Day 367

Pic of the Week

Somebody has been possessed... and is quite liking it!

Lady Macbeth is among friends, and sure is comfortable!
--Renu Babani

This young lady is looking smart with the bhootnaths. Now everybody in the Garden will be afraid of her. All ladies, be careful: Do not trouble her or she will send her friends to scare you in the night. She is having two bhootnaths!
--Dilip Babani

What an amazing pic of Bhaswati-ji among the ghosts. Incredible, that she is smiling with the bhootnaths and they seem to be family in this home pic. Ooops!
--Harish Wadhwa

Does anyone recall that old-timer 'Fearless Nadia' and her screen hero John Cawas? Her movie, which I still remember, was Hunterwali. How come the heroine, back in 1948, is still young in 2011? Can you please tell us: Aisa kya khaati hain aap jo abhi bhee Hunterwali hi dikhti ho? Sorry please don't take it personally.
--Srichand Arora

Day 366

One wet crow, two women and four men got the exercises started today. The crow was doing fine, cawing in unison with our Ho-Ho Ha-Ha… till Srichand Arora scolded it: “Why did you have to come today without an umbrella?” The crow promptly flew off its perch.
The wetness and rains notwithstanding, attendance gradually swelled to a decent 17, men outnumbering the women. “Aaj toh mardon ne bilkul dho dala,” commented Harish Wadhwa upon seeing the ladies in a minority. Again Arora interjected: “Kyon bhai, hum sab ko kyon dhobi banaa rahey ho?”
But there were voices of concern as well. Razia Khan has not been coming for a long time. Yusuf Rassiwala is in town and was supposed to come last Tuesday, but there is still no news of him. Hari Naraiyani, Gopvinita, Mumtaz Jahan and many others have suddenly become irregular.
Nahid Khan, a compulsive regular, is preoccupied with her daughter’s appendicitis surgery. And Hari Singh Shekhawat (left) had the fear of malaria put in him, when he complained of a mysterious fever getting him every evening. Last Wednesday, he had to take the morning off. Today, on the advice of some ladies, he plans to get his blood tested at Sanghvi. Monthi Serrao also advised him to pop in quinine pills to be on the safe-side while Neelam Garg suggested he drink plenty of nimbu pani.
Shekhawat surely knows better!
P.S.: Please study the picture alongside (right) closely. It was featured last Sunday (Day 360) as the PIC OF THE WEEK. So far, only Dilip Babani, Srichand Arora, Bhaswati Bose and Harish Wadhwa have tried to identify the gentleman. We appeal to all others to join the ‘guessing game’ and who knows, you could win a prize for your effort. You have time till August 6 (next Saturday).
Says RENU BABANI:
Looks like the rains are keeping several members at home. My flu has got the better of me. I did get meds from the doctor, but will need time to get back to the Garden. Hopefully, should feel up to returning on Monday. The weather doesn't really help, but then again, this is normal at this time of the year. Regarding last Sunday's picture, honestly I can't figure it out.
Says HARI SINGH SHEKHAWAT:
I am suffering from viral fever. My doctor says that I require three days complete rest. So I will not be able to go to the Garden before Tuesday.
Says SRICHAND ARORA:
Renu-ji and Shekhawat-ji, we all wish you an early recovery and no further viral fever at all. May God bless you both. All the best.

Day 365

Fans of Kishor Babani's jokes haven't heard nothin' yet. What he narrates in the Club is just a fraction of what he holds in stock – the tip of the proverbial iceberg. They are clean, sanitised, even censored tit-bits meant for female consumption. But step out of the Garden and what you'd get from him would be the real, full-blooded unadulterated stuff, guaranteed to burn your ears while you double up laughing. Regretfully, those jokes cannot be reproduced here.
Earlier, Kishor used to hold his durbar at a tea stall, adjacent to the Garden gate. The sessions, held religiously after the exercises, gave birth to the infamous Badmaash Company (see post of March 1, 2011). The tea stall has since closed shop and the action has now shifted a hundred-odd meters away to another tea stall, next to a tyre-puncture shop (above). Those like Srichand Arora, Pratap Bhatt and Prakash Motwani who live in the vicinity or need to pass by the area (on their way home) have become avid followers of these jokes' sessions.
Effectively, the audience has turned more dignified and diverse. Not everybody would always have the stomach for the jokes, but Kishor’s style of narration has made them all addicts. What they cannot also help marveling at is how Kishor manages to come up with a fresh set of jokes, every day, without fail. You'd know they haven't been sourced from jokes' books or down-loaded from the Net. Today when Arora asked him, he tapped his head to remind us that he still has something left up there!
These jokes' sessions have a salutary effect not only on inter-personal bonding, but at lifting the spirits in the gloomiest of conditions (pic above). A bellyful of laughter in the morning leaves you with a smile on your lips and a spring in your step for the rest of the day – just what the doctor ordered.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
The number of members in the Badmaash Company seems to be growing by the day -- thanks to Kishor-bhai and his 'laughter medicine' casting its effect for the whole day. Enjoyed the informal chai session today. By the way, Arora-ji is no less in pranks with his impromptu and witty gigs. And Bose-babu is sharp in capturing those moments.
ANONYMOUS says:
I thank for the information.

