Snippet from the Hills

While news of flood and devastation reaches us from Kashmir, it seems our friends at the other end of the Himalayan range are caught in ferocious thunderstorm and torrential rain.

Hari Singh Shekhawat

It was their last day at Gangtok today and upon reaching Darjeeling in the afternoon, the second half of their six-day tour would begin. Reports indicate it is raining yaks and mules there also.
When the group of 25 reached Gangtok on March 28, the weather was fairly pleasant with occasional bursts of sunshine. Barring Tabassum and Bhaswati Bose’s bouts of puking and a medical scare by Zarina Khan, everything worked like clockwork and Hari Singh Shekhawat celebrated his arrival at the 'Switzerland of India' by pouring himself a Patiala peg.
He was still in high spirits when he called up early next morning from the “Bakhthang Jharna” (read Falls) while taking playful digs at his colleagues.

Yusuf Rassiwala

Nature was still kind as the group covered the usual touristy spots on the itinerary -- Rumtek Monastery, Santi View Point, Dodurl Chorten, Orchid House Flower Show and so on. Some even squeezed a trip to MG Marg Mall, the premier shopping district for tourists in Gangtok.
Suddenly the weather changed yesterday and when the group reached the Tsongo Lake on the Sino-India border, the skies darkened and it began to rain.

A kind lady distributed guavas in the Garden today

Still, in the biting cold, many played around in the snow. Some people could not take it though. Being a high altitude area (12,400 ft) they complained of restlessness and Shekhawat’s tummy started to bloat miraculously. He did not take any chances and simply took off in one car with a few others, leaving the rest behind. Once in the hotel, he was fit and fine – back to his jovial self and making phone calls. But Monthi Serrao insists he has become a "confused man".
Meanwhile, Yusuf Rassiwala led a trek up to the Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir – famous for ghost sightings of a soldier killed in the 1962-65 war with China. It was more than an hour’s climb, a near impossible feat for the ladies who contained themselves to gamboling in the snow at Tsongo Lake. We salute the courage and tenacity of this man and of all those in the “goods train” (Shekhawat’s words) who accompanied him.
Bihari Milwani:
Slow and steady wins the race. Yusuf Bhai's 'goods train' had overtaken Shekhawat's superfast mail train.
Jagmohan Papneja:
We should learn from Shekhawat-ji that life is to be enjoyed and not just endured.
Renu Babani:
Come rain or snow, the show must go on. As a group, I am sure everyone will make the most of their trip. Mother Nature shall be kind to all of you. Just take care of each other and the trip will be fun.

Digital Exhibition

Kiran Prakash (rt) with Siba Prasad Maitra

A digital exhibition of photographs from this blog is being put together as part of our Annual Day celebrations, to be announced soon. It will be held on a Saturday, most likely between 7:00pm and 10:00pm, inside the China Hut and shall be accompanied by a variety programme by Club members, followed by dinner.
The germ of this idea was today sown by Kiran Prakash, the objective being to showcase some of the most candid and visually striking moments in the Garden captured on camera, otherwise lost in the clutter of everyday images appearing in this blog. “If we could select 100 to 150 outstanding images from the past five years and these are played in loop on a big screen, it would be a memorable evening, well-spent,” he said.
“It will also strengthen the sense of bonding among members,” noted Siba Prasad Maitra. “We could perhaps invite spouses and family members so that they would get to know us better and vice-versa. But let the refreshments and dinner for the evening be a contributory affair.

After mass desertion by members, the Garden wore a barren look today

The Club should not be burdened with the expenses.”
One reason the exhibition should generate instant appeal is the peculiar fact that quite a few members have not even seen their own photos in the blog – simply because they do not have access to a PC at home. And not everybody is inclined to depend on their children and grand-children for this. Images of antics in our unguarded moments (not to mention, the process of ageing over five years) would surely strike an emotional chord in many.
Srichand Arora, who is equally kicked by the idea, offered to curate the pictures with Kiran Prakash and has called an informal meeting at his home tomorrow evening to get the process started. Harish Wadhwa has confirmed the availability of a projection system and what now remains to be decided is the date. That should happen this week-end and the rest would follow automatically.
Bihari Milwani:
Brilliant idea. Cheers for KP and SP!

