Day 1482

Pic of the Week

THE GLOVES ARE OFF!

Jagmohan Papneja:
Fighting each other does not mean they are enemies. Similarly, helping each other does not necessarily make people friends.

Big Bash II

Jagmohan Papneja plays the perfect host for today's celebration of Club registration

Within a fortnight of Srichand Arora’s treat on November 15 (see post) Jagmohan Papneja today hosted another big bash to celebrate the registration of Big Laaf.

'Some more tea, please, Jagmohan-ji!'

The location was the same, the level of participation no different and the scale of celebration equally lavish. The only difference was that the weather had since turned slightly chilly (with the onset of winter) and the piping hot tea under a mellow morning sun, accompanied by sumptuous sweets and samosas, was more than what the gods ordered.

Harbans Kaur

As usual, Arun Patil had sourced the tea from a special chai shop in Goregaon.
For once Jagmohan was lucky in not having his party to clash with someone else’s.

'Any more tea, anyone?'

Nahid Khan has returned from Lucknow yesterday and chances were she too would have come with some goodies today, thereby turning the occasion into too much of a good thing. In fact, we had requested Jagmohan in advance to tone down today's celebration, but as is his wont, he wanted us to sample some rare ‘wintry sweets’ (made of molasses) that he had brought from Delhi. Those sweets are not easily available in Mumbai.
By default, the celebration also took care of Harbans Kaur’s birthday treat today. She said so in as many words when some of her friends called her long-distance in Ludhiana to wish her. On our part, we raised an extra laugh for her after the exercises and wished her many happy returns of the day. She has promised to be back with us in the Garden next week. Once again, this is wishing her a healthy and joyful life ahead – free from all agony and pain in her knee joints.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The best part about your birthday, Mrs Kaur was that we ended our laughter session with a humble get-together in remembrance of your special day. Happy Birthday to you. May Wahe Guru bless you.

Working Picnic

Shekhawat announces picnic to Chhota Kashmir

After extensive discussions over the past two weeks, Shekhawat today concluded that the next picnic from the Club should be at Chhota Kashmir in Aarey Colony on December 6, 2014, i.e. next Saturday. It will also occasion the long-pending general body meeting, followed by a working lunch to celebrate the registration of Big Laaf.
Making a formal announcement in this regard, Shekhawat said that like the last time (ref post of February 15, 2014), we would be hiring autorickshaws to and fro, each unto his own. “We shall all assemble at the gate (of the Garden) and three to each autorickshaw, we will take off at 9:00 a.m. sharp,” he elaborated. “While the travel costs should be met individually, lunch and refreshments will be provided from a common kitty. Non-members cannot be part of this picnic.”
Barely an hour ride away, Chhota Kashmir is a popular weekend getaway for canoodling couples, school children and nature lovers.

Srichand Arora submits resignation

Tucked away from the hustle-bustle of the metropolis, this expansive stretch of forested greenery and water bodies close to Goregaon has served as a picturesque backdrop for many Bollywood movies in the past. It has a beautiful lake also where paddle boats are available on hire.
Last time around, the picnic was initiated by Dilip Babani and it was his idea to hop into autorickshaws instead of booking a bus for the trip. That was when half the members were already on tour in Kerala and many like Shekhawat, Srichand Arora, Monthi Serrao, Yusuf Rassiwala and Arun Patil had missed out on Chhota Kashmir. To an extent, it is for their benefit that this picnic is being organized at the same spot.
Meanwhile, Arora created a flutter this morning by submitting his resignation from Club presidentship. He cited ‘personal reasons’, but everyone knew from where it was coming and nobody took him seriously. Moreover, nobody is technically competent to accept a president’s resignation. Jagmohan Papneja’s sage advice to Arora was to wait for the next meeting and place his resignation letter before the general body for consideration.
Jagmohan Papneja:
By having a picnic and the general body meeting at Chhota Kashmir, we shall kill two birds with one stone. This is a beautiful place. The view of the lake and all the boats is great too. We are really lucky to have such an accessible picnic spot near our area. Surely everybody will enjoy this opportunity.

Tears and Laughter

Geeta Sardana

Nobody knows what transpired between Santosh Tyagi and Geeta Sardana today. All we saw were the two talking together during the exercises, till suddenly Santosh looked like she was on the verge of tears. She turned to Geeta and holding both ears, apologized aloud: “I did a mistake. I am sorry for what I said. Please forgive me!”
A hush fell. It was completely out of character for Santosh to confront anyone. As one of our seniors, she has always conducted herself with grace and dignity – verily a mother figure to most of us. What could have gone wrong suddenly?