Day 364

Some of our ladies (sorry, no names) can demonstrate quite a wicked sense of humour. They had a field day this morning since none of the Big Daddies (Arora and Shekhawat included) were around to enforce discipline. And guess who the target was? Kiran Sajjan, of all the people!
This quiet and self-effacing lady, known to be perennially self-absorbed and absent-minded, came in to report that her car had been stolen. Yes, stolen! She did not remember if she had locked its door. But well, she had parked it at its “usual” place, near her building gate and when she came out the following morning, it was no longer there. She has since filed an FIR with the cops.
Far from sympathizing, all the ladies just piled on her. They kept chiding her for being careless and absent-minded. Many even joked that for one so forgetful, she should have lost her car ages back. But somehow, all that did not bother Kiran. All she was concerned about was if anybody would be willing to watch Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with her.
There is a back story to this. Yesterday afternoon, she had called one member, making the same request. By a strange coincidence, that member had just returned from the Cinemax show (see yesterday’s post). Hearing that, Kiran became crestfallen and rued over not being informed. She said she was not attending the Club for nearly a month as someone had stolen her car.
Today, when she showed up, it seemed as though the ladies were lying in wait for her. Word had already got around. But then, while they teased her over the stolen car, she was completely focused on getting someone for the movie. Finally, she declared she was buying a new car – a Naina (sic). “But Naina is no good,” advised Sunita Jajodia. “Get a Sweet instead.”
In all this and more because of the movie preparations and lousy weather, we had bypassed the birthday of two key members, Gopvinita (left, up) and Razia Khan (left, below), which coincided yesterday. We apologise sincerely to both. Our belated wishes to them for all peace and prosperity, happiness and good health… the very best in life.
Says BHASWATI BOSE:
Kiran is one of the most amiable ladies in our group. We can't resist pulling her leg... She's too sweeeeeet! Belated Happy Birthday to Geeta and Razia! Where have you both disappeared?
Says SRICHAND ARORA:
जन्म दिन की बहुत बहुत शुभ कामनाय़ॆ, गीता जी ऒर रज़िआ जी कॊ!
Says HARISH WADHWA:
Who says that boys/ men have all the fun by pulling each others' legs? Women are NO LESS. The blog today vindicates this. Kiran-ji, we wish and pray that you get back your car asap.
Says DILIP BABANI:
Many, many happy returns of the day! Happy Birthday to Geeta-ji and Razia-ji.
Adds SRICHAND ARORA:
Anyone wanting to write anything in Hindi (script) with the help of key-board should download the software/driver from http://www.baraha.com/download.htm .

Day 363

Wet morning. Incessant rains had brought down the attendance to barely a dozen – which included old warhorses Hari Singh Shekhawat, Tara Chand Seth and Bapu Rane (not in pic, right). For their perseverance and dedication to the exercise routine, all present were rewarded with a round of mawa barfis (pic below) by the Club’s youngest, brightest and most irregular couple, Dilip and Kajal Babani.
Their daughter, Neelam has obviously inherited their cerebral genes as she continues to soar in the academia, clearing her Masters in Speech Therapy with a fantabulous second rank in the university. Last year also, when she had topped the university, Dilip and Kajal celebrated her success (see post of August 7, 2010) with sweets. Our blessings are with Neelam so that she scales still greater heights in life and makes her parents even more proud. Our happiness lies in theirs.
One new exercise was introduced today, thanks to another Neelam – Neelam Garg. Just after the Kissa Kursi Ka round, she suggested that in order to ease blood circulation in the body, we need to do what amounts to be a primitive version of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk. We ended up stomping the ground furiously and tapping our knees ten times. The proposal was endorsed by Srichand Arora and adopted unanimously by all present.
Two hours later, at Cinemax, the movie show proved to be a washout, as expected. The rains continued to play spoilsport with no more than 10 members making it. Nevertheless, it was worth their effort because happily, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara lived up to its claim of being the biggest entertainer of the season. Everybody enjoyed.
Says RENU BABANI:
Congratulations, Neelam! You have definitely made the family proud. Our good wishes are always with you and we know you will attain success in whatever you do.
The movie was nice and I definitely enjoyed it. Hopefully shall return to the Garden tomorrow. Let's see!
THE NEELAM BABANI responds:
Thank you so much for your wishes and kind words. Your blessings have played a major role in my success. I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed the sweets. I hope I continue to have your blessings for all my future endeavours. Thank you once again.

