Sweet Pain

Parting can be such a sweet pain. Hari Singh Shekhawat and Santosh Tyagi experienced it today as they prepared to leave for their respective hometowns this afternoon. As many as 30-odd members had turned up at the Garden to see off these two Club veterans in the morning.
So overwhelmed was Santosh (left pic) to find herself in the midst of such a large gathering that she couldn’t help remarking: “Don’t worry, I'm not going to the front to fight a war. I'm just going to attend a wedding. I’ll be back by the 18th.” Nevertheless, she meticulously took down the telephone numbers of her well-wishers and promised to call up once she reached Delhi.
Shekhawat (below pic), who is also going to attend a wedding at his village in Rajasthan, was a bit late to arrive at the Garden. Predictably, he became the butt of many jokes – largely because of his superstitious nature and belief in the occult. No matter what anybody tells him, he is convinced that a resident chudail or evil spirit gets the better of him the moment he steps into his village and plays havoc on his body and mind!
While some members advised him not to partake of anything white (sweets, curd, milk etc.) that may be offered, others suggested he keep a few iron nails in his person for self-protection. On his part, he brandished an array of gold amulets and talismans to ward off the evil eye. Harbans Singh quipped that he might as well bring that mischievous chudail home to Mumbai for us to have a look at. Her curiosity is genuine as Shekhawat cannot say whether the chudail is male or female (or both). "Gents bhi hai, ladies bhi hai," he maintains but adds that "it" has been after him only and not his wife. So he does not ever visit the toilet during nighttime when he is at his village.
Jokes apart, we are all concerned about Shekhawat – especially after his last two trips to his village. On the first time, he returned with severe depression that took him months to get out of. The second time around, he ended up in hospital. Many had even counseled him not to visit the village again. But somehow, he insists on keeping his appointment with that mysterious chudail.
Bhaswati Bose:
The chudail is waiting for Shekhawat in a haunted haveli and singing "Aayega...aayega, aane wala... aayega!"
Renu Babani:
Oh my goodness me! Mr Shekhawat, who seemed to be walking on shaky ground already as he was preparing for his trip back home, was the target this morning. Everyone seemed to give him advice on how to protect himself from the chudail. This belief has somehow been transfixed in his mind and being so vulnerable, everyone took a dig at the man. He had worn so many rings as a protection against evil. Hopefully, on a positive note, he will return this time his normal self. After all, those shining stones on his fingers will definitely blind anyone.