Razia Khan and Shekhawat in full flow

The only plausible presumption we could draw was that it had something to do with Srichand Arora ticking off Geeta a few minutes earlier for refusing to wear the Club cap. Incidentally, they are so-called ‘rakhee' siblings and Geeta has been taking undue advantage of this, much to everyone’s annoyance and Arora’s profound unease and helplessness.
Lest the exercises be disrupted, Shekhawat made light of the situation and urged Santosh not to take anything to heart and relax. “We come here every morning to have fun, not to spoil our mood,” added Razia Khan and engaged Shekhawat in a hilarious banter in order to divert Santosh’s attention.

Yusuf's comforting hand brings relief and calm

They teased each other on an imaginary pact over bequeathing all their cash and property in one another’s name till someone remarked that Shekhawat would leave her with only Rs20,000. “So what?” Razia retorted gamely. “Even that is good enough. There’s not much left of our lives anyway?”
“Who told you?” Shekhawat countered. “There’s a lot in store you have no clue about.”
“Oh I see, yeh andar ki baat hai!”

Sunita Jajodia

was Razia’s straight-faced reply.
The double entendre did not escape anyone and Shekhawat turned ecstatic, dancing like a robot around Razia. Their antics finally brought a smile on Santosh, sitting at a distance on a bench. She had excused herself, saying she was “feeling unwell”. So after the exercises, everyone crowded around to console her while Geeta walked away. The most comforting gesture came from Yusuf Rassiwala when he placed his hand quietly over her head and advised her to stay calm. Santosh was so overwhelmed that she held on to his hand and later, much later, went up to Yusuf to thank him for being such a kind soul.
But more than Yusuf, if Santosh had been missing anyone today, it was her trusted friend Sunita Jajodia. She came to the Garden early morning only to see Santosh and left in a hurry as she had a train to catch to Delhi. We wish her a safe and pleasant trip.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The bond that links us is meant to prevent any altercation on trivial issues but to respect and enjoy in one another's lives. Thank you very much, Yusuf-bhai for showing a sense of maturity on consoling Santosh-ji.

Green Fixation

Gupta pleads for presidenship

Bijoy Gupta did not bring any cash or cheque today (ref yesterday’s post). Let alone explain, he went on an offensive, accusing Shekhawat and Srichand Arora of monopolizing Big Laaf to the extent that ladies listen only to them. “Not one lady talks to me, have you noticed?” he charged. “I want to reverse this. I want to break your stranglehold on the Club. The ladies should laugh and chat with me also.”
As Shekhawat and Arora rolled in laughter, Sunita Jajodia valiantly took up for them. “You need to have some quality about yourself for ladies to feel like talking to you. Why do you think they like to hobnob with Shekhawat?”
“Because he is president of the Club,” he replied with child-like naiveté. “Otherwise I also shave in the morning like him, I too wear half pants, I’m even wearing a green T-shirt today…

Razia with green purse

Shekhawat in green dupatta

but still women flock behind Shekhawat.”
“So take the presidentship and give one lakh,” Shekhawat repeated, clearly realizing that the green-eyed monster had got the better of Gupta's mental faculties.
“I am not a fool,” Gupta cried. “There must be a catch somewhere. I want the respect of a president. You will have to garland me, take my photographs, make a very big announcement in Times of India…”
His diatribe continued endlessly, but the “green T-shirt” bit stuck to Arora. He noticed that quite a few members (and non-members as well) had followed his instructions on wearing green on Wednesday and for the benefit of those who did not, he offered to buy them T-shirts. Many thought they would come for free, but when Arora clarified that he would charge for them, demands began mounting: “I don’t like collars”, “I wear only XXX”, “But I like red”, “Get me collarless”…
Shekhawat took the easy way out by draping a green dupatta around him while Razia displayed a matching green money purse if only to prove she was more loyal than the king. What nobody realized was that getting T-shirts for others is doomed for disaster. It almost never works out.
Jagmohan Papneja:
A good idea to wear green clothes/ T-shirts on Wednesdays. No doubt this uniformity will reflect oneness and also create a good impression. At the same time, we need to consider whether any such imposition will keep the joy and happiness among us. This needs to be ascertained from individuals so that they may live the remaining part of their lives as per their choice.

Two Much

Jagmohan Papneja's sweets from Delhi

Monthi has sohan halwa from Mangalore

By some strange coincidence, almost every time Jagmohan Papneja gives us a treat, it has to overlap with someone else’s. Today was no different. His box of sweets from a visit to Delhi collided directly with Monthi Serrao’s generous helpings of sohan halwa from a trip to Mangalore. Both rejoined the exercises today. And in effect, we ended up with a double celebration of sorts.
But were these really necessary? Isn’t it time we learnt to say ‘no’ to some of these rather over-generous people who have been treating us at the drop of the hat? Both Jagmohan and Monthi are arguably the most frequent travelers among us and every time they go out of station, we expect them to treat us when they return.

