Business As Usual

Dark, windless morning. Overcast skies. But the mood in the Garden is upbeat. Kishor and Renu (right) have just returned from their week-end trip to the Sai Baba temple at Shirdi. As usual, they have brought back prasad for all the members. Trust this couple, they do not return from anywhere without bringing something for us.
Hari Naraiyani is also ebullient, having obviously overcome his medical problems. But Mrs Harbans Singh (left) is not around, as she has gone for the prabhat-pheri ahead of Guru Nanak’s birth celebrations on November 21. She makes up for her absence at the Garden by walking it up to the gurudwara at Four Bungalows and back.
Rane Bhau is also in high spirits as he conducted the laughter round this morning. He has obviously not seen himself in the blog yesterday as he did not respond to being addressed as “Mahatma Gandhi”, particularly by Kishor-bhai. All he seems to be concerned with at the moment is that Harbhajan Singh gets to complete his century at Hyderabad. The latter is presently stuck at an overnight score of 85 not-out.
Pratap Bhatt (right) is however, in a spot of trouble. Returning to the Club after more than a week, he informs us that not only is he keeping poor health, his wife’s glaucoma problem is giving him sleepless nights. She had already lost the sight of one eye after a botched up cataract operation. He cannot take chances now with the other eye and plans to take her to a specialist at Ahmedabad next week.
Meanwhile, here’s a little trivia you may like to put in your pipe and smoke. It has come to light that our Harish Wadhwa and the new chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan share a common place of birth and alma mater. Both are from Indore and both happen to have done their engineering from BITS, Pilani. That they are separated by more than 20 years is however, another matter. The point is that we have in our midst, a chief minister in the making!

Bhaswati Bose says:
We shall eagerly wait for the day when Harish-bhai occupies the CM's kursi -- maybe after 10 years!
--Bhaswati

Renu Babani says:
Seriously, doesn't Mr Harish have the personality of a minister in the making? Perhaps he should consider it.
Mrs Bose, you haven't commented on my caption. Perhaps you are speechless, or found it too dry!
A visit to Shirdi was lovely as usual and one can never get enough of it. You return with a sense of serenity that remains with you for a long time to come. We were exhausted, but after resting on Sunday, managed to make it on Monday and were happy to get back to meeting everyone. Back to routine and sweet memories of our trip!
--Renu

Renu-ji, that was not a very nice compliment for Harish-bhai... or anyone.
--Big Laaf

Renu Babani says:
Hey! I meant well, come on. Where was the harm in what I said? Please explain. (However, if it has offended anyone, I do apologise sincerely.)
--Renu

Personality-wise, ministers are known to be the ugliest, most uncouth and despicable creatures around. You obviously did not mean that. So relax, no offence taken!
--Big Laaf

Srichand Arora says:
I doubt if anybody will like our dear Harish-bhai to be in Gandhi-topi and lie for the rest of his life. So Harish-bhai, forget the chair of Chief Minister. We all are happy sitting on chair (without chair). That's our Kissa Kursi Kaaaaaaaaa! Before taking oath as CM, Prithviraj Chavan was known as a clean person. The next day itself he was found with some manipulation on a quota deal.
--Arora

Harish Wadhwa says:
Thank you all for thinking of me as the future CM. My chest is bloated an extra six inches. No harm dreaming big as long as the feet are on the ground. Renu-ji, Bhaswati-ji and Arora-ji, meri ghar mein toh chalti nahin, State kaise chalega!LOL... I suggest you make my wife the CM. Women outshine in such positions as they can then command more men than the ones at home. There was already a precedence in Bihar, right?
I have neither the blood nor the skin needed to be in politics. As an emotional person, I would go with Arora-ji's advice and stick to my near and dear at the Laughing Club and at home.
--Harish

There goes our chance for a flat alloted in Colaba -- on prime defence land. BOOFFF!
--Big Laaf

Harish Wadhwa adds:
Guru, I endorse your gyan about alcohol having female hormones. Fully convinced. The sequence of behaviour after drinks doesn't matter. But the symptoms are always the same or a mix of them.
--Harish