WILL BE BACK

It’s time once again, to abandon everything and disappear. Enough of ‘Ho-Ho Ha-Ha’, ‘Ram-Ram Bol', 'Hai Mera Dil’, luddoo-peda, chocolates, phapda-jalebi and what not!
Every year, at this time, we shut shop and become scarce for reasons we still do not know. Admittedly, we lack the intelligence to figure out why we need this break. 
Maybe, it’s by force of habit. Or could be a lame excuse to stop working and simply twiddle our toes. Or who knows, this is one way to appear smart – recharging our batteries and all that.
Whatever you might think, we NEED our annual vacation badly. Hopefully, we should be back by July 6, 2014. Till then, this blog remains suspended.

Food Karting

Shekhawat gets the first choco bite from his wife

The food cart rolls on. As readers would notice, June-July is a particularly propitious time in the Garden for foodies and all exercising and diet control be damned. The best part is that the stuff arrives when least expected. So if it were the surprise nankhatais from Mallika Kagzi yesterday -- not to mention, Nahid Khan’s belated birthday treat of luddoos -- today it was Shekhwat’s turn to come up with chocolates out of the blue.
It was actually Shekhawat’s wife, Mohan Kanwar’s birthday celebration, pending since June 21. On that day, she had to catch her doctor early morning at Colaba, leaving us all high and dry in the Garden. Fact is, we have all become utterly shameless in these matters and had since been pestering Shekhawat for the forgotten treat. He good-naturedly smiled without committing and just as we gave up, he showed up with a box of chocolates today.

Ram Shankar Shukla on May 29

“My biwi’s birthday!” he announced triumphantly.
Surprise of surprises, the ‘biwi’ also showed up -- immaculately dressed in grey chikan saree with matching danglers, a delicate gold chain glistening around her neck, colorful bangles and designer glasses. This was the first time we were seeing Mrs Shekhawat so prim and propah in the Garden. And to everyone’s delight, she gave dear hubby the first bite of a chocolate.

Santosh Tyagi: Show must go on! 

It was an endearing moment, instantly sparking off a round of playful one-liners and jibes, all in good humour.
Amid this warmth and bonhomie, Santosh Tyagi struck a note of alarm when she suddenly held her waist and buckled on a bench. She grimaced in pain. Turned out that she had been laughing so much continuously that she got an abrupt catch in her stomach – apparently an after-effect of the gall bladder operation she had undergone recently. Before long, she gathered herself and regaled us to a couple of jokes with Jagmohan Papneja and Harish Wadhwa pitching in for added effect.
If there was one person we were missing in all this, he was Ram Shankar Shukla. He has been a regular for the exercises and more importantly, a voice of reason for the Club. The last was saw of him was almost a month back, on his 79th birthday (see post of May 29). He was very ill then, barely able to stand upright; but had come to the Garden only to celebrate his birthday. He had to be escorted back home and after that, there has been no news of him. Repeated telephone calls have yielded no response. Will someone somehow please check if all is well with him? A month is too long for this gentleman to be away.

Breaking the Jinx

Nahid Khan celebrates with luddoos

Mallika Kagzi celebrates with nankhatai

Nahid Khan managed to celebrate her birthday today. Four days behind time, she abandoned the idea of samosas and tea and instead, settled for luddoos. Much as we expressed our happiness with a round of applause and good cheer, Nahid looked enormously relieved to be done with a birthday treat which was jinxed from the very start.
If the luddoos were not enough, Mallika Kagzi produced nankhatais to go along. She was away at Surat on a brief visit (her relatives are settled there) and this was her way of celebrating her return to the Club. The dry nankhatai and succulent luddoos made for a sinful combination – just what the doctor ordered to spike our calorie and blood sugar levels post-exercise.
Nahid’s birthday was last Friday, but at the behest of some seniors, she had to make way for Sitaram Hivarkar’s platinum jubilee celebration the same day (see post of June 20). On her wish list were samosas, tea and some savories. Arun Patil volunteered to source them for Saturday from a known eatery, but at the last moment the order was pushed to the next day because Nahid’s close friends were leaving town (post of June 21).
Next day happened to be Sunday and Arun had clean forgotten that it was a holiday. So a huge basket of freshly fried samosas and assorted crispies with hot tea arrived at the Garden in our absence and they were consumed by strangers – or so the eatery claims. Nahid (or for that matter, Arun) could not care less and demanded that the order be repeated for Monday, if payment had to be made.
On Monday, as luck would have it, someone at the eatery died. As a mark of respect, all the shops in the area downed their shutters. So once again, there was a no show for the now famous and long-awaited samosas. Fed up, Nahid took the best course in the circumstances. Without telling anyone, she picked up the first thing that caught her eye in her neighborhood market. And it happened to be luddoos from Bakers and More!
What’s more, all her friends were present today to cheer her.
Harish Wadhwa:
* All were present but me... Blog Monster, don't sprinkle salt on my wounds by publishing pics of such nice luddoos and nan-khatai being distributed. Zaalimon kuchh toh rehem karo hum jaison par bhi, jo aa nahi paatey.
* Belated Happy Birthday 'Bhai-jaan'!
Jagmohan Papneja:
* Nahid-ji, there could not be a better way to celebrate your birthday than with special motichoor luddoo. This is such an item which which makes a great treat at any time. Happy Birthday!
* Whatever you do in Surat, you cannot come away without buying nankhatai for your near and dear ones. That's exactly what Mallika Kagzi has done. I want to thank her a lot for this goodwill gesture and for her thoughtfulness towards the group.
Harish Wadhwa adds:
Why is Monthi-ji and Mrs Harbans Kaur so angry even if Grover-sa'ab is picking up two or three luddoos?. Everyone does it once in a while. Don't you too?

