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.