Shekhawat announces Bijoy Gupta's offer of one lakh

This is not fair. For, even otherwise they have been extra obliging -- occasion or no occasion.
There are already others like them who have together spoilt us silly by their munificence. No doubt, they can afford it, but there are quite a few among us who cannot and may find it hard to match up. They have families to whom they are answerable. This only leaves us with a sense of being uncaring and exploitative, not to mention behaving recklessly towards health hazards like excess cholesterol and sugar. The whole purpose of exercise every morning gets defeated.
But then, temptation and greed require no reasoning. So Shekhawat, once again dangled the carrot of ‘club presidentship’ in front of Bijoy Gupta soon after the exercises. He even announced that tomorrow Gupta shall be bringing a cheque of one lakh and a receipt for like amount would be made out in his favour. For once, Gupta neither confirmed nor repudiated the idea. Watch this space.
Bhaswati Bose:
All is fair in sweets and fries. Khatey raho, khilate raho!

Positive Vibes

Playing the fool... as always

Whatever we might do among ourselves within the Club, the impression others get about us appears to be very positive. Why else should people befriend us only to say how much they “admire” us? To them, we are a bunch of oddballs in blue caps who can be so unfailingly regular and dedicated towards the exercises and yet, remain forever cheerful and happy-go-lucky. “If I didn’t have a job to catch, I'd have already joined you,” said an advertising professional who is trying to persuade his wife to join us. Many say that they read more about us (obviously referring to this blog) and that some of our members have even become household names.
Little wonder, new faces keep popping up every other day during the exercises, enquiring about the modalities of membership. Some stick on while many drift away when they realize that there can be no compromise on discipline. Today also, we got two newcomers, a young man and a middle-aged lady. The man, who introduced himself as Prakash, had been observing us from the walking track and finally approached us on his own this morning.

Shiela (seated) exercises happily with us

Like most others before him, he promised to be regular from now on.
The lady, Shiela had come with a caregiver as she is a paraplegic – recovering from a paralytic stroke. Srichand Arora rushed out to bring a chair and seated her comfortably in the circle to exercise as best as she could with the rest of us. She said she had been observing us from a distance for a month, but could not summon the courage to get close, till Razia Khan invited her to join us last week-end. Despite her handicap, her happiness at being in our midst was palpable.
At moments like these, we are led to believe that there is a larger purpose in our meeting every morning for the exercises and (let’s admit it) playing the fool. We call ourselves Big Laaf, but more than having a good time, we are able to transmit our enjoyment to people who could otherwise be leading lonely lives. Nothing on earth can compare to that flush of joy we saw on Shiela’s face today.
Jagmohan Papneja:
There are also visitors who come during a certain period of the year and disappear after some time like seasonal birds. Sardar Teja Singh Bhambra is an honorable exception worth mentioning here. From the time of his association with us, he has made it a point to join us in our activites as and when he visits Mumbai.

Day 1475

Pic of the Week

A PRIZED MOMENT... TO BE TREASURED FOREVER

Gurukul and T-shirts

Shekhawat and Arora corner Ram Shankar Shukla

Shekhawat was majorly chaffed on finding his old buddy, ‘Gurukul’ Shukla this morning. Not that the latter had gone missing. Rather, Shekhawat had done the disappearing act earlier in the week as he was “only 50 per cent well”. He needed rest. Now that he has regained the other 50 per cent of wellness, he came fortified with scandals of self-styled godmen, the latest being Baba Rampal of Hissar.
He gave Shukla a lowdown on the outrageous lifestyle led by the arrested Baba (as reported in the press) and compared him to other disgraced godmen like Baba Ramdev and Asaram Bapu. In Shekhawat’s opinion, all Babas who have ashrams and gurukuls to their name are comrades-in-arms and Shukla can be no different – all because he runs a chain of English-speaking tutorials across Mumbai. Rather than commend him for his efforts at empowering the under-privileged, Shekhawat maintained that the teaching establishments are nothing but gurukuls.