Mid-Summer Exodus

The Club still has a decent complement

Razia Khan, Mallika Kagzi and Ruksana Khan have disappeared since Saturday – one to Pune, another to Surat and the third to nobody-knows-where. Srichand Arora and wife Kiran had taken off for Germany yesterday. The day-after tomorrow, the Bose couple would have gone -- to Turkey and thereafter, Spain. The same day, June 25, Monthi Serrao would be headed towards Mangalore. Teja Singh Bhambra too is due to leave, for Faridabad…
That so many people from the Club are decamping around the same time has taken us all by surprise. An exodus of this nature is understandable in September-October during Dussehra-Diwali or at the vacation time of schools in March-April. But in the middle of summer, to be absconding en-masse is unprecedented. “I will be in and out, because of the many meetings I need to attend,” Jagmohan Papneja threatened, aggravating the situation.

Shekhawat displays his Navy photos

“I too will be away, at Meera Tower,” retorted Santosh Tyagi, indicating she would stay put at home.
Flabbergasted, Shekhawat wondered if anybody at all will be left in the Club. “We might as well suspend the exercises,” he declared. “Those who want to come early morning shall take a stroll around the Garden and return home. What else to do?”
Shekhawat’s apprehensions are not altogether misplaced. As it is, attendance drops to rock bottom when the monsoon catches up. June-July is a particularly bad period when roads leading to the Garden turn treacherous with puddles and slush all around because of the rains. That apart, the holy month of Ramzan starts on June 30. The ritual fasting every day would automatically exclude our Muslim members from the exercises for the whole of July – barring of course, Nahid Khan and perhaps, Khatoon Baig.
But then, true to his nature, Shekhawat refused to be bogged down by such concerns right now. Instead, he fished out from somewhere a set of ancient photographs from his Indian Navy days and displayed them with pride. Those were snapshots of ‘Shekhawat in uniform’, ‘Shekhawat at his work table’, ‘Shekhawat getting sloshed in a bar counter’, ‘Shekhawat at sea on INS Kavery’ and so on. Lovely pics those were. We’ll figure out a way to feature them in this blog.
Jagmohan Papneja:
I am sure that the exercises will never be suspended in any eventuality. Health conscious members who stay put at home will ensure that the show must go on.
Srichand Arora from Germany:
Correct, Papneja-ji. I agree with you. Health-conscious people of our group will never avoid the daily laughter-exercise routine.
Harish Wadhwa:
Nice to hear from you, Gurudev from Germany. Hope you are having a good time. Missing you on chai.

Day 1330

Pic of the Week

ICONIC POSE... OF THE 'PLATINUM MAN'

Sometimes a picture speaks louder than words. This one symbolizes the true acceptance of tributes and best wishes from friends on completion of his 75th birthday. --Jagmohan Papneja

Right age for Sitaram-ji to join politics and contest the elections. He will then get to share many such pictures. --Harish Wadhwa

In a Fix!

Nahid Khan

After the massive turnout yesterday, today’s was a let-down. A majority of those who attended Sitaram Hivarkar’s platinum birthday celebration (see post) did not show up this morning – even as it was Saturday, a week-end. Only the regulars were present. Seeing a burqa-clad woman join the exercises rather late, Arun Patil jokingly remarked, “Why have you come? There’s no party today.” Everybody laughed. For once, nobody found that odd.
There was to be a party. Today happened to be Shekhawat’s wife, Mohankanwar's birthday. But since he had to take her to Colaba for an early morning doctor’s appointment, Nahid Khan wanted to move in and book today’s date for her birthday treat. (The birthday was yesterday, but she had to make way for Sitaram’s celebration.)

Arora's friends wish him Bon Voyage

But then, her friends Razia Khan, Mallika Kagzi and Ruksana Khan had to go out of station today itself and they had all requested her to defer the party till they return early next week.
Nahid now finds herself in a piquant situation because today, she learnt that from next week, many more of her friends would be away. And they are the ones who are presently demanding their share of the treat before they leave. Not wanting to disappoint anyone, she went about seeking the advice of the most mischievous of her ‘confidantes’, only to be left absolutely confused. Her problem, in simple words, is: How many samosas must she order with tea?
Srichand Arora meanwhile took his leave and wished Nahid the very best. He has a flight to catch tomorrow to Frankfurt and will be missing her treat. On our part, we wished him a safe and happy journey and raised an extra laugh for the send-off. Arora’s itinerary includes Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria, before he returns to India on July 7.