Day 362

Ved Prakash Grover looked much better than he was yesterday. Pratap Bhatt came in, looking dapper in dark-blue T-shirt and matching trousers. Renu Babani came looking equally cheerful, with a frog in her throat. Sunita Jajodia and Khatoon Baig looked just as happy, each holding to a piece of good news, which will be divulged at a later date, with sweets. Tara Chand Seth (below) too was in high spirits, what with his bahu having sent a box of special biscuits from Delhi for the Club...
The stalemate over the movie outing (see yesterday’s post) has also been broken. Yes, it will be Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara at Cinemax tomorrow, 10:30 morning show. But the way it has played out would seem like the anti-climax of a Hindi potboiler. After all the build-up, with hairsplitting over logistics, timings, passes, discounts and so on, what emerges now is ‘each unto his/her own’.
As Renu Babani had suggested (see Comments) yesterday, those interested in the movie would now meet near the booking counter of the cineplex 15 minutes before the show, buy their tickets and walk in. At the most, someone might volunteer to collect their cash (so that everybody need not stand in a queue) and book tickets in one lot, thereby ensuring that all are seated together in the auditorium. Those reaching late would have to fend for themselves. And soon after the show, we go our own ways.
The only hitch in this arrangement is that the sense of cohesiveness that comes with being part of a group, would be lost. Little wonder, many have opted out. Their argument is that they might as well watch the movie at their own convenience rather than tag on to the “Club”. But then, for a proper movie outing to work out, we need someone like Yusuf Rassiwala to step out and take the initiative at organizing and most importantly, herding Mary’s little lambs into the auditorium. Till that happens, this is our best bet.
Says RENU BABANI:
Several members have already seen the movie. It is pointless to buy the tickets beforehand and then people turn up late. Besides we are short of time and someone has to wait outside to hand the tickets to the late-comers. I am sure those interested shall be there at Cinemax on time and we will end up sitting together. I have heard good reviews about the movie. So let's hope it shall be worth it.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
I am back from Lonavala and also a short trip to Bharuch/Vadodara. Well, I am not a movie buff and therefore, may not join. But I don't mind the Dilli ka biskit, which our dear Tara Chand-ji shared. As usual, I was unlucky! May be next time.

Day 361

Confusion reigns supreme over plans for a movie outing this week. By common consensus, the movie identified is Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Some like Sitaram Hivarkar have already seen it once, but want to go again. Others want to go anyway – if possible right away, rather than wait for the week-end. Funnily, everybody wants to watch the movie… but nobody knows how.
The day-before-yesterday, one member volunteered to get 40 passes for the movie at heavily discounted prices. The catch was that it would be valid for Fun Republic only. However, by the afternoon, the number dropped to 27. Even that was fine. But Hari Singh Shekhawat intervened, suggesting she hold on to the passes till he made a formal announcement on Monday, i.e. today.
Today, the passes were forgotten and Shekhawat announced that we would go for the morning show at Cinemax on Wednesday, i.e. the day-after tomorrow. Predictably, someone brought up the Vodaphone scheme of ‘Buy One Ticket, Get One Free’ valid for Tuesdays at Fame Adlabs. This made more sense, till the question of members with Vodaphone mobile connections came up. When Kishor Babani offered a simple solution -- that we deposit our SIM cards with Shekhawat -- everybody panicked. So we are back to square one again.
In the midst of all this, Ved Prakash Grover (left) reported sick and broke out of the group to rest for a while. He complained of giddiness and was helped with water till he felt better. Srichand Arora pulled him up jokingly for over-exerting himself when he should be resting. “What is the point of hurrying to go up when you are bound to be stuck in traffic midway?” he reasoned in mock seriousness. Grover simply shook his head at the sage advice.
Says RENU BABANI:
My bout of flu kept me away this morning. Taking medication and hopefully, shall come on Tuesday. The best solution for the movie is that those interested meet at the hall at a given time and we buy the tickets. Otherwise discussions will be endless and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't go to see the movie together.

Day 360

Pic of the Week: 38

Does anybody recollect meeting this man at the Garden? (Clue: He MAY or MAY NOT be a member of the Club).

I am bad at guessing and so, will not even try. However, this young gentleman is posing just as a model would in the window. In regards to the Saturday party, it was wonderful seeing Tian all grown up. He is cute and adorable and Monthi is surely a proud grand-ma. Wishing Yusuf-bhai a very happy birthday and many more to come. I am sure his treatment will help him a lot and he shall return to the Garden soon. Our good wishes are always with him.
--Renu Babani

This handsome man is Mr Arora.
--Dilip Babani

I think it is Dilip-bhai himself.
--Srichand Arora

This is neither Arora-ji nor Dilip-bhai. This has to be Mr Grover.
--Bhaswati Bose

Well, someone is calling himself as handsome and we all know who it is. He is very much a member of the Club. This old and small studio picture confuses me a little, but I think it is none other than Dilip Babani. Sachh, bahut handsome lagtey they bhailog. Filmstar Biswajit kind...
--Harish Wadhwa

I think he is Mr Arora.
--Geeta L. Sardana

Hare Krishna, I think he is Mr Shekhawat in his military days, or he may be Om Puri with whom we to took our photo.
--Neelam Garg

