Extended Celebrations

It’s still New Year’s at the Club. And today being Srichand Arora’s turn to host a treat, the Garden wore a festive look since early morning. For, more than the overflowing plates of phapda-jalebis laid out, it was a change of venue that made all the difference.

Plates of phapda-jalebi being laid out

By shifting to the cemented platform at the far end of the Garden (away from the confines of the China Hut), we had suddenly become the centre of attention and before long, even people from the walking track joined us to celebrate. Who knew whom hardly mattered, so long as we were all united in our celebration of joy and optimism, wishing one another well and a spirit of shared phapda-jalebi!
The star attaction of the morning was little Tian, brought in by his grandmother, Monthi Serrao from his sleep.

Hero of morning -- with granny

All of four-and-half years, the boy had to do a ‘lungi dance’ on public demand – what with Shekhawat repeatedly egging him on and Grover raising a “Thalaiva!” at odd intervals. Tian reluctantly agreed to demonstrate only three moves, but once a red dupatta was tied around his waist (see pics tomorrow), he jived on with effortless ease, enacting catch lines like “Moocho ko round ghooma ke/ Anna jaise chashma lagake/ Coconut mein lassi milake/ Aajao saare mood banake...”
Shekhawat could not have asked for more. He was very much in the “mood” even earlier while the exercises were on and to anybody who cared to listen, he prescribed “three pegs of whiskey daily” as the panacea for all ills. Santosh Tyagi was curious about the magic number of three and wanted to know “why not two pegs or four”. But Shekhawat stuck to three pegs and at one point, even called up Ramila Mistry at home, offering her the same prescription! Now Tian was talking about “mood” and for once, Shekhawat found someone on the same page. But then, the best compliment was to come from a silent, old onlooker who waved at Tian before leaving, "Bye, lungi man!"
Once again, Happy New Year everybody. Thalaiva!!!