Platinum Jubilee

The day we were waiting for had dawned. Sitaram Hivarkar, the grand old patriarch of the Club, was felicitated this morning at a special ceremony in the Garden with all members as well as his wife and children in attendance.

Yusuf Rassiwala presents memento

SITARAM HIVARKAR

He had celebrated his birthday last week (see post of June 11) with a lavish treat; so it was our turn today to pay a humble tribute to the man who has meant so much to the Club since its inception. What better occasion for this than his 75th birth anniversary?
To our good fortune, Sitaram’s wife, two sons, daughter and a grandson had accompanied him. While the Club’s biggies comprising Srichand Arora, Monthi Serrao, Harbans Kaur (all founding members) and others received them warmly, Shekhawat garlanded Sitaram, followed by Yusuf Rassiwala presenting him a crystal glass memento (similar to the one Ved Prakash Grover received on his 75th anniversary last year).

The Hivarkar family

Razia and Jagmohan pay poetic tribute

Before long, Razia Khan and Jagmohan Papneja took over the stage, waxing eloquent and bouncing off couplets in praise of the man we all love and respect deeply.
The best part though were the little-known anecdotes Rassiwala narrated about his association with Sitaram and how much he has been able to imbibe from him over the years. “Today, whenever someone praises me for something like conducting the exercises, I say that there is another man, Sitaram-ji who deserves to be thanked more!” Such admissions in humility without flattery, lent an air of poignancy to a morning otherwise marked by celebratory hugs and handshakes over breakfast packs and countless rounds of hot tea.

Section of the audience

Vote of thanks by Vinay Hivarkar

In the end Sitaram’s son, Vinay Hivarkar delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of his family and even promised to join us for the daily exercises.
It was a short, but memorable event, befitting the man in whose honour it was organized. Many such events will be organized in future to celebrate many more platinum jubilees – Teja Singh Bhambra, Arora and Shekhawat being next in the line. But this one was special as it was held for one who had laid the foundations of the club. As Rassiwala summed it up: “It was a simple and graceful celebration, full of heart!”
Harish Wadhwa:
Hearty congratulations and greetings to our Sitaram-ji on this Platinum Birthday. A simple and a soft- spoken person, who once conducted the exercises and now voluntarily also conducts the yoga sessions, truly deserves this celebration. There's nothing better than to show our loved friend, that his life has been an inspiration to many. So why not make this special 75th birthday truly memorable? We wish that all his dreams and wishes for the coming years are fulfilled.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Sitaram-ji, we all members of the Big Laaf family are delighted to felicitate you as a yoga guru, guide and friend. We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to your family for joining us in the celebrations. On the completion of your 75th birthday, we wish you a long, healthy, peaceful and cheerful life. May God bless us to witness many more years of your fruitful life.

Coconut Tree

Overladen coconut tree in the background

A short, stunted and stupid looking coconut tree has become the cynosure of all eyes. Overseeing the area of the Garden where we exercise, it has always formed part of a nondescript green backdrop of assorted shrubbery growing wild and unkempt. Now it is bearing fruit.

Yusuf Rassiwala

In fact, the tree has become so heavily laden that for once, it is bent double under the weight of coconuts ready to be plucked.
Yusuf Rassiwala wants them all. “Must be more than a hundred of them up there,” he said, his eyes riveted on the coconut clusters while exercising. “What are they doing there? Let us bring them down and have a party.”
Jagmohan Papneja agreed. “But we will have to find a professional tree climber to bring the coconuts down. I do not know how much those people charge.”
“We’ll find out and share the expenses,” Yusuf retorted. “It is sinful to allow so many coconuts getting wasted.”

Kiran Arora celebrates her birthday today

“But I’ll have to also take the permission of Celebration Club,” Papneja said. “After all this Garden belongs to them.”
That put paid to Yusuf’s grand hopes on having a grand feast of grand coconut delicacies. He kept his mouth shut, even as Papneja consoled him that all was not lost. “I own a coconut tree out there,” he said pointing at a dense undergrowth in the distance. “I had planted the sapling with my own hands after it sprouted out of a pitcher on a Ganapati puja offering. It will also bear fruit.”
Meanwhile, Kiran Arora showed up and in what turned out to be a belated birthday celebration (see yesterday’s post), she posed with hubby Srichand Arora for a photo-op before distributing chocolate bars to all present. Once again, we raised a ‘fourth laughter’ and clapped and cheered, wishing her a long, healthy and happy life ahead.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Yes Yusuf-bhai, it would be my pleasure to fulfill your (possibly typical) demand of plucking coconuts.