This must be Dilip-bhai.
--Ramila Mistry

Day 359

Monthi Serrao brought her grandson, Tian to usher his birthday in the Club. He is a fine young man now – smart, observant and wise – looking every inch a rock star (right) with long, stylish locks. He does not crawl around and cry any more. Last when we saw him on his first birthday (see post of August 7, 2010), he spent time in the Chinese Hut on the laps of sundry ladies. This time around, he strode up confidently to all members, shook hands with them individually and graciously acknowledged their wishes and blessings. Even when Harish Wadhwa smeared his face with cream from the birthday cake, he did not bawl for a moment.
On behalf of the Club, Tara Chand Seth (our senior-most member) presented him with a toy train while Razia Khan brought him another gift, a teddy bear. Little Tian accepted both the packages courteously and then left it to his mom and aunt (who also accompanied him) to carry them home for him. The blog wishes him once again many happy returns of the day as we all look forward to seeing him more often in our midst.
Today was the birthday of Yusuf Rassiwala (right) as well. He is at present in Hyderabad (not Ahmedabad as reported earlier) attending the wedding of a family member. He says he is not keeping too well as his heart condition had turned acute of late. In order to avoid a by-pass surgery, he is undergoing what is known as EECP (Enhanced Extra Counter Pulsation) therapy, a new but increasingly popular paradigm of treatment for relieving angina and improving exercise tolerance. He is already half-way through the 35-day course and as he says, he can feel a difference. We wish him not only complete recovery, but many, many years of good health, happiness and a stress-free life.
Says DILIP BABANI:
Happy Birthday, Yusuf-bhai! God bless you with good health and long life. We all miss you. We are planning a picnic, by the way.

Day 358

Finally, Khatoon Baig (left pic, in centre) has found a reason to celebrate at the Garden. For long, she has been waiting to treat us all to sweets, but was finding neither the opportunity nor an occasion to do so. Well, the opportunity presented itself this morning as news comes in of her niece (brother’s daughter) passing her graduation from Bombay University after aggregating a phenomenal 84 per cent marks in the B.Com exams. The talented girl has been pursuing her studies in Chartered Accountancy simultaneously and is due to clear the finals this November. Our heartiest congratulations to Ruhi Qureshi and we wish her the very best in life. (We also look forward to her helping us with filing our IT returns for free, every year!)
Occasions such as this bind us more closely, as a family. People talk of families within a family, but ours is a Family outside families – an umbrella or support system, if you will. We do not intrude into anybody’s personal space, but are always there to commiserate in someone’s grief, just as we rejoice at everybody’s success. Our celebrations have gone well beyond members’ birthdays to include anniversaries, religious festivals, somebody returning from a holiday and of course, the personal achievements of kids and grand-kids.
Tomorrow is the birthday celebration of Monthi Serrao’s grandson, Tian. Watch this space.
Says SRICHAND ARORA:
Congratulations Teacher-ji for such a great success of your niece.
Secondly, if you go through today's writeup, you will have to agreee with me that it is the Blog Monster who makes any occasion a great occasion through his writing. Hats off to you! I don't know of others, but I appreciate your day-to-day writeups. Soon we will be completing 400 episodes of blog posts. Congratulations for that.

Day 357

Looks like yesterday’s blog post has had an effect on Santosh Tyagi (below). Responding to the concerns of members, she turned up this morning, looking fresh as a daisy. The many days of rest have done her a world of good. She was down with not only pain in her leg joints, but viral fever and flu had also got the better of her. Happily, she is able to put all that behind her now.
However, the scene stealer of the morning was the film actor, Om Puri. From the time he entered the Garden, 17 pairs of eyes from our group followed him intently round and round the walking track. We could see the man trying his best to keep to himself, even as some people were eager to befriend him during his walk. Sitaram Hivarkar was so taken in by the sight that for some time while exercising, he had forgotten that his back was turned to us. Pratap Bhatt was convinced he was seeing Om Shivpuri, while a few insisted this had to be Amrish Puri. The name of Madan Puri also came up. Khatoon Baig intervened to clarify that all the Puris of the Hindi film industry were brothers, only to prompt a cheeky remark about chholey-puris by Nafisa Sayed.
Seeing so much interest centered on one person in the Garden, Srichand Arora walked up to Om and asked him to pose with us for a group photograph. After initial hesitation, the actor agreed. So, all those who jostled to get into the frame, here’s the pic (lead photo) that made your day.
And let us not forget to thank Arora (who unfortunately, is partially hidden in the back) for arranging this rare photo-op.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
Here we have another celebrity in the group. Om Puri-ji is a great actor and person. Hope he joins the Big Laaf club. Did you notice from the picture that at least three men are sporting big pot bellies (and some trying to hide) despite daily exercising? Kuchh karo bhai-logon to stay fit.
Says RENU BABANI:
Today was quite amusing as the main hero of the day was Om Puri. Everyone was trying to befriend him and he was the headturner for all. The discussion was whether Amrish Puri and he are brothers. I guess the same surname was the cause for confusion. The day ended well with him readily joining us for a group photo. This shows that even actors are humble and normal people like us.
Says BHASWATI BOSE:
We should all thank Arora-ji for this group photo. Ideally he should be standing next to Mr Om Puri. I request the Club's official photographer to be more careful in future. Om Puri-ji looks quite serious in the pic. Maybe he should join our Club. We shall welcome him happily!

