Grand Feast

For a birthday bash, it couldn’t have got any bigger. Fourteen hosts (right pic) and close to 40 guests, with an unending stream of chapattis, bajra roti, puran poli, samosas, khandwi, white vatanna, turai patra, paneer-capsicum, dahi-papdi chaat, rice, khichdi, daal, aam panna, Rajasthani kadi, Gujarati kadi, chhaas, mango crush, moong-dal halwa… it was verily a feast for the king. Name it and you got it – with dollops of ghee served in authentic Rajasthani style.
Sab Kuchh lived up to its name and for all the ladies who lunch and the men who don’t just munch, there was nothing left for the asking. Indeed, as Srichand Arora had promised (see his comment on post of June 9), everybody had a “great and joyful” time together. Most importantly, it was the birthday of Sitaram Hivarkar (left) today. So it was a happy coincidence that this mega bash of all the June-borns and July-borns in the Club was held on his day. We, once again, wish him the very best on the occasion.
The torrential rains did have a dampening effect on some, but it lasted only till the doorstep of the restaurant. Once inside, we were family. So what if we had to negotiate knee-deep water and slush and come in dripping wet? What mattered was being there and breaking bread together in a spirit of warmth and conviviality – all thanks to the initiatives taken by Razia Khan, Khatoon Baig, Srichand Arora, Neelam Garg and of course, Hari Singh Shekhawat at different stages. Were it not for these people, this joint-birthday celebration would not have happened. We remain grateful to them.
If anybody should have a reason to fret, it was ultimately Shekhawat. He had made the cardinal mistake of discussing his intention to have Thums Up (read, afternoon tipple) in the restaurant. Worse, he had suggested that the women be seated away from the men so that he could drink undisturbed. No sooner had he said this than the ladies ganged together and pulled him up.
“Galti kar di bol ke!” Shekhawat grumbled, beating a hasty retreat.
Dilip Babani says:
Happy Birthday to everybody. The food was excellent -- so-oooo many items to eat... My God! What to eat and what not to eat??? All items were delicious... yummy.
--Dilip