The monkey atop the high cricket fence

Hence the epithet, 'Gurukul' Shukla.
“When are you taking me to your gurukul?” Shekhawat revived his request today. “At least give me the keys to one of them if you can’t go. I also want to see what goes on inside.”
Amid this light-hearted banter, Srichand Arora walked in and picked on Shukla for wearing a black T-shirt today. “On Saturdays we are to wear white,” he said.
“But I will wear black on Saturday,” Shukla was adamant. “Black is the color of Shani Dev, Lord Saturn.”
The subject conveniently changed, Arora rued over how irregular we had become – Jagmohan Papneja being in Delhi, Nahid Khan still in Lucknow, Monthi Serrao camping in Mangalore, Harbans Kaur away in Ludhiana… apart from Santosh Tyagi taking ill, Khatoon Baig away in Dadar and Arun Patil shooting for a film at Sewri.
Suddenly a long-tailed monkey appeared out of nowhere, making up for all the absentees. It had just killed a crow for breakfast and invited a noisy squadron of its relatives to hover about. It walked around the Garden majestically, stopping momentarily to give Arora a sidelong glance. Arora winked back. Had the monkey taken it as an invitation and charged towards us, our goose would have been cooked – gurukul and white T-shirts be damned!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Shekhawat-ji, there is a lot of difference between a gurukul run by our Shukla-ji and the ashram run by Baba Rampal. A gurukul is more than just a school. It is where students come to learn and be part of the guru's family. An ashram is usually a secluded residence for a religious community -- in other words, a religious retreat. Shukla-ji's category is different.

Garden Picnic

DOTING GRANNY: Happy Birthday, Fahad!

Mallika chats up the guests over home-made tea

This was one birthday treat like none other. Spicy boiled potatoes with home-brewed tea. That’s it. And it came out of what looked more like a picnic hamper, the steel container carefully insulated to keep the contents warm, plastic forks, paper plates and plastic cups for the tea, bottled drinking water…
“Mohammad Fahad has turned four today,” informed the doting grandmother, Mallika Kagzi. “He needs your good wishes and blessings.”
Instead of being happy and grateful, Srichand Arora’s instant reaction was, “Where did we get this lady from?” He simply could not believe his ears that she was on to yet another celebration. In the past six-odd months, she has been lavishing us with one treat after another (and if nothing else, flaskfuls of tea) every other day on some pretext or the other. “Your generosity is spoiling us,” Arora cautioned her.
“What to do, I enjoy feeding people,” was her simple reply.
“Don’t say that again, or I shall be landing up at your place every evening for dinner!”
“You are most welcome,” Mallika retorted. “I guarantee you, you won’t regret it. In fact, it will be to your advantage, I promise.”
Arora gave up. How can you argue with someone who is so unworldly and giving, expecting nothing in return? And like a graceful hostess, she went around politely chatting everyone up, enquiring if the sugar was adequate in the tea, whether the potatoes were well-cooked, should anyone require another helping or perhaps, more tea and apologizing for not being able to get anything for the non-vegetarians. Anybody else would have doled out the stuff in a hurry and left the Garden before you could even say thank you. Instead, all of us lazed about, soaking in the early morning sunshine and enjoyed her jokes, long after the food was over.
That was why today’s celebration was more like a picnic.
Renu Babani:
A heart filled with love and generosity. Such a wonderful human being!
Srichand Arora:
Mallika-ji, we are all grateful to the god who sent you to our group. Thank you, GOD!

All in the Family

Arun Patil

Mallika Kagzi

Ruksana Khan

Today Ruksana Khan was formally introduced to the Club as daughter of Mallika Kagzi. Shekhawat courteously folded his hands and did a polite ‘namaste’, but Bijoy Kumar Gupta was not convinced. “Who is mother and who is whose daughter?” he remarked sarcastically only to be told to shut up and mind his own business. He wasn’t giving up though. He keenly observed Mallika fussing about with her daughter and at one point, struck a kung fu pose, offering to banish all of Ruksana’s arthritis problems.

Bijoy Kumar Gupta

“Ehh, I told you to hold your tongue,” Mallika warned him. “Zabaan sambhaal!”
That Mallika has the habit of chaperoning women around like a Mother Hen has not gone unnoticed. Small wonder, Arun Patil had begun addressing her as “Maiyya” (mother) till one day she lost her cool. “Hey, who are you to call me Maiyya?” she demanded in front of everyone. “Just lift your cap.”

Jagmohan Papneja is on his way to Delhi

Arun obediently did so, exposing a forest of white hair.
“Look at your head and look at mine,” she thundered. “You still want to call me Maiyya? You are my Baap!”
Arun beat a hasty retreat, cleverly avoiding any further confrontation. But since that day, he has reconciled to being addressed as “Daddy”. And after today’s dispensation, he must also accept that he is not only Mallika’s father, but by extension, Ruksana is his grand-daughter. It is entirely another matter that he is the youngest of the three. Ruksana is the oldest and age-wise, Mallika falls somewhere in between.
On this note, Jagmohan Papneja took leave for a vacation in Delhi. It is a family reunion, he says and that he will be spending time there in five-star luxury for the next few days. Surely, this man is going places. He will be back next Monday.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Mallika Kagzi and Ruksana Khan have adopted each other as mother and daughter because they are comfortable in this relationship. They find emotional support in one another.

