book copy.
Signed copy leaves Fatima Shaikh where readers can find it
The harbour issue book assigns the Receipt book to Fatima Shaikh for the evening record.
CLASSIFIED
Evening copy names Tide board before closing
The ferry office papers record Nalini Borkar with the Tide board in plain ink.
Mohan Borkar enters the evening register
Mohan Borkar's harbour note entry gives the reason as Protect a crossing for the desk.
Avoid a reprimand is named in the station paperwork
The motive column puts Avoid a reprimand beside Evelyn D’Costa before the file closes.
Ledger copy keeps Suresh Naik on the record
The ferry office file records one pressure on Suresh Naik: Settle a debt.
Signed copy leaves Fatima Shaikh where readers can find it
A margin note beside Fatima Shaikh reads Keep a promise in the reason column.
Evening copy names Win a route before closing
The reason line for Nalini Borkar names Win a route in the desk copy.
Deduction board
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