Day 356

A pleasant but uneventful morning – except for the sighting of Om Puri, the actor (pic right). Looking slightly overweight in brown shorts and tee, he was no doubt ill-at-ease for the attention he was drawing to himself. But being a perfect gentleman, he graciously acknowledged Harish Wadhwa’s greetings – especially, when he was told that we would be looking forward to seeing more of him at the Garden.
The buzz though, was about two senior members, Yusuf Rassiwala (below) and Santosh Tyagi (below, right), who have been missing for over a month. At one time, they were among the most regular at the Club and a number of activities used to revolve around them. To Yusuf-bhai goes the credit of organizing movie outings (almost every month) and keeping everybody on their toes with his constant banter and humorous digs. And Santosh-ji’s jokes’ narration at the end of the exercises was an event by itself, not-to-be missed.
Sadly, both of them are not keeping well. Domestic compulsions have of late, forced Santosh-ji to divide time between Mumbai and Delhi and the repeated trips to-and-fro have taken a toll on her health. According to Sunita Jajodia, she is now here in Mumbai, but has yet to recover from severe joint pains – mainly in her knees and ankles.
As for Yusuf-bhai, a heart condition detected recently has robbed him of the confidence to undertake the walk to the Garden every morning. He says he wakes up in time and would very much like to come for the exercises “par chalney ka nahin hota”. Today, Hari Singh Shekhawat informed us that Yusuf-bhai is away at Ahmedabad on a short visit.
Let us hope and pray that both recover soon and are back with us, in fine fettle -- like before.
Says RENU BABANI:
Yes, some regular members were missed and remembered by everyone. I suppose we tend to get used to meeting daily and just being together and knowing that all are well is a consolation. I am sure those not in good health shall recover soon and return to the morning sessions. The weather was great and we succeeded in performing the exercises outdoors. (Mrs Bose: Seems like you had too much fun on your birthday, as you did not come this morning. Hopefully you have rested it out and we will see you tomorrow.)
Says HARISH WADHWA:
We miss our colleagues and wish them a speedy recovery so that they join us soon. By the way, Yusuf-bhai's birthday is round the corner. A few of us must drop in to cheer him up. Kishor-bhai, the joke on the bhikari asking for coffee for himself and his girlfriend was great. History and experience tell us of many cases of girlfriends turning rich men into paupers. Phir bhi kya karen? Dil hai ki manta hi nahin! So let's keep searching... Ooops!

Day 355

Hari Singh Shekhawat today shot down the idea of a picnic at Lonavala this month-end. Responding to mounting pressure from a cross-section of members, he declared that there can be no question of even considering a picnic for as long as the monsoon persists.
“What is the point of spending money and going all the way with a bus-load of people, only to find yourself cooped in a hotel room, waiting for the rains to subside?” he reasoned.
He also spoke at length of the risks to life and limb – the possibility of bad traffic, water-logging and landslides on the way. “What if there is a mishap?” he argued. “At our age, anybody could slip and fall on a wet surface. That is why I am insisting that we wait a couple of months before thinking about the picnic. By then, the Ramzaan month of fasting would also be over.”
Harish Wadhwa was however, of the opinion that instead of foreclosing all options (or for that matter, getting into elaborate preparations) an impromptu picnic may still be considered. As Srichand Arora has been mentioning, a few families could get together and set out individually in cars without necessarily involving the whole Club.
Meanwhile, Bhaswati Bose celebrated her birthday (pic above) by distributing sweets this morning. We wish her many happy returns of the day, long life, good health, peace and contentment.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
Many, many happy returns of the day. By the way, the twinkle in the eye and blush on the face of the Birthday Girl are visible in the pic. Ishhh... The sweet today was wonderful, but a little less sweet compared to the smile you sport. May God bless you and keep you smiling as usual: Tum jeeyo hazaaron saal, saal ke din ho pachaas hazaar!
Kishor-da and Renu-ji, where were you? The laughter dose was missing today. Dilip-bhai is also absconding for some time now. He needs to leave his laziness behind. Kajal-ji, you were there today, but possibly you missed giving our friend a nice cup of morning tea to cheer him up.
Says DILIP BABANI:
The Babani family wishes you a very happy birthday, good health, a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long life so that you can take care of our dear Mr Bose's verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long life. God bless the both of you. Many, many happy returns of the day. Mithai khaya, mazza ahhya. Chocolate aur cheese bhi khaya, mazza ahhya.
Says RENU BABANI:
Wishing Mrs Bose a very happy birthday. May all your dreams come true and many more birthdays to come. God bless you and have a great day! Nice to know that we were missed (as Harish-bhai has commented). Trust me, we certainly didn't have our cup of tea this morning to give us the boost to go to the Garden. Yes, I totally agree that going to Lonavala during the monsoons is not feasible and not fun. It is better to go when the weather is better. Rest assured, if not me, Kishor shall definitely attend, loaded with jokes to entertain one and all.

Day 354

Dark, but windy morning, with intermittent showers. Still, over a dozen members turned up – most notably, Hari Singh Shekhawat (below). He was away for a week to close a property deal somewhere in Rajasthan.
True to style, Shekhawat was back to his pranks – his favourite being prolonging the ‘Slow and Fast’ laughter round. Today, in the absence of Ramila Mistry, he found a new target in Nahid Khan. The lady was taken by surprise when she realized that both his ‘pistols’ were trained on her and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Yeh kahaan se naya dushman aa gaya hai?” Shekhawat, who was hopping behind her, moved in front and smiling sheepishly, continued with his ‘target practice’.
There was some talk about going on a picnic, now that the weather has turned so pleasant. Actually, Harish Wadhwa is planning a trip to Lonavala with his family and friends this week-end and was enquiring about a lodge or bungalow on hire. This being peak tourism season at the hill station, he is a bit hard-pressed on finding accommodation there on a Saturday or Sunday. But he is game to joining us also if a trip were to be organized from the Club.
Harish suggested that even if Lonavala does not work out, we might just set out on short notice for any place, without planning, so long as we get to enjoy the weather. All it takes is four or five cars and a sense of adventure. Srichand Arora endorsed the idea of Alibaug (where he has not been to) for which we could possibly assemble at Churchgate Station or Gateway of India from where it is a short 50-minute ferry ride. This way we would cut the road journey by a good four hours.
Let us see how this pans out.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
* Unplanned and impromptu decisions are many a times better than very planned ones. Classic example of this cliche is "marriages". LOL. Well, even if we were to just decide to make an unplanned picnic trip, near Mumbai, I am certainly game for it.
* Kishor-da, your "Google bai" joke was an instant hit with my office friends: "Ek sawaal puchcho, 10 jawaab deti hai". In fact, one of them even commented that many jawaabs are irrelevant and you have to choose the most correct answer yourself. LOL

