Cold Wave

An unexpected drop in the temperature, coupled with wind chill, gave us the shivers this morning. Just as we had thought that winter was receding from Mumbai, the effects of unprecedented snowfall in the northern parts of the country hit us with a vengeance. Many were so ill-prepared that they kept on cribbing, all the while rubbing their hands together and cursing their fate for leaving home today. Those with weak bladders took frequent toilet breaks. Tara Chand Seth remarked that all those suffering from heart and BP problems should have stayed back at home as exercising in cold conditions can often prove counter-productive. “My son had warned me against leaving home, but like a fool I have come out,” he said.
Probably this explains why many elderly members like Yusuf Rassiwala, Pratap Bhatt and Harbans Singh did not turn up this morning. Some like Mumtaz Jahan, Ram Shankar Shukla and Ramila Mistry have been missing since the onset of winter. In particular Santosh Tyagi (right) is being missed, though, according to Hari Singh Shekhawat, “domestic compulsions” have kept her home-bound for the past fortnight. But the joke going around is that because she has stopped coming to the Garden, many ladies have stopped coming!
Meanwhile, Kishor Babani (left) informed that he is proceeding to Goa this afternoon with wife and relatives. He promises to be back on Friday morning. Much as we would miss his music and lively Ganju-Panju jokes, this is wishing him and his family a gala time in Goa.
Harish Wadhwa:
Will miss you Kishor-da and your Ganju-Panju jokes. Come back soon and 'behave' in Goa. We have secret eyes watching you. Renu-ji, keep an eye on Kishor-da's roving eye and update us on all the Goa-ki-khabar.
BTW, I found company in many more members wearing woolens and warm tracksuits today.