Hustle and Bustle

Keeping accounts of the cash coming in

Life in the Garden is suddenly on an upswing. Beginning today, we have a series of birthday celebrations lined up. We will be felicitating Sitaram Hivarkar also on the platinum jubilee of his birth anniversary. Preparations for the ceremony are already on.
If this was not enough, Shekhawat came up with the proposal of a ‘day picnic’ some time next week. Yesterday he had cancelled Lonavala (see post) and today, much to our surprise, he was tossing the idea of Royal Garden Resort and The Great Escape… he wasn’t sure which. And yet he wanted to start collections immediately because time is running out. Nobody knows why. So his appeals landed on deaf ears.
The immediate ‘job’ on hand for the Club was to keep track of voluntary contributions pouring in for Sitaram’s felicitation. This idea was mooted by Yusuf Rassiwala and he has pledged Rs1,000 on his part.

Happy Birthday, Kiran Arora: Razia reads...

Others are putting in anything from Rs50 and Rs100 upwards. Separately, a memento is being readied, similar to the one presented to Ved Prakash Grover on his 75th anniversary last year. Till yesterday, Sitaram was deliberately kept in the dark about the preparations but today, when he saw so many people putting in money, he innocently offered Rs50 as his contribution. He had to be told eventually and was requested to bring his wife and daughter for the ceremony this week-end – subject to his and their convenience.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of Kiran Arora’s birthday, we raised an extra laugh after the exercises, as per convention. She was not present today. Nor was her husband, Srichand Arora.

Muthu Swami (left) with Jain

But their family friend, Bihari Milwani was there and he had brought a personalized laminated card (as he usually does for the Aroras) conveying his good wishes. The text, in Hindi, was read out in absentia by Razia Khan and we joined Bihari on wishing Kiran many happy returns of the day.
In all this flurry of activity, our good old ‘Ungli Master’ Muthu Swamy showed up like Banqo’s ghost. He had been away for so long that many had forgotten about him – though there used to be occasional talk of stray sightings and how he was recuperating from an infected diabetic foot. “They have cut off my toes,” he wailed like a child as he hobbled into the Garden, both feet wrapped in thick grey socks. Hem Chand Jain jumped up to hug him and Muthu wept inconsolably, tears streaming down his once cheerful face. Later, much later, he turned around and faced the camera with a weak smile.
Jagmohan Papneja:
It is a matter of great pleasure to note that we are going to felicitate Sitaram-ji on the landmark occasion of his 75th birth anniversary. It is my prayer that Almighty God should grant him many more happy and peaceful years in life.

Picnic Abandoned

Shekhawat lines up the ladies and takes them to task

Our picnic to Lonavala, slated for next week, has been called off. Inability of members to decide on a date, conflicting opinions and suggestions from all quarters and to an extent, the cost factor have together conspired in sending Shekhawat’s plans for a monsoon outing on the hills for a toss.
“The Lonavala picnic stands cancelled,” he announced this morning. “I am fed up dealing with people who cannot make up their minds. Some cannot go on a Sunday, some cannot go on a weekday, some want to go only on a week-end... Where shall I go? I have to tell the bus wallah, book hotel rooms, fix everything. If you people still want to go, you’d have to arrange for everything yourselves. I'm out of it!”
Shekhawat was especially bitter about the indecisiveness of the ladies and their tendency to pick faults.

Prakash Motwani

“You do not want this bus, you want that seat, you do not want so-and-so to join us, you want X Y Z, you want everything your way… and then what happens? You will back out at the last moment. I am just fed up.”
He picked on Monthi Serrao and Harbans Kaur in particular for putting him at a loose end every time there is talk of a picnic. “Both of you have always scolded me for various reasons,” he told them. “And yet, you are the first to back out.” Santosh Tyagi quickly did some damage control by explaining that since the ladies regard Shekhawat to be one of their own, they take liberties at scolding him. “Otherwise do you think they would dare to scold that man walking there?” she asked pointing at a stranger passing by.
That somewhat cooled tempers.
All this while Prakash Motwani stood by the side, an amused grin on his face. He was showing up after close to six months because of a debilitating bronchial problem, coupled with unexplained weight loss. He looks to have recovered well enough and even the huge boil on his forehead has almost disappeared. “I feel much better now,” he said reassuringly.

FIFA Fever

Bijoy 'Owl' Gupta

The garden is gradually warming up to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. It is not even a week since the tournament took off and all those here who swore by IPL and cricket till the other day are now spouting Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Balotelli. They are keeping track of the goals scored, team formations, players’ strengths and strategies, match-winning coaches… to the extent of placing bets on the outcome of the tournament!
This is the result of staying awake all night to follow the ‘beautiful game’ live on TV. Bijoy Gupta, for one, is a self-confessed owl who sleeps during daytime and at night, from 9:30 p.m. he settles down with his drinks in front of a television set and watches three matches back-to-back till 5:00 in the morning. Should the last match run into extra time or if he feels extra-charged, he would make an appearance in Garden at 7:00 a.m. to rub off some of his excitement with other football fans.