Day 353

Pic of the Week: 37

Let us wish her MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!
"Happy Birthday, Sandhya, and may you have many more to come. God bless you always!"
--Renu Babani
"On this very Special Day
I would like to say to you
I pray you'll always find happiness
In whatever you may do.
Happy Birthday, Sandhya!".
--Bhaswati
"Meri shubh-kamnaye aapke saath hai -- aapka anand-bhara jeevan rahe. Happy Birthday!"
--Ramila Mistry
"Let God decorate each golden ray of the sun reaching you with wishes of success, happiness and prosperity for you. Wish you a Happy Birthday."
--Kishor Babani
Belated Happy Birthday to you Sandhya-ji. May the Almighty bless you with good health, happiness and a long life.
--Harish Wadhwa

Day 352

Another day of serious fun and enjoyment – what with a perfect mix of like-minded people and fabulous weather, rivaling that of any hill station. At this rate, we do not really need to go to Lonavala. As Sunita Jajodia keeps saying, “We might as well celebrate Lonavala here in Mumbai.”
Kishor Babani’s mobile phone music, with its funky foot-tapping re-mix of vintage Hindi tracks, set the mood for the morning. From Mera Joota Hai Japani to Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi and Khija Ke Phool Mein Aati Bahaar Nahin to Bol Radha Bol Sangam, he played an eclectic assortment that was at once entertaining and amusing. When asked where those numbers were downloaded from, he mentioned a site called ‘PK’. “Pee ke nahin, PK se,” he clarified, suggesting that he was fully sober while downloading the music.
The high point of the morning though, was Harish Wadhwa’s impromptu singing (pic right). In the course of his jokes’ narration session, Kishor had read out a hilarious parody of a mosquito (yes, mosquito) singing that popular Bollywood number from the film Murder, ‘Bheege Hoth Tere’ No sooner had the laughter subsided than Harish offered to be a mosquito and went on to actually sing the song: ‘Bheege pankh merey…’
Must say, this guy is really gifted and has a terrific voice. Perhaps he may like to share the lyrics of that parody for the benefit of readers.
HARISH WADHWA obliges:
Bheege pankh merey,
Pyasa dank mera,
Lagey amrit sa,
Mujhe khoon tera.
Kabhi merey saath, Koi raat guzaar,
Tujhe subah tak mein, Doon dengue bukhar...
Ho Ho Ho!!!
Well, Kishor-bhai, you are the King of Jokes for us. If being a woman is "shakti" then being a man is "sehen shakti". How true. Kya baat hai! "Library mein aag" was something which kept the smile lingering for hours. How creative are people in Badmaash Company. Sorry, you have to be a part of it to know more.
Says RENU BABANI:
Looks like it was a fun-filled morning, but my laziness got the better of me. Yes, Badmash Company has lived up to its name and ensures that all have a good laugh too. No matter what anyone says, lets hope the Lonavala trip does materialise. After all, how can you compare going there to Mumbai? The change in atmosphere will do us all some good and of course, refresh us too. We shall have loads to talk about when we return from the trip. So, once our principal, Mr Shekawat returns, let us see what happens. Meanwhile, let us definitely support one another to go on the trip.

Day 351

Sunny days are here again.
What a contrast today was from yesterday… and the day-before. There were sunny faces and sunny smiles all around, as the sun broke through the early morning clouds to spread good cheer and bonhomie across the rain-washed Garden. All those who had locked themselves indoors during the past two days due to the heavy rains, were out today in full strength, taking attendance to a healthy figure of 20.
Even Hari Naraiyani (below, left) was there. He has been keeping indifferent health and was in self-enforced confinement for the past two months or so. Nevertheless, he offered himself as a soft target for the jibes some members habitually take because of his sharp tongue. For instance, during the Laughter Round, Srichand Arora had to admonish him for not laughing out aloud with his eyes! “Why do you always shut your eyes when you open your mouth to laugh?” was Arora’s incredulous query at the droopy-eyed gent.
Arora was his usual jovial self, having quite recovered from the hand injury (see Day 347 post) he had sustained last week while closing his car door. He conducted the Exercise Round and during the now rechristened Lain-Dain (actually, loose-handed rolling of the wrists), he picked on Ramila Mistry for being very brisk while ‘taking’ (lain) and just as sluggish when she had to ‘give’ (dain). “You must be Gujarati?” he quipped jokingly, only to be faced with Razia Khan’s retort, in like vein, on the Sindhi community. Razia obviously did not know that Arora happens to be a blue-blooded Sindhi.
Such light-hearted banter, we have realized, does not occur with as much freeness within the confines of the Chinese Hut. Exercising out in the open is uplifting to the spirit and releases the mischief and wickedness within ourselves to make the mornings so much more entertaining for all. Most importantly, we are able to breathe easy.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
Nice to see Grover-sa'ab laughing his heart out. His expression is great and so is that of the other ladies. (Is Nazma-ji sharing a joke with the crowd?) The picture of Arora-ji inspiring the photgrapher to laugh, is also very natural. Seems like everyone had a great time this morning.
Says RENU BABANI:
Today the attendance was good and we should be grateful the rains spared us. I guess a little cheer was required today and the weather just added to the atmosphere. I am glad I attended this morning, though was a bit late. My original plan was to sleep, but a guilt trip set in since it wasn't raining alongwith the realisation that I was just being lazy. A great start to the morning no doubt, and tomorrow shall be better!

