Christmas Weekend

Christmas eve. Time to be jolly – just that there was no celebration at the Garden. We could not even wish Monthi Serrao as she is said to be nursing a bad back at home. Santa Claus was to drop by, but that too did not happen (yesterday’s post). Nevertheless, Srichand Arora turned up, taking time out from attending to his grandchild who had developed high fever last night -- resulting in the cancellation of a trip to the Sai Baba temple at Shirdi.
Yusuf Rassiwala (below) too turned up, responding to Shekhawat’s call yesterday. His presence, somehow, puts Sunita Jajodia on high alert as she becomes apprehensive of him taking charge of the exercises, only to cause "needless delays". Her worst fears were confirmed when he walked into the middle (“Gayi bhains pani mein”, she was to remark) and at his own pace, conducted the physical exercise round – time and again pulling up Santosh Tyagi for being extra-talkative.
Somebody had brought a stick and placed it strategically at the centre of the circle to “discipline” unruly members. For a long time Hari Naraiyani kept eyeing it (as though it would suddenly wake up and strike him), but not uttering a word. The stick did make many members, particularly the talkative ones, uncomfortable… till Shekhawat showed up and the first thing he did was get the stick away from sight by chucking it into the hedge. After that, it was free-spirited monkeying and leg-pulling as usual!
Bhaswati Bose and Kiran Sajjan came in (after a long absence) to watch the fun. A new gentleman, Pandey volunteered to conduct the end-prayers (lead pic, top). Although there was no obvious celebration, an air of festivity prevailed through the morning. But as always, the real fun and laughter was left for the last – the post-exercise chai session at a tea stall close to the Garden (above left). Like Arora says, this is where we laaf best!
Renu Babani's PIC SPEAK:
* O God, give us the strength to forgive one another and be united always!
* Hey, do you think I look better when I don't open my mouth?
* Chai Cheers to the Badmaash Company, always cheerful and happy.
Harish Wadhwa:
* You can get hearty laafs only in Badmaash Company's chai sessions. Join us to believe it.
* If you see all the blogs, Yusuf-bhai reserves some of his most mischieveous and naughty poses for the camera.