Half Celebration

A mother celebrates her son's birthday

Luck smiled upon us again when Santosh Tyagi announced it was her son’s birthday today. Manoj Tyagi was fast asleep at home. But being a conscientious mother, she had already instructed Arun Patil last night to get tea in a thermos flask from Goregaon. This is a rare luxury for us after the exercises and together with the cookies and soya crispies Santosh had brought along, we had a jolly good ‘half celebration’ in the Garden. Had the birthday boy also shown up, our joy would have been complete.
Earlier, before the exercises started, Santosh had to endure a spot of embarrassment as everyone applauded her for turning up with her head uncovered (ref post of November 17). Red faced, she kept smacking her forehead and apologized for forgetting to wear the Club cap today, but nobody was listening.

Sunita Jajodia

The rumble grew into a roar as some of the otherwise quieter ladies also jumped into the fray, clapping and jeering with the rest. Santosh rarely makes a slip-up in public and this was probably their only chance to have some fun at her expense.
But Santosh should not have really bothered. She could easily have drawn comfort from another ‘capless wonder’, Sunita Jajodia. But Santosh being Santosh, rushed to her friend’s defence and declared her to be her ‘guest’ for the morning. And Sunita being Sunita, promptly covered her head with her saree pallu, arguing that it should serve the purpose of a cap. So we were briefly treated to the extraordinary spectacle of what looked like a coy bride in saree in our midst, merrily exercising with us!
Nevertheless, it must be said that in spite of persistent pain in her arms, Sunita sportingly took part in the exercises, if only to keep everybody amused. That she has misplaced her cap at home is a minor matter. Her granddaughter, she says, would be able to retrieve it. More important, Sunita must take care of her arms and get well soon.

MRM 2038-2014 GBBSD

THE Certificate: Click on image to enlarge

This is the number to which our collective destiny shall be bound from now on. It is the magic number that affirms our identity as a registered body and by which the State shall recognize Big Laaf for posterity. This, in fact, is the number Srichand Arora has been chasing for the past year or so and after moving heaven and earth, has finally laid his hands on yesterday.
In true Club tradition, we celebrated this happy event by raising an extra laugh while Arora circulated a laminated copy of the Registration Certificate among those present today. Jagmohan Papneja explained its fine print to members curious to know (the document is in Marathi and required translation for some) and lest the morning pass by without sweets, Bhaswati Bose distributed gourmet coffee and elaichi mithai toffees to mark the occasion. Arora made a special mention of Arun Patil, thanking him profusely for standing by him at every step, through thick and thin, and in eventually obtaining the registration certificate.
Somehow Mallika Kagzi felt that she also deserved credit and buttonholed Arora for ignoring her in his moment of glory. “Only after I joined the Club, you have been able to get it registered,” she reminded him. “Admit it, were it not for me, you could not have got this registration. Could you get the registration even six months back, before I joined? Be honest!”

Token celebration with toffees

Members study the certificate 

Arora noted that in all this talk about registration, members have been infused with a new sense of enthusiasm and discipline. He observed that attendance has been good during the past few days, there were fewer late-comers and most important, everybody now wears the Club cap with pride. He spoke about introducing a uniform for all members to wear every Saturday – green or white T-shirts for the men and “something similar” for the ladies. The trouble is the ladies themselves do not know what suits them. Uniform may be fine for female western wear, but with salwar-kameezes and sareeswe could get uncomfortably close to looking like BMC personnel, hospital staff, even conservancy workers. Our ladies deserve better.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The Registration Certificate is an enduring symbol of pride. There has been a remarkable difference in the attitude of members before and after the registration of Big Laaf. Earlier some were reluctant to wear the cap. But now they feel proud to wear what gives them a sense of purpose.
Harish Wadhwa:
Nice and creditable to get the certificate but more important is how we leverage it to the benefit of one and all. That's a long and unending street ahead.

Disappointing Start

Cent per cent 'cap compliance' today

What had all the makings of unbridled mirth and merriment turned a damp squib. We wanted to see who would defy Srichand Arora’s diktat on wearing caps today. Sadly, no one did. To the last woman, Kiran Makharia, everyone wore their caps this morning.
Arora had earlier announced that beginning today, anyone turning up for the exercises without the blue Club cap shall be shamed by the rest with a round of congratulatory applause. “We should stop whatever we are doing and greet the person by clapping and laughing,” he said. “That is the only way to make an errant member realize his/ her folly. Unless you shame them this way, they will never come around.”
Indeed, Arora has been at his wits’ end at reminding members not to forget wearing their caps to the exercises. To a major extent, he has succeeded over the past year or so. But there are still a few ladies who are a law unto themselves and on one pretext or the other, have refused to abide by the rule.

