51st Anniversary

It was an occasion that comes but rarely in life and only the very fortunate can bear witness to. After all, how often do we get to be part of the anniversary celebrations of a couple who have spent over half a century together in happy matrimony and are still going strong?
Yesterday was Hari Singh Shekhawat’s 51st Wedding Anniversary. Today, along with his better half Mohan Kanwar (right), he hosted a party in the Chinese Hut to mark the occasion and seek the blessings and good wishes of his friends. In a short and simple speech soon after the exercises, he asked us to pray for him and his wife so that they get to celebrate their Platinum Jubilee next with us in the Garden.
It was an emotion-charged moment that only Srichand Arora could diffuse with his trade-mark humour. “Aren’t you ashamed standing there and asking for blessings?” he rebuked Shekhawat-ji in mock seriousness. “You should be bowing down before your elders.”
Clearly anticipating this, Shekhawat-ji ran up to Tara Chand-ji and hugged him before making a pretence of touching his feet. “He is the only one here who is older to me!” he said.
The rest of us looked on in admiration at the man who remains so young at heart and for his years, has not lost any of his simplicity or childish innocence. His wife was there by his side, having ensured that he was smartly turned out, just as any mother would for a school boy on his annual day function. She herself was a picture of dignity and grace while receiving compliments from friends and well-wishers.
Dilip Babani brought in the refreshments from Jagruti while wife Kajal and Renu-bhabi, accompanied by Neelam Garg and others (above) helped in the distribution with assembly-line efficiency. Earlier, Ramila Mistry presented Shekhawat-ji with a beautiful pink flower (very thoughtful of her) on behalf of the members. Somebody brought chocolates which vanished within seconds. The ladies sang “Bar-bar yeh din aaye…” while Mr and Mrs Shekhawat, seated at the far end of the Chinese Hut (above right), smiled and blushed like young, newly-weds.
Harish Wadhwa says:
Shekhawat-ji looked very young today sporting a bright blue T-shirt. Kya baat, Kya Baat, Kya Baat... It was also a wonderful moment to see his bindni blush when he offered her some jalebi. It is different that she soon reciprocated by offering him a bite too. Wow! what an ideal couple. Thanks for the lovely treat too.
--Harish
Dilip Babani says:
We enjoyed Shekhawat-ji's wedding anniversary treat with nice dhoklas, jalebis, phaphra and garam potato wada. May God bless the couple with a long life. Really, Shekhawat-ji is such a jolly person, almost like an innocent kid -- bahut maasoom, always ready to laugh and make others laugh. He wants us all in the Laughing Club to be happy and in good health. Let us now hope that he arranges a picnic soon. Also, since Holi is coming, Shekhawat-ji and Arora-ji should arrange to celebrate with thandai, paphra and big jalebis called 'geehara' in Sindhi.
--Dilip