SRK to Bhaloo

Bose Babu (right) has taken a massive demotion – from hero to zero. He got promoted a few weeks back when Dilip Babani (below, right), in his infinite wisdom, called him Shah Rukh Khan! How he detected a similarity between the Bollywood superstar and this half-pant wearing, black, bespectacled Bengali bumpkin, only Dilip should know. But the appellation stuck and went viral. Soon, even Razia Khan started saying, “Hamare club ka Shah Rukh Khan”. Not one to question the perceptive powers of our members, Bose has been happily basking under major delusions of grandeur ever since.
Then Pratap Bhatt (left) stepped in to spoil the party. Days before Durga Puja, he started pretending to be Bengali and instead of saying, “Good Morning” or “Namastey” like all others, began wishing Bose publicly, “Bhalo Toh?” (Are you well?). It was totally unnecessary. Being a Gujarati, even a “Kem Chho” would do; but no, Bhatt obviously had secret ambitions of stepping into Bose's shoes (they share the same birthday) and be another SRK. Hari Singh Shekhawat had only to overhear his “Bhalo Toh” and promptly turned it around to “Bhalo Chhey” in reply.
This went on for a while till Nafisa Sayed tried to correct him: “Aap kya Bangali-Gujarati bol rahein hain? Gujarati mein ‘Saru Chhey’ boltein hain. Ya ‘Majama’…” But Shekhawat turned a deaf ear to her and insisted on telling Bhatt “Bhalo Chhey”. Irritated, Nafisa pointed at Bose, saying: “Bhaloo toh yeh hai!”
That did it. At one stroke, by adding a single ‘o’ to bhalo, she cooked Bose’s goose – turning him into a bear. This morning he came wearing full-pants in an effort to regain his lost glory, but even Sunita Jajodia was not impressed. Seeing him at the gate of the Garden, she blurted “Aaj Sarva-pitro Amaavas hai… ghar jana hai,” and disappeared, not caring to attend the exercises. If only Dilip had been around today to salvage the situation!
Dilip Babani:
Hamare Laughing Club ke hero hai Bose Babu. "Shah Rukh Khan", Bose Babu ko naam mila at Lonavala, where we all have a photo. Lovely photo tha -- Bose Babu, Bhaswati ke saath, jaise Shah Rukh Khan aur Preity Zinta. Tab se Bose Babu ban gaye SRK. Bose Babu ki 100% qualities hai Shah Rukh Khan mein: sab ko hasate hai, caring hai, loving hai...
Renu Babani:
Has anyone seen the TV serial Mind Your Language? Well, looks like language lessons have started amongst the group. Whether the sentences are used in correct format is another story. At least we all have a good laugh. Regarding Mr Bose being called SRK, well with no offence to either of them, I am speechless. However, knowing Mr Bose, I do admit he is a true gentleman, accepting the title rather modestly. The turnout was rather low. Now there should be no excuses in regards to the erratic weather. So please everyone get back to the Garden pronto!
Harish Wadhwa:
Bose Babu, lovely pic -- smiling and jovial. Who wants to be SRK anyway? Our Bose Babu has an identity much bigger and profound than SRK. A thorough gentleman at heart, very forthcoming to help, Club ki jaan, co-chairman Badmaash Company, an artist, writer, painter, doting husband (as it shows – Bhaswati-ji is impressed!), most punctual and regular member in the group... qualities that deserve making him a “king” as SRK. So when we call him Shah Rukh Khan of our group, we actually mean a person possessing qualities of The King. SRK may be the king of cinema, but Bose Babu is the king of our hearts! God bless you.
Dilip Babani:
Bose Babu, Harish has written 10000000% correctly. There is no doubt in that you are the king!
Bose Babu:
Dear Dilip and Harish, you are both being kind. But I neither deserve the praise nor need to be consoled. This was all in jest. A man is known by the company he keeps. I am privileged to have you as friends.