Monthi Serrao leaves for Mangalore today -- Monday to Monday

As many have noted, their stubbornness not only sets a bad example, but progressively vitiates the atmosphere of the Club. Arora’s “Gandhian ploy” today is targeted at those few recalcitrant elements, giving them one more chance to fall in line. And no marks for guessing from which TV ad he has drawn inspiration from.
The unfortunate fallout was Jagmohan Papneja being subjected to some jeering for turning up late. Shekhawat gleefully clapped and danced in front of Papneja, who simply had no inkling of what he had done to deserve such an uproarious welcome. So quite innocently, he too started laughing and clapping till Arora informed that he was the cause for not coming in time. Subsequently, at Papneja’s behest, it was decided to spare late-comers for the present and focus entirely on the non-cap wallahs. “Otherwise, we shall only be clapping and making fun of others, rather than doing any exercise,” Papneja explained.
In all this, Monthi Serrao took leave for a week-long “Monday to Monday” vacation to her home town, Mangalore. Seems like she's got to attend a family wedding there. In her absence, all celebrations, plans and programmes of the Club will be kept on hold. We wish her a safe and enjoyable trip.

Day 1468

Pic of the Week

SORROW FOR ONE WOMAN, JOY FOR ALL OTHERS!

Registration Treat

Srichand Arora kept his promise of a phapda-jalebi treat to celebrate the Club’s registration (ref post of November 12). Dhokla and tea were add-ons. In a way the Club chairman had jumped the gun because the Registration Certificate can only be issued next week.

Jagmohan Papneja briefs members on the 'road map' ahead

Feasting on phapda-jalebi, courtesy Srichand Arora

But then, for Arora, this has been no less than a personal victory and he was keen to share his happiness at the very earliest.
As Club secretary, Jagmohan Papneja briefed members on the road map ahead. Reading from a prepared text, he explained the implications of the registration, where we stand today, how we can take the Club ahead from here, the points to ponder upon and what the future holds for us. He said that there were several options open now for monetizing Big Laaf as a profitable brand, which may possibly be discussed in the general body meeting that he would like to convene on November 29, 2014. He would also like to give us a treat on that day like the one Arora hosted today.
On the question of a Club-sponsored party, opinion was divided on whether it should be lunch in a nearby restaurant or if it could clubbed with a picnic at Chhota Kashmir in Aarey Milk Colony. The date however, was fixed for December 6, 2014. As treasurer, Monthi Serrao declared that she cannot spare more than Rs5,000 from the Club kitty and it is up to us what we do with it. Accordingly, the picnic idea seems to be more feasible and should we perchance overshoot the budget, we shall have to make ends meet through individual contributions.
On a lighter note, Bijoy Gupta confessed that he still cannot figure out what all the hullaballoo was about. Only today did he discover that it was not Shekhawat, but Arora who happens to be chairman of the Club. And all this while he had been angling for Shekhawat’s post, even offering to bribe him Rs100,000. When Papneja informed that the “actual chairman’s post” would cost him double, Gupta was crestfallen. For the first time he appeared to give up all hope to ever head Big Laaf in his lifetime.
Jagmohan Papneja:
All members celebrated the registration of BIG LAAF and applauded the role of Arora-ji who made this possible. This will inject new enthusiasm and keep us motivated for our future endeavors.

Childrens’ Day 2014

Monthi Serrao celebrates with Calcutta's sandesh

Today was the 125th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Independent India. It was also Children’s Day – something we can relate to better. For at the Garden, we are all overgrown kids, unwittingly reliving our childhood every morning. And to celebrate this unique feat, Monthi Serrao brought us Bengal’s famous sandesh, fresh from a reputed sweet shop in Calcutta. Her daughter was there on a recent visit and had thoughtfully brought back this prized, mouth-melting specialty for us.
The kindergarten atmosphere we have created for ourselves in the Club is clear to any follower of this blog.