Exercises Interrupted: Waiting for rains to subside

For the rest of us, who are unable to stay awake all night, Gupta is our first source of information on the outcome of the matches.
Gupta did not show up today -- possibly, because of the inclement weather. It was dark and cloudy since early morning with the heavens threatening to open up any moment. Still, we took our chances and went to exercise out in the open. Sure enough, we were interrupted by intermittent showers resulting in abandoning the exercises a couple of times. The funny part was while some of us waited patiently for the rains to subside, others performed the comical act of exercising with one hand holding up an open umbrella. And for the time there was no rain, Razia Khan raced through each exercise at such breakneck speed that Arun Patil could not help remarking: “See, a mad dog has got behind her!”
Seems like it will take us time to get used to the rains.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Football has not enjoyed popular support among the Indian masses. But this is changing now. Youngsters are picking up the game fast. Still, football has a long way to go. Cricket is all over India. To popularize and give a boost to football, corporates should seriously patronize clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, etc.

Day 1323

Pic of the Week

In this season of buying cars, one man celebrates the bicycle.

Bhaswati Bose:
Is he practicing to cycle his way through Germany?
Anonymous:
Badepa, you will feel at home in Germany. Everyone on cycles here!
Harish Wadhwa:
A damn good pic of our all-time young Arora-sa'ab riding a bicycle. Soon we will have a Badmaash Bicycle Club (BBC). Any volunteers? I am game for it.

Another Car!

Ved Prakash Grover offers Shekhawat a bite of car-samosa

Ladies tease Arora relentlessly for his T-shirt

Last Tuesday, Ramila Mistry celebrated her new car, a HONDA Amaze. Two days later, Angad Singh announced that he too had bought a new car – a TOYOTA Corolla. Today, it was Shekhawat’s turn to celebrate his new car – the “latesh model” of HONDA City... What’s happening?
Someone above must have gone mad. How else can anyone explain that a Mumbai ‘laughing club’ is suddenly blessed with not one, not two, but three high-end cars, all in a space of one week?
This isn't normal.
But then, we are no less mad. What would have passed off as another “car-peda” treat (to borrow Harbans Kaur’s phrase) turned into a hilarious exercise in extortion with the ladies demanding a now-or-never party from Shekhawat. And it should not be pedas again. Ultimately, Shekhawat fished out Rs500 and Arun Patil kick-started someone’s scooter parked outside the garden and was gone looking for some eatery open early morning.
Till he returned, Srichand Arora had to bear the brunt of the ladies’ pranks. Monthi Serrao picked on his T-shirt, wanting to know why he was wearing something with ‘Crude Oil’ written on it. “Is that why you are rude?” she asked cheekily. Quick on the uptake, Arora pointed to the word ‘Refinery’ also on the T-shirt (though in small print) in the hope she would take him to be a “refined gentleman”, only to expose himself to a host of barbs from all the ladies. Ultimately he gave up, realizing he was outnumbered. “Today is your day to take phirkee… my time will also come,” he declared before departing.
By then Arun had returned with a packet of hot samosas and chocolates. But still, the ladies were not satisfied. They went around checking whose car is how old, hoping to start a practice of celebrating “car birthdays” from now on. Anything for a treat!
Jagmohan Papneja:
It seems that the car manufacturer, HONDA is offering handsome discounts on various models. This has obviously created a buying spree in Big Laaf's members.
Harish Wadhwa:
Congratulations Shekhawat-ji for the car. Monsoons have set in and so picnic in the new car toh banti hai!

Location Change

Exercises conducted outside China Hut

Today’s morning shower was heavier than yesterday’s, thus prompting a location change for our exercises. The skies had cleared by the time we arrived, but still, nobody was taking chances. We chose to stay close to the China Hut so that in the event of a sudden downpour, we could conveniently rush in for shelter. This has always been a transitional stage for us in our monsoon preparedness. The final stage, at the peak of monsoon, is of course, the closed confines of the China Hut.
Much as the sun played peek-a-boo while we exercised, a heavy cloud of gloom hung over us all morning. A close friend of the Club, Dharam Pal Mehra has passed away. He had been running the Senior Citizens’ Brotherhood in the neighboring Garden No 2 and used to visit us quite often. Jagmohan Papneja, also an office bearer of the Brotherhood, abandoned the exercises and rushed out to pay his respects.

