May Day 2013

Tea session of Badmaash Company

Today was May Day. “It is also Labour Day,” Harish Wadhwa reminded us. “Today no woman should be in labour…” Suddenly realizing there were women around, he corrected himself: “Today no child should be born!”
This is what happens when women infiltrate the Badmaash Company. We need to be on our guard all the time. We had not bargained for this when Monthi Serrao, Geeta Sardhana and Bhaswati Bose joined us for tea at our regular roadside adda after the exercises. We thought that by their august presence, we would gain a degree of social acceptability -- if not respectability.

Arun Patil

Geeta was there for the first time and so the conversation had to veer around ‘polite’ subjects like the so-called Alibaug resort owned by Harish alias Manish (see post of April 11). Since Geeta had already told her husband about the mythical ‘Wadhwa Resort’ and insisted on seeing Harish as Manish (so long as she could get to Alibaug), Arora had to intervene and confuse her: “Neither is Harish Manish, nor is Manish Harish”. Finally, when Harish confirmed, “I am neither here nor there” could Geeta derive some sense and became thoroughly convinced!
Continuing in like vein, we ended up discussing how big shots involved in scams running into millions manage to go scot-free and why the law applies to us differently. Arun Patil came up with a good solution on punishing those well-connected crooks: “Don’t shoot or hang them,” he argued. “Just open a special zoo and lock them inside like animals while they await trial. Outside each enclosure put up a placard giving the culprit’s name, description and the money embezzled. Then show those people to school children, tourists… the common public. It will be a huge hit!”
Now this was some food for thought.
Post Script: In the obituary column of today’s newspapers, there is a mention of one Tarachand Mulchand Daryanani passing away on April 28, 2013. He is the brother-in-law of Kishor and Dilip Babani, who had, on occasion joined us for picnics and other celebrations of the Club. Our condolences go to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.
Renu Babani:
* Thanks for the condolences. May his soul rest in peace.
* New arrivals welcomed in Badmaash Company... just so curious!
Harish Wadhwa:
* For God's sake, I am a poor Indian like anybody else and do not own any resort! Resort hota toh mein yahan aata? Badmaash Company mein chai peeta? Resort mein maje se nahi rehta?
* Badmaash Company bhi sharifon ki company hai. Log to yoon hi badnaam kar dete hain. All are welcome any time.
* My respectful condolences to the bereaved family.