Raksha Bandhan 2013

RAKHI SIBLINGS: Arora and Geeta

Was Raksha Bandhan today?
Well, newspapers told us so. Schools and offices were shut today. Cinema houses and malls offered special discounts on the festival. And among members, those in the know affirmed that it had to be Raksha Bandhan today.
But on the calendar, the red dot appears next to August 21. So it ought to be a public holiday tomorrow. Shekhawat confirmed it will also be a bank holiday tomorrow. So is Raksha Bandhan tomorrow?
An otherwise token ritual of women tying the sacred thread on the wrist of their brothers became an issue this morning as Geeta Sardhana did not come with the paraphernalia for the ceremony that she brings every year. And Srichand Arora, her 'rakhi brother', had from all appearance and purposes, clean forgotten about the festival. They had incidentally found one another in the Club in 2010 with Arora revealing that he does not have a sister and Geeta, who does not have a brother either, volunteering to tie the thread on his wrist. To our infinite pleasure, we have since been feasting upon boxes of barfis and luddoos while they went about religiously reaffirming their bonding year after year.

Back in his elements, Shekhawat entertains

This year though, we were deprived of that pleasure, all because of the confusion over dates. (Who knows, we might get lucky tomorrow!) Still, we did not give up hope and in all sincerity, the men collectively addressed the women as sisters, wishing them 'Happy Raksha Bandhan Day' and the women reciprocated in like measure, addressing all the men as their brothers. Even then there were no luddoos or barfis… not even toffees.
Instead, there was Shekhawat collecting cash from everyone as 'monthly subscription' for membership. Quite clearly, he is back in form, doing what he is best at. And nobody disappointed him. Alongside, Arora went about collecting signatures on documents for the club’s registration. Looks like an election is in the offing. Some newly created posts and names are already in circulation. We must wait and watch.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Tyoharo ka tyohar / Rakhi ka tyohar / Jis se jhalakta hai / Bhai-Behan ka pyaar! Happy Raksha Bandhan.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Grapevine has it that Arora-ji had not taken a shower this morning (or maybe for days) which upset Geeta-ji. As per Punjabi custom, the rakhi can be tied only after full shudhee. Hopefully he will come after a shower tomorrow (LOL).
* Agar aap aaj kisi khoobsurat ladki ko (yaa apni hee biwi ko) koi chamakti aur sone si damakti cheez lekar aate dekhen... toh foran bhaag jayiyega, kyon ki woh 'rakhi' bhi ho sakti hai!