Angad Singh offers pedas

In fact, a number of our members belong to this lively collective of seniors in the locality.
It was Nahid Khan who broke the news of Mehra’s demise. She had learnt that he breathed his last in hospital, apparently due to some misjudgment by the doctors on switching his oxygen tubes. As it was, Mehra had been suffering from a chronic lung problem and needed to be attached to a respirator 24x7 in the normal course. According to Hem Chand Jain, another colleague, Mehra had a premonition of his end and had donated his vital organs, including cornea and kidneys, a few days back. He was only 76.
Against this distressful scenario, Angad Singh made an attempt to lift our spirits by distributing pedas soon after the exercises. His son has just purchased a car and this was his way to make the announcement. Otherwise a quiet and withdrawn person, Angad has been a regular to our exercises for the time he is in town. He actually belongs to Mohali (near Chandigarh) and like Sardar Teja Singh, visits his son in Mumbai once or twice a year. And so, life goes on…
Harish Wadhwa:
* Looks like it is a 'car kharido mausam'. Congrats Angad Singh-sa'ab for the new car. Hope it takes you miles safely and brings happiness to all in the family.
* Very sorry to learn about the demise of Dharam Pal Mehra, of the Senior Citizens’ Brotherhood. May God bless the departed soul.
Bhaswati Bose:
* Today is Friday the 13th AND a full-moon night. This is a rare phenomenon. The combination will take place again only in August 13, 2049. It is a doubly 'bad' day for the superstitious but a wonderful day for flyers as flights are easily available and fares are the cheapest today!
Jagmohan Papneja:
A condolence meeting for Dharam Pal Mehra will be held on June 14 (Saturday) at 5 pm in Pushpanjali Hall, Garden No 2.

First Shower

MONSOON HAS ARRIVED!

We received the first rainfall of the season this morning. It was more in the nature of a passing shower – rather, a fleeting drizzle – but wet enough to deter the likes of Yusuf Rassiwala, Sunita Jajodia and Mallika Kagzi from showing up in the Garden. Moreover, it left a hot, vapid air trapped under the cloud cover, making exercising strenuous and uninspiring.
The rain had actually arrived about half-an-hour before our exercising time, which accounted for the absence of some members. For the rest of us, the question of whether to venture out in the open or retire to the China Hut (as we do every year during the monsoon) hung heavy. But since another group had already occupied our space inside, we were left with little option but to trust our luck. With occasional gusts of wind and the skies gradually clearing up, we realized it was not much of a risk.

Shekhawat's briefing on Lonavala picnic

Moreover, some members who had gone to 'examine the pitch', found the ground not too wet or slushy and gave us the all-clear signal. Still, towards the end of the exercises, we were treated to another light drizzle – once again, sending alarm bells all around.
Against this backdrop, scraps of conversation were exchanged over the music playing on Arun Patil’s new box-amplifier – about the melody of yesteryear hits, the versatility of singers like Lata and Rafi and how utterly idiotic some lyric writers had been. Everybody had a blast over some melancholic numbers, particularly when Shekhawat attempted enacting lines like “…rotey huey, hanste huey” like a mimicry artiste. Clearly, the monsoon was a mood changer.
On a serious note though, Shekhawat read out quotations from tour operators on hiring a bus for two days to Lonavala. He is now looking at June 20 - 21 for the trip. But before that, we will have to felicitate Sitaram Hivarkar on his Diamond Jubilee (see yesterday’s post). The general consensus was to celebrate inside the Garden, rather than at a restaurant and make it a contributory affair. A final decision on this will be taken tomorrow.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Club members were relieved after the mild shower today. Shekhawat-ji is organizing a special monsoon picnic at Lonavala. So hurry up, reserve your seats and enjoy the trip.
Harish Wadhwa:
Umad-Ghumad Kar Aayi Re Ghataa / Kaare-Kaare Badaraa Ki Chhaayi-Chhaayi Re Ghataa...
Looks like you all are having a ball. Nice pic today!

Antsy-Pantsy

Birthday greetings for Sitaram Hivarkar

How does it feel when everyone around keeps reaching down to scratch themselves? Or maybe, stand on one foot and use the other to rub their ankles? Or lift their clothes knee-high for a quick smack on the shin? Or make a sudden dash to the toilet across the Garden…With black ants swarming all over the place, this is a common sight during our exercises.
Surely, it can never be a nice feeling to have something crawl up your legs without permission. But then, it is not always a case of ‘ants in the pants’. The sight of one person performing a contortionist act is enough to trigger similar action in ten others. The very act is contagious. And then you realise it is all in your mind – unless of course, you have an Archimedes moment like Khatoon Baig had this morning and squealed, “Mooooongi” – as though she had never seen an ant before.
Ants are intelligent beings. And this has nothing to do with their emerging over-ground when they sense monsoon is approaching. They actually recognize which legs to climb up and which ones to avoid.