Day 350

The monsoon fury subsided somewhat, thus taking the attendance up by a notch. From eight, we were nine this morning. But many who were present yesterday, opted out today. In their place, Sitaram Hivarkar, Khatoon Baig, Ramila Mistry and more significantly, Renu and Kishor Babani turned up to “enjoy” the weather.
Renu was not supposed to come today (see comments of previous post) as her sister was scheduled to visit her from Bahrain. But after the serial blasts last evening (which claimed 21 lives so far) in the city, she has put her visit on hold.
As expected, the blasts constituted the main conversation piece among those present today. Feelings of horror and outrage merged into a sense of utter helplessness as everybody wondered if peace would ever return to Mumbai. Ramila, who came running in towards the end of the exercises, said that the only reason for her to venture out in the maddening rain was to check if everybody was fine in the Club. Apparently, she was so disturbed by yesterday's blasts that she could not sleep a wink last night.
But then, life must go on. The weather bureau has predicted that we would continue to have heavy rains for another day because of an “off-shore trough” and “cyclonic disturbances in the upper crust” of the air. Translated, this means it would be bright and sunny tomorrow morning.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
Reporters are known to make it in time to cover events, despite rain or sunshine. It is very nice of you to provide live news each day as a blog, for people like me, who maaro phunti. Hats off to your sincerity and passion to write!
Says RENU BABANI:
Today, those who attended the morning session, tried keeping the atmosphere light and cheerful. However, the mood was sombre due to last night's events. The victims and their loved ones must be in an emotional turmoil. Even if they are healed physically, what about the emotional scars that will be so hard to erase? Those of us who were safe at home, watched the news -- which was upsetting no doubt, making us realise how vulnerable we have become. Let us take a moment here to pray for the victims and their families. May He give them the strength and courage to endure the pain and sorrow they are facing. God Bless.

Day 349

After yesterday’s reprieve, the rain gods hit back with a vengeance this morning. They struck with such ferocity that even the dogs disappeared from the streets. And it was perfectly timed – just minutes before seven, when most members were either on the way or could be preparing to leave for the Garden.
As a result, only eight could make it for the exercises. All others, including Srichand Arora, Sitaram Hivarkar, Gopvinita, Monthi Serrao, Renu and Kishor Babani, Khatoon Baig and Razia Khan were conspicuous by their absence.
Oddly enough, many of those who showed up today are not particularly known to be regular in their attendance. Nazma Sayed looked bewildered throughout, unable to figure out how she could have left her home when it was pouring so heavily outside. Harish Wadhwa declared he had come to do a rain dance. Bapu Rane came soaked to the skin, performing a bhangra. Sunita Jajodia (below) kept cursing her luck for having chosen this morning to visit the Garden and finding herself stranded.
At one point, Sunita suggested organising tea and asked Nazma to call for her “badi gaadi” to ferry us. The latter, who has earned a reputation for her culinary skills, was already being pestered for hot pakoras from her house. Ultimately she threw up her hands, saying that all her folks were fast asleep at home.
Much of this banter was drowned by the relentless drubbing of the rain on the roof of the Chinese Hut while we exercised. The winds howled, occasionally showering us with a spray from outside. But it was fun. The good news is that Sunita Jajodia’s husband is fast recovering from a bout of malaria and viral fever. He has been discharged from hospital, but would require to “complete his course” of medication.
No wonder, she appeared so chirpy today.
Says RENU BABANI:
Congratulations to those members who were brave enough to face the pouring rains and venture out. I guess it must have been fun, but rest assured I had no regrets for not attending this morning. I was content lying in bed while I could hear the sound of rain as it mercilessly poured outside. Guess Mumbai will have no water issues. I shall not be attending the morning sessions for a few days as my sister is coming to visit. But I shall read the Blog daily.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
By the way, I did not brave the torrential rains to come to the Garden. Actually, I was thrown out of home (for some work) and had no other place to go! (Ha-Ha, LOL)
Adds RENU BABANI:
Mr Harish, do feel sorry that you had NO option this morning. However, I am sure you enjoyed being at the Garden and being part of nature at its best!