It is the ladies' turn to bully Arun Patil

None of us would be caught dead outside the Garden behaving half as childishly as we do inside. For instance, Arun Patil can never dream of acting like a classroom bully the way he does in the Garden. Today, he got on the wrong side of the ladies, correcting them at every step during the exercises. Fed up, Mallika Kagzi complained to the 'teacher', Yusuf Rassiwala (who was in the middle) about how Arun has a problem with everything she does. “The next time he dare opens his mouth, I will stuff it with a big luddoo,” she threatened.
Mallika is not the first one to protest and surely, not the last. Razia Khan has been Arun’s favorite sparring partner for long and now his sights are on two new ladies who have joined for the past two weeks. “Save your walking for after the exercises,” he told them today. “You've got to be punctual here!” At the other extreme, we have the Club’s perennial Peter Pan for whom anything goes. Shekhawat just does not care about discipline and rules, so long as everybody has a good time. In between, there’s Srichand Arora who cannot make up his mind whether he is the ‘headmaster’ or a ‘class monitor’. And then there are the pathological chatterboxes – Razia Khan, Bhaswati Bose, Kajal Babani, Monthi Serrao, Santosh Tyagi, Mallika Kagzi…
On Childrens’ Day, the blog salutes all these ladies and gentlemen who forgot to grow up.
Bhaswati Bose:
Very Good, Very Good, Ye!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Every person has a child hidden inside. Mallika Kagzi and Arun Patil are allowing it to come out and play.
Harish Wadhwa:
Beautifully worded blog today. It is the child in us that keeps us young at heart and jolly. We all know that physical age has caught up on us and this is irreversible. Monthi-ji, one student did not get the sandesh (and I am not referring to its literal meaning of a 'message'). Teachers are supposed to treat all 'children' alike -- more importantly, on Childrens' Day.

Soul Sisters

Mallika refuses to make room on the bench for Santosh to sit

Santosh Tyagi has found a perfect soul sister in Mallika Kagzi. The latter is hardly six months into the Club but she has already endeared herself so well with us that many consider her the most popular lady around. Santosh, in particular, finds her extremely adorable and spends much of her time in the Garden with her.
Yet in the company of others, she calls Mallika her sworn enemy. “Ever since you fed me mutton keema at that Juhu Beach picnic, you became my jaani dushman,” Santosh (a staunch vegetarian) reminded her today. “I'll take my revenge one day!”
Least flustered, Mallika promised to bring her keema-pao again tomorrow. “Look at her,” she said pointing at Santosh. “The very mention of keema brings water to her mouth.”
Such light-hearted banter can only be exchanged between people who share a deep emotional connect. Indeed, in nearly a decade at the Garden, Santosh has never appeared so chirpy and outgoing, all thanks to Mallika. We are now seeing a new Santosh Tyagi who even faults Mallika for the way she makes tea. One day she finds the tea too sweet. Another day, it is too watery. Yesterday, when she found the tea too milky, Mallika lost her cool: “Now how am I to make you happy? You want watery tea? Go fill your glass with water!”
“I’ll beat you up if you talk like this,” Santosh retorted in mock anger.

Shekhawat wants to recall ex-members to the Club

The way she put it sent everybody within earshot reeling in laughter. Mallika looked apologetic: “Please don’t take us seriously. We are having some fun at each other’s expense for this one hour or so. Once we return home we will be back to the grind – busy with household chores, all the rona-dhona…” “And you’d be in burqa, covered up from top to bottom,” Yusuf Rassiwala interjected, triggering another round of guffaws.
Suddenly Shekhawat pulled a rabbit out of his hat, suggesting that we recall all members who have left the Club -- now that we are a registered body and a couple of parties are lined up. “If you agree, I’ll make the phone calls,” he said. “Let us forget the past…” The proposal was promptly turned down (but for one dissenting voice from Razia Khan), though Yusuf thanked Shekhawat profusely for his magnanimity.
What remained unsaid was that inviting those who have currently nothing to do with the Club would only be adding insult to injury. Let us respect their self-dignity rather than expect them to come only to eat and walk away shamelessly. Besides, as Arun Patil pointed out, there are certain rules to be followed for membership. But Shekhawat had already made up his mind. “The subject is closed,” he declared with finality.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The tale of soul sisters became public today. As enemies they talk of revenge and as friends they love each other dearly.

Triumphant!

Srichand Arora announces the registration of BIG LAAF

After many a proverbial slip between the cup and the lip, Big Laaf has finally become a ‘registered’ body. Making this announcement today, a triumphant looking Srichand Arora informed that he (in his capacity as Club chairman) and accompanied by his three trusted lieutenants of Badmaash Company, called on the Charity Commissioner’s office yesterday. After prolonged negotiations and a war of nerves, they could finally obtain the requisite signatures and in effect, the government’s seal of approval. All that remains now is the formality of paying a fee of Rs57 before a registration certificate is issued to us.
Amid the round of applause that greeted this announcement, Yusuf Rassiwala stood up and offered to pay the Rs57 as a goodwill gesture on behalf of the Club.

