R-Day 2012

Cloudy, dew-soaked morning. Nafisa Sayed wanted to skip the exercises today because of the cold and instead, huddle around a bonfire in celebration of Republic Day. “Chalo, let’s collect sticks (lakdi) and light a fire,” she urged.
Srichand Arora, who was about to start the exercises, heard “ladki” (girl) and looked around, puzzled and amused. He ran up to Nafisa for clarification, only to have all his hopes dashed. “Forget it, Arora-ji,” she chided. “Ladki aayegi toh haalat kharaab ho jayegi!”
The flow of jokes was however, kept on check (so much so, that the second Laughter Round was called off today) in view of the bereavement in Shekhawat’s family (see yesterday’s post). He was present today and narrated how his brother-in-law, who was barely 57 years, suffered a massive cardiac arrest when he went to relieve himself in the office toilet. He remained locked inside till his colleagues noticed his absence and had to break open the toilet door to retrieve his lifeless body.
“I was at the police station till 3:30 in the morning, but they refused to hand over the body to anyone other than his wife or blood relation,” Shekhawat continued. “So now they are all coming by train from Rajasthan and would reach here by 11.00 a.m. today. Meanwhile, the body has been sent for autopsy to Cooper Hospital. After that it will be taken to his village where the last rites will be performed.”
A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul. Sitaram Hivarkar recited the gayatri mantra with everybody joining, in chorus. The national anthem was also sung, soon afterwards – today being R-day. And before winding up, Renu and Kishor Babani, who have just returned from their two-day pilgrimage of Shirdi, distributed prasad (right pic) from the holy shrine of Sai Baba.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* Okay, let's go: One, two, three... times for the exercise so everyone pays attention!
* Have you seen the new chai-wallah? Hard to believe what the Badmaash Company have up their sleeves all the time!
* See, I am the generous one -- so happily distributing prasad... What did you expect?
Harish Wadhwa:
The chai fever has caught on. Maybe, I'll get a job as a chai-wallah when I retire. See the number of glasses we gulp in a morning! It's time you get started too.