Also in Style

Mumtaz Jahan

If it was Nahid Khan’s day yesterday, it was Mumtaz Jahan’s turn today to call the shots. In true regal style, she entered the Garden before time and went round and round the walking track, even as the exercises had started. Some ladies tried summoning the “Kashmir ki Kali” but to no avail. She ignored their call and finally, at her own will and pleasure, did she take her position in circle.
Thereafter, much like Nahid yesterday, Mumtaz was on her own trip. She selectively did the exercises that suited her, skipping the others and chatted up Nafisa Sayyad and Khatoon Baig on either side. By the end of it all, the ladies changed their opinion about the lady. “Kashmir ki Sherni”, they addressed her.
“At least I am not a Maharashtra ki Gai,” she retorted.

Razia Khan

In between, when Razia Khan was to remind her that she was not wearing the Club cap, Mumtaz gracefully conceded her mistake and agreed to pay the 10-rupee penalty. This was only to lead to discussions on yesterday’s fracas with Razia announcing that she was resigning in protest from her position as joint secretary of the Club. She reported to Arora how she had never felt more humiliated, especially when certain expletives were used along communal lines, questioning her integrity.

Good deed of the day!

By some coincidence, Arora received a call yesterday from Yusuf Rassiwala also wanting to resign from the Club’s managing committee. Since its tenure is already over, a decision will have to be taken soon on the next course of action.
As the action shifted to the chai session, the Badmaash Company got to do its good deed of the day. A young man was spotted in the middle of the road, knocked flat in the blazing sun and given up for dead. Traffic stopped, skirted around and moved on. On both sides of the road a crowd had gathered watching from a distance.
Arora rushed in to check the man’s pulse and declared that he was still breathing. Harish and Bose immediately lifted the stranger and brought him to the sidewalk, placing him in a shade. Luckily, he was not injured. He was carefully made to sit and cradled while water was administered from a bottle till he regained his senses. By then, a large crowd had gathered to take care of the man.
Their job done, the Badmaash Company moved out of the scene.
POST SCRIPT: Bapu Rane has been discharged from hospital yesterday evening. Last heard, he was watching the IPL match on TV till late night at home.
Harish Wadhwa:
* It was a natural reaction from all of us to help in a situation like this and not leave the man in the centre of the road. We thank the Almighty that he was not hurt when we discovered him.
* May God bless Rane-ji with good health and a quick recovery.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Visited Rane-ji's house with Mrs Nahid and Lakshmi in the morning. Though seriously afflicted, he appeared calm and quiet. He attempted to converse but could not speak clearly. His wife told us that he was much better today because of the dosages of medicines (including pain killers) given to him. We wish him well.
Renu Babani:
Oh my God, hope he is fine.
Srichand Arora:
I am really not in a position to understand if the Big Laaf group comes to the Garden to make themselves fit, healthy and joyful or whether it is to pull the leg of one another. Such actions really hurt me. Dear friends, please do not commit such unwanted acts which hurt others as well as you.