Day 1601

Pic of the Week

MONARCH OF ALL HE SURVEYS

Kiran Prakash:
Is the Sun at his command? An exclusive privilege? Oblivious to the void around him, he is reposed and lighted by the Sun.
Renu Babani:
A beautiful Sunday. Being one with nature. What a privilege!
Bihari Milwani:
'Man in Blue' wondering whether to watch today's finals of the World Cup-2015 between New Zealand and Australia... or plan for winning the World Cup-2019!
Srichand Arora:
My game in Australia and New Zealand is over. Now at my home ground, I am a little sad. But I am planning for the next CWC in 2019.

Gangtok Gone!

Goodbye! Have a great trip!!!

The day we were waiting for dawned this morning. Shekhawat and his troupe of merry trippers took off by the 7:25 am Indigo flight and as you read this, they would have landed at Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri, before undertaking a four-and-half road journey to their destination in Gangtok. They are expected to reach their hotel by 5:30 pm.
This marks the culmination of nearly six months of planning – airlines and hotel bookings, repeat cancellations and re-bookings, drawing up itineraries, firming up on the composition of the group and so on. Never before has so much time been invested on a trip so short – just about six days.

Santosh Tyagi (right) serves Ram Navami prasad

Jagmohan Papneja (right) distribues prasad of Shirdi Sai Baba   

These guys would be back on April 2. Theirs is like the Introduction being bigger than the book!
But that’s all very fine, so long as the mood stays upbeat for the duration of the trip. Shekhawat had called up the Garden from the airport early morning to inform that everybody had checked in properly and more importantly, he could manage a window seat in the aircraft, just behind one of his ‘saalis’.
Srichand Arora in turn informed him that inside the aircraft, there would be beautiful maidens in uniform and make-up moving up and down the aisle and a couple of them might even give him the glad eye. “Don’t ever make the mistake of turning them also into saalis,” he warned Shekhawat. “Those women are called air hostesses.”
The other good news trickling in is that the weather has cleared up in and around Gangtok. After two days of unseasonal rain (bringing temperatures down to near-zero levels) the sun peeped out of the clouds this morning.
This has come as a major relief for members of the group who were hard-pressed at packing rain coats, umbrellas and additional warm clothing in the eleventh hour. Now that the weather has ‘improved’, they can look forward to a pleasant trip.
Meanwhile, at the Garden, Santosh Tyagi celebrated Ram Navami with prasad of suji-halwa and boiled gram. She had done the ashtami puja at home yesterday. Also, a Sindhi couple in the Garden had brought us prasad from a visit to the Sai Baba temple at Shirdi. Jagmohan Papneja distributed the offering among the 15-odd who attended the exercises.
Bihari Milwani:
The group has gone on the auspicious day of Ramnavami. All expected difficulties and hurdles will vanish and everyone will enjoy. We are expecting the photos and videos on WhatsApp.

1 Day to Go…

Vijay-Bhai (in white cap) discussing cricket 

The much-hyped, long-awaited Gangtok-Darjeeling trip is finally taking off tomorrow. Ideally those on this six-day excursion should have been given a formal send-off from the Garden today morning. But cricket hijacked the occasion.
Many were yet to recover from Team India’s crushing defeat in the ICC World Cup semi-final against Australia yesterday. For them, the entire nation ought to be in mourning. For others like Srichand Arora and Siba Prasad Maitra, the result was a foregone conclusion the moment Australia won the toss and elected to bat. According to them, India’s fate was conclusively sealed when the Aussies posted 300-plus runs, a score Dhoni’s grandfathers cannot even defend in their dreams.
And then there was Vijay Bhai, our in-Garden cricket expert who still cannot believe that India had actually lost the match and is out of the World Cup. He had many questions in his mind: Did India play to a plan and if so, what was it?

Mallika Kagzi hosts a tea party for the Gangtok Gang

What was the need for a well-settled Shikhar Dhawan to go for that big hit and surrender his wicket? How could Virat Kohli get out so cheaply? Why were yorkers introduced so late in the game by India… In spite of the presence of knowledgeable cricket lovers like Jagmohan Papneja and Kiran Prakash, Vijay Bhai could not get the answers to his 'existential' questions.
Fortunately, Mallika Kagzi salvaged the situation by proposing a tea party “in the honour” of those proceeding on the tour tomorrow. “Chai pila-pila ke, pila-pila ke, maaroongi,” she declared. “I will kill them by plying them with tea. Why aren’t they taking me with them?” Yusuf Rassiwala did not miss the mock grievance and was at a loss of words praising the “noble lady”. Arora too was dumbstruck by the altruistic gesture.
At least someone had the good sense to do what should have been done collectively by the Club.
Bihari Milwani:
Happy Journey to all colleagues. Please bring back cheerful memories of experiences and pictures to fill a big book equal to the Mahabharata. And let us hope India wins the ICC World Cup-2019.