Extended celebrations on Ramila's new car

For instance, they’d never venture up hairy ones wearing shorts since they know they would stand exposed and be swatted in an instant. They operate under cover. Call it survival instinct, but when Mallika Kagzi made two quick trips to the toilet, literally running all the way, it wasn't funny. “Your blood must be very sweet,” Srichand Arora consoled her. Within moments, Nahid Khan was seen doing a P.T.Usha to dust her clothes in the toilet. Meanwhile the men shamelessly kept scratching themselves all over.
Sitaram Hivarkar offered a welcome respite after the exercises when he celebrated his birthday today with samosas and pedas. He has just completed a platinum jubilee and must figure among the senior-most in the Club. Besides, he is one of its founders. Some members suggested that we formally felicitate him – perhaps by hosting a party or presenting him with a memento. Everybody agreed that any ‘honour’ for this Grand Old Man of the Club would be inadequate.
Ramila Mistry was also there distributing pedas among those who had missed the celebration yesterday upon her buying a car (see post). Although it was more of an unfinished business, the feeling of shared joy and pride was still in evidence.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Wishing you, Sitaram-ji a remarkable and memorable birthday.

New Car

Ramila Mistry poses with her new sedan

A car is a car. It still commands some snob value. And for the owner, it carries a glorious sense of pride – of accomplishment and of having arrived.
So when Ramila Mistry announced this morning that she had acquired a brand new HONDA Amaze, everybody was suitably impressed. Hari Singh Shekhawat forgot to address her as “Kokila Ben” for once. He quietly got out of his yoga session and joined the others to the Garden gate where the car was parked.
It was truly an ‘amazing’ sight. There, glistening in the bright summer sun, the titanium beauty, with its showroom ribbons still intact, stood out in a crowd of assorted jalopies, scooties and mobikes, instantly prompting a photo op. Ramila had a box of pedas ready. But amid all the rejoicing and congratulatory handshakes, Harbans Kaur raised a pertinent question: Why did she have to turn up so late… after the exercises were over?
Somehow, during the exercises, word had got around that Ramila has just bought a car and everyone was waiting to see what it was.

Pedas for Santosh Tyagi

When there was no sign of her showing up, the ladies began speculating that probably she was looking for a mahurat (auspicious time) to take out the car. Sunita Jajodia clarified that it was ekadasi yesterday.

Geeta Sardana

So effectively, it would be chaturdashi the day-after – a good day probably to inaugurate a four-wheeler!
Meanwhile, Harbans Kaur was advised to also buy a car. Like Ramila, she too has a severe knee problem and it would save her the torture of having to walk up to the Garden every morning. “But where is the car?” interrupted Santosh Tyagi, losing patience. “Will Ramila be bringing the car or will the car be bringing Ramila?”
Though late, Ramila came and won our hearts. We all feel happy for her as this has been her desire for a long time. According to her, she had been working on it for the past one-and-half years and now she has this beautiful, gleaming sedan to show for it. Many congratulations to her!
In an unrelated development, Geeta Sardana has had to rush to Dehra Dun to “bring back” her husband. Details are sketchy. But she has promised Shekhawat that she would be back in time for the Lonavala picnic on June 21 – 22. So obviously, it is nothing serious.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Ramila-ji, congratulations for the new car, Honda. I hope you don't become lazy ponda!
Harish Wadhwa:
A lovely car indeed. Amaze is truly an amazing car. Congratulations on owning one, Ramila-ji. When do we get a fun drive? I shall carry my life insurance policy!

Return of ‘Renegades’

Monthi (ext right) spends time with Geeta and Harbans Kaur 

Harbans Kaur and Geeta Sardana have returned to our fold. For the whole of last week, they were seen taking part in a Free Yoga Camp that had sprung up close to where we exercise, thereby attracting impolite comments like “turncoats”, “renegades”, “defectors”... from all and sundry in the Club.
Now that the camp is over, they tried to explain, but nobody was listening. “I agree we should have informed the Club before going there,” conceded Harbans Kaur. “It was a mistake our part.”
“What benefit did you get from all that yoga?” chided Sunita Jajodia, clearly the most possessive of their friends.
“Oh, there are so many benefits you wouldn't know,” Geeta informed.
“Big deal!” exclaimed Shekhawat. “All those exercises you had been doing, I was watching. How different were they from what we do here?”

Shekhawat is gung-ho on the Lonavala picnic

Razia Khan pointed out in all innocence that there was no difference, but for the yoga mats which allowed for the same exercises being executed lying down or in a sitting posture. “Ours has to be more effective because we exercise on our feet,” added Nahid Khan. “Otherwise the exercises are same to same.”
Monthi Serrao was the only one to be completely forgiving. In fact, she looked genuinely delighted on having Geeta and Harbans Kaur back and long after our exercises were over, she spent time with them on a bench under the flowering tree. All of last week, she was heard repeatedly insisting that Harbans Kaur and Geeta should not be deprived of the daily treats and she used to even wait for them to wind up from their yoga session to share a bite. Nobody else cared.
Amid this ‘re-union’, Shekhawat announced that he had firmed up on a particularly large and spacious guesthouse in Lonavala (see post of June 7) and the trip is being scheduled for the next week-end – either June 20 or June 21. “The idea is to spend one night there and enjoy the monsoon,” he declared. “All those interested, please give in your names. Bookings start tomorrow.”

