Chandaal Chaukdi

Early birds to the Garden cannot miss these four gents every morning – (l to r) Bapu Rane, Grover Sah’b, Kishor-bhai and Bose. Seated together on a bench close to the gate, they look like shadowy figures in the pre-dawn darkness while discussing some of the world’s most weighty issues before the exercises. Snatches of their conversation:
* “I switched on the TV and Rahul Dravid got out. So I switched off the TV.”
* “How big was the snake that came out last evening? Was it very big? How big?”
* “Onions cost 70 rupees a kilo, but in Behrambagh, you get them for 50 rupees.”
* “Shekhawat is laughing a lot nowadays. His medicines must be having double effect!”
* “Did you go for the musical programme in the other Garden? How was it?”
So on and so forth. The discussions often over-shoot the 7.00 a.m. deadline for the exercises, much to the annoyance of Sunita Jajodia (she’s always in a hurry!), who would start clapping “Ram Ram bol” on her own at a distance. It was she who had designated the four “Chandaal Chaukdi”.
Monthi Serrao (left) did a Santa Claus this morning by spreading the Christmas cheer among members with confectionery and cakes in neatly packed boxes. Since she did not come on the 25th, many could wish her only today, belatedly. Some had of course, wished her on phone or with text messages the day-before. It was nice of her to personally acknowledge and reciprocate every greeting.
It was also nice of our new member, Nazma Sayed (right) to volunteer her son’s hotel in Goa, only that she’d require some advance notice for making arrangements. Shekhawat-ji hasn’t yet discussed the trip with the rest of us, but seems inclined to go by train and time it around mid-January for a minimum of two nights.
Bapu Rane wants us to take the morning train so that we could enjoy the “scene-scenery” on the way. Some want A/C sleeper – which means no “scene scenery”. Some want night train so that time is not “wasted” on travel. Some want day train one way and night train the other… Verily, the fun has just begun!

Harish Wadhwa says:
1. This early bird Gossip Club of Four seem to be enjoying -- which is evident from their broad smiles.
2. Monthi-ji's gesture of distributing goodies for Christmas was great. Made us feel like members of a big family and that someone cares.
--Harish