Umbilical Connect

Arora meets 'n' greets before catching his Singapore flight

For many of us, visiting the Garden every morning is very simply, a habit that grows. For several others it is an addiction – a daily fix they cannot be done without. And for quite a few, it is the be-all and end-all of existence. Their bonding with the Club is almost umbilical.
Take Srichand Arora, for example. Yesterday he said his goodbyes as he would be away for a month at Singapore where he would be celebrating the Ganapati festival with his son’s family.

Hari Singh Shekhawat

We knew that his flight was this morning at 11:40 and accordingly, he had to check-in at the airport before 9:00 a.m. It meant he would have to leave home by 8:00 a.m. and so, much as he would want to, visiting the Garden would be cutting things too fine.
Now, who could imagine that he would still take that risk and show up, all suited-booted, just to say ‘hello’ to everyone and leave within minutes?

Tara Chand Seth

He did precisely that while we were winding up our exercises and was gone as suddenly as he came. He risked missing his flight, but needed to see us before leaving!
That the magnetic pull of the Garden is just as compelling for Hari Singh Shekhawat is also well known. As his wife says, uthtey-baithtey, sotey-jaagtey he is preoccupied with Club affairs and more so, when he has a picnic to organise.

Kiran Makharia

Nothing else in the universe matters to him then. Like a man possessed, he immerses himself in the job at hand... all for sweet love towards the Club.
And what would you say of Tara Chand Seth, who divides time between his two sons in Delhi and Mumbai? At present he is in Delhi, but every second or third day he would call up from there to check “What’s happening?” It is not as though he is idle because he is in the thick of a wedding in the family and as he mentioned today, there is a medical follow-up also scheduled. Still he needs to be updated about a Club more than a thousand kilometres away.
Even for Kiran Makharia, being away from the Club for almost a month is turning her restless. On August 16, her birthday (see post), she fell and sprained her hand in the Garden, which has since rendered her home-bound. She cannot take her car out as the hand is still under plaster. But she too wants to be updated. Now, whoever expects that someone who appears so casual about the exercises and has been a habitual late-comer can also be so attached to the Club?
Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
Reached Singapore and am enjoying with my children and grandchildren. Papneja-ji, when all the committee members sign the MOA, please hand over documents to Mr Bose or Mr Harish for further action.
Jagmohan Papneja:
It is our inner sense of bonding that attracts us to the Garden. Joining the Big Laaf family comes out of respect and to compliment one another in life. And Arora-ji, your instructions are noted and will do the needful.
Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
Thanks Papneja-ji for being so generous. But please believe me, it's my humble request and not instructions.