Day 1316

Pic of the Week

How an ugly catfight was averted last Tuesday!

Jagmohan Papneja:
When outsiders are welcomed and entertained in the Club, such a disgusting, hostile and unlovely scene is bound to happen.
Harish Wadhwa:
This is how women settle scores among themselves. What actually happened will remain a mystery, as each expression is saying a different story.

Fallback Plan

Backroom planning for the Lonavala picnic

Ladies can't have enough of Monthi's cookies from Bangalore

Whatever planning Shekhawat had done for a picnic tomorrow (see post of June 2) has gone phut! It was meant/ announced for The Great Escape, a suburban water park and holiday resort. But he has now realized, rather belatedly, that the person who gave him the contact details has taken him for a royal ride (pun intended). The telephone numbers were all wrong.
Shekhawat will not say where his calls were reaching nor the reasons for that anonymous person to play such mischief on him. Quietly he has fallen back on ‘Plan B’ -- Lonavala. He has identified two guest houses (close to one another) between which a bus load of people can be accommodated. Obviously, one place does not have the capacity to take in the whole lot. That apart, the room tariffs of the two places are different.
But there is a bigger problem. Shekhawat wants this picnic to be in June (before peak monsoon) and he has only three week-ends ahead: 14-15 June, 21-22 June and 28-29 June. Initially he decided for June 28 but was told in the Garden that Ramzaan begins on that very day. As we have a sizable membership of Muslims, that date is out. Then he shifted to June 14. Again, it is a big festival for Muslims – a day for seeking forgiveness in preparation of Ramzaan. Then he moved to June 21 – but that too is not ‘convenient’ for many like Srichand Arora who is expecting his family from Singapore. Now his option (if he must go) is to settle for a date mid-week, any time between 15 and 21 June. It will eliminate the office-going types, but surely he cannot please everyone.
Meanwhile, Monthi Serrao got her chance to treat us all to the cookies she had brought from her trip to Bangalore last week. She wanted to distribute them on the day after her arrival, but could not find an opportune day since. Today there was no treat forthcoming from any quarter and she happily distributed the long-promised cookies – much to everyone’s delight. The picture says it all.

Joint Birthday

MALLIKA KAGZI

SUNITA JAJODIA

After Khatoon Baig’s momentous celebration (see post of June 4) that brought an end to the dry spell of birthdays in the Club, we were today witness to a veritable windfall early morning. Sunita Jajodia and Mallika Kagzi ushered in their birthday together in the Garden. It was one of those special occasions when we were literally treated to a double-barreled celebration with an extraordinary spread of refreshments that included homemade savories, soft-drinks and sweets. Rarely in a year, do two birthdays coincide – almost like lightning striking twice!
While thanking the ‘birthday girls’ for their kindness and generosity, we wish them both all happiness, good health and a long life ahead. May all their cherished dreams and desires be fulfilled in time to come. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, once again!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Wishing you both, Sunita Jajodia and Mallika Kagzi all the very best on this landmark birthday. Those who attend our laughter sessions daily can never age. Many happy returns of the day and hope to see you both in the Garden every day.

Character Study

The more things change, the more they remain the same

However much we shuffle people around during the exercises (see post of May 31), certain things remain constant. Shekhawat will stand where he has always stood, directly facing the Garden gate. So would Razia Khan. And Arun Patil shall stand with his back to the Gate. So would Nahid Khan. Likewise, Ved Prakash Grover has marked his position on the side as has Teja Singh Bhambra, or say Sunita Jajodia, Geeta Sardana, Khatoon Baig… In fact, by and large, each one of us has a self-identified position in the exercising circle and no matter what, we’d be reluctant to budge from there.
This has nothing to do with individual comfort zones (or even, the compulsions of habit) but it is all about personality traits we unconsciously project. Facing the gate brings about a peculiar sense of empowerment – of being in the know of every movement in and out, and the ability to announce each late-comer’s arrival.

Hari Singh Shekhawat

Arun Patil

By extension, it betrays a subliminal desire to be in charge or assuming a position of authority, even as it may not be explicit.
In sharp contrast, a back-to-the Gate position reveals a chilled out, couldn’t-care-less yet supremely confident nature with absolutely no desire to impress – something Arun, Nahid and others around them manage to convey perfectly. Try shifting Shekhawat to Arun’s place or Razia to Nahid’s position... it's next to impossible. What’s more, neither of them can ever see eye-to-eye with those they face standing diametrically opposite. They occupy the two ends of a spectrum.
As for the nature of the rest flanking these two extremes, the degree of extroversion or otherwise would depend upon the proximity to the opposing attributes. Check the positions of Teja Singh, Srichand Arora, Jagmohan Papneja or perhaps Kiran Makharia, Santosh Tyagi, Mallika Kagzi… Dislocating them would topple their applecart. And as for those conducting the exercises – the so-called ring masters of the morning -- well, that’s a far more amusing story, deserving another blog post. Watch this space.