Good Tidings

We are already four days into 2011 and happily, the New Year spirit continues to pervade through the Club. Today, it was Santosh-ji’s turn to celebrate (right) – her son, Manoj Tyagi having signed a new film. The proud mother broke the news soon after the exercises and shared her joy with crispy pasteli and kaju burfi in the Garden.
Manoj is a national award-winning filmmaker who has scripted such mega-starrers as Satta, Page 3, Apaharan, Ek Ajnabee, Taxi No 9211 and Jail recently. His last directorial venture, Mumbai Salsa – an off-beat feminist take on fragile relationships – hit the screen in late 2007. Our blessings and good wishes go to this bright 36-year-old for the success of his new project.
The other good news of the morning is that the Chokhi Dhani trip looks to be finally firming up. Already 15 members have put in their money and another dozen-odd are likely to sign up in the next couple of days. Among those who have committed are Kishor and Renu, Monthi Serrao, the Boses, Ved Prakash Grover, Nazma Sayed and Santosh-ji.
With barely four days to go, Shekhawat-ji is however, not taking any chances. He appealed to all members to make their payments at the very earliest since he has to book the bus by the day-after, i.e. on Thursday. He also requested everybody personally, not to let him down this time: “Iss baar, Chokhi Dhani cancel mut honei dena.”
Shekhawat-ji’s obvious cause for worry are certain key members (right) like Arora-sah’b, Dilip-bhai, Sitaram-ji and Yusuf Rassiwala who are not yet committed on the trip. They are not only senior members of the Club, they are the very life-force behind all the masti and madness of every picnic. In their absence, the entire trip could be a wash out.
So far they have neither said ‘yes’ nor ‘no’. Let’s hope they take a positive call upon reading this.

Bhaswati Bose says:
Badhai ho, Santosh-ji! Unfortunately I was not present to wish her in person. I also missed the "crispy pastelli", but I got my share of kaju barfi, thanks to my considerate better half. All you gentlemen who are in two minds to go to Chokhi Dhani, well, get set... and come with us!
--Bhaswati