Day 348

This is a chance picture, emblematic of the spirit of our Laughing Club. Braving inclement weather and an all-pervasive air of gloom, here are three cheerful characters seated under one umbrella, who personify what we, as a family stand for: Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
Kishor Babani, Ved Prakash Grover and Tara Chand Seth were among the first to arrive at the Garden this morning – soon after a heavy downpour that almost crippled our chances of keeping to our daily schedule. They wait patiently for the others to turn up, determined to get on with the exercises, come what may. Talk of commitment and self-discipline, and you find that in ample measure writ large on their faces.
The odd part though was throughout the morning, while the skies threatened to burst open any moment, we found ourselves drawn into an amusing race against time with the rain gods – whether they would get the better of us before we completed the exercises, or vice-versa.
On a couple of occasions, Tara Chand had to ask Sitaram Hivarkar (who was conducting the exercises) to slow down. Gopvinita, Harbans Singh and Bhaswati Bose panicked when it began to drizzle for a while and rushed into the Chinese Hut for shelter. But it turned out to be a false alarm. The rest of course, carried on stoically, undeterred by the distraction.
Finally, we won. We completed the exercises at one stretch. The rain gods would have to do better another time.
Says RENU BABANI:
Yes, the rains played hide and seek with us. It seemed like the challenge was taken up by the members, who braved the dark threatening clouds and decided to complete the entire exercise routine out in the open. We won, as always! Besides, a little rain does no real harm. So for those running for shelter at a mere drizzle, just ignore it. Just a small note here: Why is the Day # written? Any particular reason? Just an interesting headline is fine and more fun to read.
Big Laaf replies:
No particular reason, except that it conforms to what a daily web log is meant to be -- as opposed to occasional posts in most other blogs which require headlines to draw attention.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
I enjoyed today's jokes by Kishore-da:
"Akkal badam se nahin, thokar se aati hai." So marry soon to get it.
"Rani jaise rakhoonga...", on being caught that the groom was already married to Ms Rani before. Wah kya baat hai! Somehow, I have become an ardent fan of Kishore-da for his small doses of jokes each day. Great work. You have a permanent and undisputed seat in the Badmaash Company as well!

Day 347

We are back!
The blog now comes to you, fully refurbished, in a vibrant new template and colour scheme with a few innovative features. Many of the changes have been initiated at the instance of our friends and followers. Some more tweaking and fine-tuning needs to be done though -- the idea being to present a ‘new look’ to the blog, without disturbing its continuity. Do let us know your reaction, and suggestions, if any.
Meanwhile, the news of the day was the return of Tara Chand Seth, as also the Boses (below right) from their annual vacation. Strangely, Hari Singh Shekhawat was found missing from action this morning. Turns out that he had to leave for Rajasthan last evening and would be back only towards the week-end. Similarly, Santosh Tyagi had to rush to Delhi on an emergency while Sunita Jajodia, another regular, is away since her husband has been down, reportedly with malaria and viral fever.
The weather is as much to blame for the drop in attendance – at least, for the past two weeks. As Renu Babani reports: “The monsoon has finally set in... what a relief from the heat and humidity. But this has led to a low turnout in the mornings. The wet and gloomy weather seems to put off some members (OK, so I am one of them) from attending the exercises. One particular day started off with just four members – Shekhawat, Grover, Sitaram and Rane.”
Srichand Arora (above) too has not been very regular, but the cause, as we learnt today, is quite shocking. Two days back, his car door slammed over his left hand, brutally trapping it and eventually leaving him with a painful inflammation, followed by high fever. He is still in agony, the nail of his middle finger having turned blue from a blood clot. Nevertheless, he put up a brave front this morning and gamely went through the motions of exercising. Following persistent requests from members, he promised to see a doctor today.
Says S.V.ARORA:
You forgot to mention that a couple, who is our very own and dear, distributed lots of love with lovely chocolates. Let me confirm that it was Mr and Mrs Bose. Of course, those were not going to compensate for their absence from the group, as we all missed them for about two weeks. But it is okay -- at least they kept their promise to reach back on the scheduled date. Madam and Sir, belated congratulations on your marriage anniversary and a very happy married life in the years to come. GOD BLESS YOU, MY DEAR MRS & MR BOSE!
Says HARISH WADHWA:
Welcome back, Blog Monster! Missed your blogs and news reporting. Thanks also for the lovely chocolates and cheese. They were gone a little too fast, as they were simply irresistible.
By the way Arora-ji, we buy your car door story this time. But please do not hit anyone again and turn your finger blue like this. (Pun intended with apology too!) God bless and wish you a speedy recovery. We know it is very painful and will take a little time to heal. You'll be okay soon.
Says RENU BABANI:
What a way to start the week! Mr Tara Chand returned from his trip. The Boses were back from their vacation and distributed chocolates and cheese to all the members present. Thanks so much for the wonderful thought. It means a lot.
The colours and template are in good taste. Having all the writings on one side is much more neat and organised. A job well done and keep up the good work.
However, apart from everything, the main reason for writing this is to say that this daily blog was missed. I am sure I speak on behalf of everyone else -- that we have gotten so used to updating ourselves through these blogs and it was sorely missed.
So, thanks once again because it is through these blogs that we get comments from so many people. Some we do not even know, but definitely interesting to read.