Endearing Epithets

Nahid 'Bhai-jaan' Khan

It is not for nothing that Nahid Khan is called ‘Bhai’. She is the don of the Club – veritably a law unto herself – but in an endearing sense. A woman of few words, she couldn’t care what the world thinks of her. She keeps to herself and her self-assigned task of conducting the exercises, refusing to be drawn into any petty or personal dispute. But when she speaks, everybody listens. She is also the go-to person for anyone in trouble. Small wonder, even seniors like Srichand Arora and Shekhawat address her respectfully as ‘Bhai-jaan’.
So this morning, when she called out to Bhaswati Bose as ‘Ashanti’, no questions were asked (and no explanation expected). But everyone knew why, in her wisdom, Nahid had decided to award that epithet. Bhaswati invariably turns up late and the moment she joins the exercise circle, the chatter-boxes get into their act. Suddenly, a peaceful activity is disrupted by random cross-talk, giggling and cheeky one-liners with the likes of Monthi Serrao, Geeta Sardhana, Sunita Jajodia and Kajal Babani joining in like there’s no tomorrow. Santosh Tyagi too is part of this unruly group, but she’d inevitably shift the blame to someone else for making her talk!

Bhaswati Bose with Kajal Babani and Monthi Serrao

Yusuf Rassiwala used to politely address these talkative ladies as ‘Batuni Babies’. But Nahid’s 'Ashanti' takes it all to a hilariously new level. What the ladies talk so much about, only God (and Grover) knows. And why should they go berserk only when Bhaswati arrives is equally a mystery. Till she comes, everyone remains silent and military-like, earnestly going through each exercise in an orderly fashion. Her arrival destroys the peaceful atmosphere.
But then, if truth be told, this is exactly what we all wait for. Besides, ‘Ashanti’ and ‘Bhai-jaan’ are not the only sobriquets we get to hear. Sunita Jajodia loves to address Ram Shankar Shukla as ‘Qutub Minar-ji’. Bihari Milwani is still called ‘Happy Sunday’ by many even as he shows up on all other days of the week. Nobody minds. For, we all know, these are nothing but terms of endearment.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Bhaswati Bose values personal connections and the importance of maintaining good relations with colleagues. As such, she interacts with the ladies who also have the habit of joining late for the exercises. They all want to utilize the available time to the optimum, even while exercising. To overcome the ashanti matter, they all should come before time. That would give them sufficient time for interaction and chit chatting.
Bhaswati Bose
If my presence turns a dull proceeding lively, then I don't mind being called 'Ashanti'.