At 98, Prabhavati Nani from Ahmedabad begins her day before sunrise, walking into her kitchen with the same sense of purpose that has defined her life for decades.
“I am 98! And I am still young. As long as I am alive, I will cook for my kids,” she says.
Married at 22, she spent six decades raising three daughters and running her home. Through the years, one thing remained constant — her love for feeding people. She enjoyed trying new recipes and would often send dishes to neighbours, simply to see their reaction.
People did not just love the food — they could feel Nani’s love in every bite.
Then in 2017, her husband passed away. The house suddenly felt too quiet. Her daughters were settled, and her grandchildren had grown up. For the first time in 60 years, she had no one to cook for.
Everything changed with a single request.
One day, her daughter’s friend asked, “Nani, can you make khandvi for my party?” She even insisted on paying. What began as a small order soon turned into something much bigger.
In 2018, Nani’s Nashta was born.
People did not just love the food — they could feel Nani’s love in every bite. Today, over 200 families wait for her authentic Gujarati dishes. Even now, at 98, Prabhavati remains deeply involved in the process. She checks every batch, tastes the food, and approves every order herself.
“Earlier, I cooked for my family. Today, I cook for many families. I am not just someone’s wife or mother. I am a founder,” she says.
For Prabhavati, this is not just about food. It is about rediscovering purpose.
She did not retire. She reinvented herself.
“Age is just a number. You can start any day and change the script of your life,” she adds.
Her journey stands as a reminder that it is never too late to begin again — and that sometimes, all it takes is one small opportunity to turn a lifetime of love into something that touches many more lives.