2 Days to Go…

Shekhawat consults Siba Prasad Maitra

Gupta is flat on his back, tossing and turning with cramps

Two days remain for the 'Gangtok Gang' to take wing and the scaremongers have got into the act. Conspiracy theories are being hatched at random in a bid to frighten the living daylights of the 25-member group, if only they would change their minds and stay back. Why else would an innocent question from Fehmida Khan on the “special food” available there elicit responses like fried scorpions, snake stew, lizard curry, pickled cockroach, monkey brain and other bizarre delicacies of Chinese cuisine? Why? Because Gangtok and Darjeeling are close to the China border!
So far, the group has been receiving sane and well-meaning advice – be it Siba Prasad Maitra’s guidance on medical emergencies or Jagmohan Papneja’s precautionary note (ref yesterday’s comments) on personal safety or Bihari Milwani’s helpful instructions to stay connected on phone. After all, being forewarned is being forearmed.
But now advice has turned to instilling fear and tension. What happens if you lose your way there? The consent letter does not provide for this eventuality. Remember, during the Kashmir trip, no mobile phone worked; in military areas, mobile jammers do not allow connectivity to civilians.

In Agony: Bijoy Gupta

Suppose you are untraceable – abducted, by aliens? Who will be responsible then? And so on.
In all this, Bijoy Gupta managed to create an advance scare when he collapsed to the ground, complaining of muscle cramps. Clearly a case of dehydration, he lay on his back, writhing restlessly in the grass while the exercises continued. It was indeed extremely humid today and Gupta has the tendency to sweat profusely.
Before long, Swati Punjabi showed up offering to give him a full body massage on the spot. But it was more in the nature of single finger pokes, the way a veterinary doctor would examine a fallen buffalo. Gupta deserved it.
Bihari Milwani:
The best education is to travel to unknown places. This is a golden opportunity for all of you. Do not be afraid of any food, veg or non-veg. Always remember that the fear of losing is the biggest hurdle in the way of success. Go fearlessly and discover new territories like Columbus discovered America.
Kiran Prakash:
The last paragraph: "Bijoy Gupta... collapsed... Swati... finger... poke... veterinary doctor... buffalo... deserved..." I wonder whether I should laugh, empathise or express my solidarity with Bijoy Gupta.

3 Days to Go…

Nobody knows who's going, who's coming

With three days left for the Gangtok-Darjeeling trip to take off, the Garden witnessed a flurry of activity this morning. Many confessed to being unable to start packing because their bags are either too big or too small and could someone please loan a strolley or suitcase for the trip? Some wanted to know if “liquid lunch” would be allowed to be carried in the flight. Since they are travelling by a low-cost airline, the prospect of staying hungry for a full day is looming large on many minds. One even wanted to know if there would be a toilet in the aircraft.
Shekhawat was of course, on the phone for much of the time, summoning people to drop by and sign the Consent Letter (yesterday’s post). He also reminded members to carry their identification proofs in original, even as they might have already submitted copies of the papers along with four photographs each.

Big Laaf's PAN Card AACAB6920B

(Being an army-controlled border area, security restrictions are fairly strict in those parts.) He informed that on his part he had purchased the ‘emergency medicines’ listed by Siba Prasad Maitra and requested everyone not to forget carrying their prescription pills and tonics. Part of his own “quota of tonic” has already been dispatched by rail with Nahid Khan. In between Razia Khan could be heard making a fervent 'elaan' for having a Housie session on Saturday, but her voice was drowned in the din.
Amid all the hullabaloo, what has gone unnoticed is that the Club has finally secured its PAN number from the Income Tax Department, thanks to the personal initiative of Srichand Arora. This is another major landmark for Big Laaf after its registration last November. For the record, a copy of PAN card is displayed alongside.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Gangtok and Darjeeling being hilly areas, everyone should carry essentials like woollen clothing, camera, water bottle, etc. You cannot avoid crowded places like markets and tourist spots; but wear clothes with an inner money-pocket as a precautionary measure against pickpocketing. You should also be careful about food and water. Eating raw salads and fried food from street vendors is not good. And never ever believe the touts who promise to take you to the best shops around. No place is completely safe, yet some are safer than others. The safest of cities can be unsafe at different times of the day. So why worry, hold on to your bags and enjoy the trip.
Bihari Milwani:
Please do not forget to carry mobile, preferably smart phone having GPS software duly loaded with at least 1 GB data pack. Also share your mobile number with one another. Please have the abbreviated dialing of your colleagues instead of your home numbers. This will help in case of difficulty. Last but not the least, carry mobile chargers too. In hilly areas, mobile battery drains out very fast.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is good that a large number of colleagues are going on this picnic. It is worth enjoying the scenic area where our friends would also come to know the hazards of a soldier's life. Please have your woolen clothing with you. How I wish I could join you all. But my domestic obligations need my time. It is also nice that the Club has its own PAN number now.