Yusuf Rassiwala

“I would like to put in this seed money from my pocket,” he said, while congratulating Arora on his success. In turn, Arora offered to throw a “grand party” this Saturday. Further, it was decided by common consensus to have another celebration party “outside (the Garden)” with the Club’s funds the following weekend. For that moment though, Mallika Kagzi conjured a flask of hot tea and treated everyone to the home-made brew in celebration of the Club registration.
The celebrations are well-deserved. It brings closure to months of running from pillar to post at gaining recognition (and certain tax benefits) from the government.

Impromptu tea treat from Mallika Kagzi

Apart from being kept on tenterhooks, we had to deal with considerable misinformation, conflicting instructions and red-tapism (resulting in needless revising and re-revising of application papers) to establish our bona fides. At one stage, we had to even prove that we were not a recreation club engaged in gambling or any such nefarious activity. Finally, when we were compelled to settle for a misleading suffix like “foundation” to our Club, we decided to dig in our heels. Yesterday’s exercise was essentially to have our way in being recognized as just BIG LAAF. Period.
In being registered thus, we now have a unique platform to branch into several activities that could multiply our revenue streams in the long run. More than that, Big Laaf could well be developed into a brand without the appendage of a Club/ Association/ Society should we choose to. In other words, we are now owners of a priceless property that can be monetized in a dozen different ways for common good. This is an opportunity that comes rarely to any Club anywhere. Hence all the partying and celebrations.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Yusuf-bhai can't get away with Rs57 only. He is our President Emeritus. We want him to treat us with something more -- maybe some songs of Hemant Kumar to begin with. I will surely come when he agrees to sing for us.
* The chai fever is getting contagious. Maybe it is time the membership of Badmaash Company is extended to others in the Garden. I am seeing that since the time I became irregular (due to my office schedule), there are more and more parties being held. Where were all these, when I was more regular? Very bad!!!
* Tota-colour T-shirt popularity is spreading on Wednesdays. I can see some more people wearing it besides the badmaashes -- Bhaswati-ji, Yusuf-bhai, Gupta-ji... Copy cats!
Jagmohan Papneja:
The news of the registration has made this a great day for the Club. S/Shri Srichand Arora (captain of the team), Derek Bose, Harish Wadhwa and Arun Patil have made this day solely theirs. You have achieved a milestone. This is the result of your dedicated efforts and strenuous work. All that has finally paid off. We are proud of you all. Thanks for this great achievement!

Churning

Harbans Kaur

Nahid Khan

We are yet to stabilize after all the comings and goings that had started after Diwali. The numbers have no doubt swelled, such that we were a healthy 20-plus this morning. This was in spite of the absence of regulars like Razia Khan, Monthi Serrao and Mallika Kagzi. And now news comes in of Nahid Khan taking off on her annual vacation to Lucknow by the early morning train tomorrow. She will be back on November 28.
If that were not enough, Harbans Kaur is also leaving us tomorrow, for her home town Ludhiana. She has been quite irregular to the Garden of late, mainly because of her knee problem. Despite that, every time she showed up, she had brought some sweets – the last occasion being the day after Guru Nanak Jayanti (ref post of November 7).

Bihari Milwani, back to the pavilion

She had to come by auto-rickshaw as she could barely walk. We hope and pray she gets a good doctor in Ludhiana who would provide her some relief. And a very Happy Birthday (in advance) to her on November 29.
Meanwhile, Bihari Milwani marked his return from a trip to the United Kingdom, where he had gone to see his one-year-old grandson for the first time. Srichand Arora, as usual, joked with him (they go back a long time) on whether he had gone to fix his own marriage – if not, if it was his daughter’s marriage – if not if it was a baby born… Milwani was clearly too tired to argue as his flight back (Air India, of course) was delayed by eight harrowing hours. He was supposed to be in Mumbai yesterday morning, but could get out of the airport only in the evening. In that time, anybody could have flown twice up and down Heathrow. But then, as they say, all’s well that ends well.
Srichand Arora:
Friends, let me share this good news with all. We had applied for registration of Big Laaf in the month of December 2013 and since then, we have been making countless rounds of the Charity Commissioner's office to clear so many hurdles. We wanted the registration for BIG LAAF only without adding a single word like company, foundation, association, etc. to it. Finally this has been approved and the Registration Certificate should be issued in 2 to 4 days time. I personally am very thankful to our dear members -- Mr Derek Bose, Mr Harish Wadhwa and Mr Arun Patil for the trouble/ pain they took for the purpose. Without their support, this would have never been possible. Special thanks to dear Arun Patil who was always with us for this purpose. I would appreciate if you all put an extra laughter for them tomorrow. They deserve this. THANKS!