Boss is Back!

Srichand Arora is back from Singapore. The extended vacation has turned him visibly fitter and refreshed compared to what we had seen of him a month back. A few ladies like Ramila Mistry and Harbans Kaur even commented that he had lost a few kilos, which was to prompt the predictable retort: “Achchi baat hai! I should now return to Singapore and stay put there.”
Arora’s popularity was on display the moment he stepped into the Garden this morning. Apart from regular members, club friends like Vijay Bhai and Banoo Khan greeted him with open arms and folded hands while rank strangers stopped mid-stride to inquire if all was well and whether he was out on a holiday.

Happy Birthday NAFISA SAYYAD

That he was missed was evident all around, just that we slipped up on raising the extra laugh for him, as has been our practice.
But there was a reason for this. Arora reminded us it was Nafisa Sayyad’s birthday today and that a fourth laugh for her was in order. Nafisa was taken aback and pleaded ignorance – more so since nobody celebrates birthdays in her family. But Arora insisted it was her birthday and as we clapped and rejoiced around her, to our infinite horror, Nafisa broke drown!
For the first time, we were seeing this otherwise happy-go-lucky lady in tears and as everybody hovered about to console her, she began to cry uncontrollably. Clearly, she was so overwhelmed by all the love and affection showered upon her that she could not hold herself. And to make matters worse, Arora scolded her for weeping on her birthday and like an indulgent elder, directed her to distribute the chocolates he had brought from Singapore. Sniffling and whimpering, Nafisa agreed, but when Arora tried feeding her a small piece, she refused because of an aggravated diabetes condition.
It was an emotionally charged morning, tender and sweet, but nobody could make anything of it.
Srichand Arora:
Thanks a lot for giving me such a warm welcome. I can never forget the affection of all my Big Laaf and Garden friends. Thanks, once again!