New Delhi, April 4 -- "It's like losing a family member," says Manmeet Kaur Bindra, her five friends nodding in agreement. The neighbours in Delhi's Kalkaji are discussing the locality's darner or rafugar, Wasim Khan, who died, aged 85, on 17 March.

The six women, in the 45-55 age group, have many stories about masterji-a tall, lanky bearded man who sat hunched on a wooden stool, under a peepul tree, from 11am-6pm, darning clothes. Bindra says her mother-in-law introduced her to Khan when she moved to this part of Delhi as a 25-year-old bride two decades ago. She recalls the time he refused to darn a hole in her chiffon duppatta at the last minute, which meant she had to change her whole outfit before a family wedding.

He was a jaadugar...