Creative Excuses

Nahid Khan (right) is not one to normally come late. She is also known to rarely take a day off. So this morning, when there was no sign of her till half way through the exercises, everyone got worried. Shekhawat was about to phone her when she showed up grinning ear to ear. “Baap-re-baap, kya machchar hai!” she exclaimed. “The mosquitoes made life miserable all night. Only towards the morning could I catch some sleep.”
Gone are the days when “having overslept” or “not feeling well” was the standard excuse for anyone turning up late or taking a break from the exercises. “Having guests at home” too has become passé. And to say “there’s work to do at home” sounds suspiciously like a Sunita Jajodia-excuse.
So like recalcitrant kids, our members are getting creative by the day. If one blames the municipal water supply for coming late, another discovers that s/he cannot use the toilet because there are too many people at home. Razia Khan found herself trapped in a lift one day, whereas Sitaram Hivarkar has a perennial problem with a non-functional lift in his building. He cannot take the stairs up. The best of course, is from Yusuf Rasiwalla (above, left): “I usually get up in time as I genuinely want to come to the Garden; but I cannot understand why my legs don’t bring me here.”
Meanwhile, there’s Shekhawat going gung-ho with plans to celebrate his 52nd wedding anniversary on February 25 (Saturday) in the Garden. He announced he would be having a ‘joint celebration’ with all those whose birthdays fall in February – thereby sparking a minor debate among members. While some people like Tara Chand Seth (above, right) argued for keeping it small and not make a song-and-dance about the celebration in advance, others had a problem with the bona fides of those who habitually invite themselves to our parties. As always, the discussion was inconclusive…
Post Script: Santosh-ji requires empty plastic bottles urgently for carrying kanji to the Garden. Big Laaf appeals to members to bring whatever 2 litre bottles they can spare (better still, empty all your plastic bottles at home!) and hand them to Santosh-ji at the earliest -- if not sooner.
Harish Wadhwa:
* No problems Santosh-ji. We have decided to give you buckets instead of two-litre PET bottles. Actually we don't want to inconvenience you in pushing the carrot and beetroot through small openings of the PET bottles. Buckets will be better for the gallons of "gulabo" drink.
* Must say Hari-bhai is bindaas in his special jokes. He is at his creative best during chai. He maintains his naughty grin but ensures that his fellow colleagues are in splits.
* We saw a sensational 'trailer', wishing we'd see the complete movie some day. You know what I am talking of buddy!
* Honestly, I second Tara Chand-ji's opinion about keeping celebrations simple.
* Kishor-da and Renu-ji, hope you people are fine. Missing you and your daily jokes-ka-tadka. Ganju-Panju ki half century hone par badhai! Keep going and laughing as usual.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* Don't I look cool in my orange cap?
* I wish everyone would stop calling me 'bhai'... I am like everyone else.
* What is all this commotion about, please someone explain.