Divine Intervention

Everyone knows of Santosh Tyagi’s (left pic) wry sense of humour. But no one knows that she is also capable of some fast ones that could leave everyone stumped – as it happened today. Out of the blue she proposed what she believes is the only solution to stem the drop in attendance at the Club. “Instead of exercising, one day we ought to organize a Satyanarain Katha in the Garden,” she declared, tongue firmly in cheek. “The Club has fallen foul of the evil eye!”
Taken aback, Srichand Arora was at a complete loss of words. Still, with folded hands, his head bent double, he endorsed the idea: “Whatever you say...”
Arora’s consent gives rise to the very real danger of being greeted some day at the Garden by a big pot-bellied pandit chanting sholkas amid the sound of tinkling bells and the smoke of joss sticks… all for what? Just to ensure that Yusuf Rassiwala, Sitaram Hivarkar, Dilip Babani, Razia Khan and others become regular for the exercises?
But then, the idea of seeking divine intervention is fine at a time when the air is suffused in religious fervour with the Navaratri and Durga Puja celebrations under way. Bakrid too is coming up soon. Moreover, it is a fact that the low turnout in the Club is being noticed. The other day, a couple of Garden regulars heckled us with the taunt: “Where are your baki members?”
The good part was that Monthi Serrao (right pic) has returned after a long period of absence and was welcomed by the customary extra laugh after the exercises. She had brought coconut barfi for us from Mangalore – something that is a rarity in these parts. But again Santosh Tyagi had the last word. Pointing at a prominent white speckle in the dark brown sweet, she summoned Monthi: “See, how I have lost one tooth biting into your barfi!”
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* Psst... Shhh, a secret meeting is under way!
* I'm sure everyone will remember these sweets. Enjoy!
Harish Wadhwa:
* Monthi-ji, it should be a practice that the ones who miss out on the goodies should get it the next day. I am one of them. Hope you save my share. Welcome back.
* Santosh-ji has a witty side to her personality when she cracks jokes tongue-in-cheek style.
* Has someone communicated the blog request (posted a couple of days ago) to Mrs Harbans Singh? I suggest that Santosh-ji could do us this favour or get the kada prasad-halwa herself. After all, the Punjabi kudis could decide among themselves. I hope we have made our intentions clear. Right Santosh-ji?