Dry Spell Ends

Tara Chand offers crispy biscuits from Delhi

Tara Chand Seth today broke the dry spell in the Garden with a boxful of biscuits. His son, it seems, had brought them from Delhi. There was no particular reason for this treat, except for what Tara Seth attributes as “Bas… aisi!”
But it was nice to be reminded of the good old days when a treat was in order every other day – if not everyday. The last time anyone did us this favour was when Prabha Kapoor distributed biscuits to celebrate her admission in the Club.

Bhaswati Bose

It was three days back – and that’s a long, long time ago by our standards.
Indications of the dry spell getting over were evident early morning with the surfacing of Mallika Kagzi, the hostess of the mostest Club treats. Much of last week, she was down with a nasty attack of flu and had to stay bedridden, which accounted for the lull in the Garden.

Signatures on the Consent Letter for the Gangtok trip  

With her return, things have begun looking up now.
Meanwhile, Shekhawat got cracking with getting signatures on a ‘consent letter’ from members of the Gangtok Gang. This is a routine undertaking obtained ahead of every trip, absolving Big Laaf of any liability in the event of an untoward incident, mishap or medical emergency striking the group. That everyone including Shekhawat, is proceeding bhagwan bharose into unknown terrain at their own free will and risk, speaks volumes of the indomitable courage and spirit of adventure still alive in our members.
However, an ‘advance party’, in the person of Bhaswati Bose has left this morning to tie up arrangements with the tour operator at Darjeeling and Gangtok. This is mainly to minimize the uncertainties of the trip and ensure that everyone has a good time when they land with lota -kambal this weekend. Bhaswati shall receive them at the airport.
Kiran Prakash:
Though Shekhawat and his Gangtok Gang are proceeding 'Bhagwan Bharose', they will perhaps be travelling more under 'Bhaswati Bharose'. She belongs to the North East and will certainly provide her inputs in exploring what was once called the 'Queen of Hill Stations'.
Bihari Milwani:
Shekhawat is only doing a statutory requirement. The fact is our good wishes are with all of you and your trip will be a very wonderful and memorable one.
Renu Babani:
Have a great trip guys. Take care of each other and return home safe and sound.

Tale of Two Women

Khatoon Baig

Nahid Khan

Nahid Khan leaves for the Gangtok-Darjeeling trip today. A fiercely independent woman, she takes a late night train for Delhi and after spending time there with a friend, she would board the Rajdhani Express to reach New Jalpaiguri on March 28, in time for the rest of the group to arrive by air.
For the next six days, Nahid would be ‘paired’ with Khatoon Baig – a study in contrast. A painfully shy person, even timid, she is a retired school teacher and has led a sheltered life amid five brothers and two sisters. Even on this trip, Khatoon is being escorted by a brother, Ibrahim Qureshi and his wife.
Since accommodation is on a twin-sharing basis in hotels, Khatoon cannot possibly share the room of her brother and bhabhi. And as luck would have it, she has been allotted Nahid’s room. The moment she got to know this, she started having sleepless nights and went on making frantic phone calls. Plain and simple, she is terrified of Nahid. Even this morning, she kept pleading for a change of room.
Strangely, Khatoon believes that Nahid bears a grouse against her for being the one to always tick her off for conducting the morning exercises too fast.

Gayatri Talreja (in spectacles) enrols with the Gangtok gang

Now she is mortally afraid that Nahid would settle scores with her in Gangtok. No amount of assuring that Nahid would not throttle her at night has convinced Khatoon. Incidentally, Nahid carries the reputation of a toughie with everyone calling her “bhai” – a moniker reserved for underworld dons.
Nahid is well aware of this panic situation, but is “enjoying the fun”. She couldn't care either way, even as she makes a pretence of refusing to stay with Khatoon. This has all the more put the fear of the unimaginable in Khatoon. She is dreading the worst... all because she had once raised her voice against Nahid rushing through the exercises.
The issue would not have cropped up had Rakhi Bansi not got her sister-in-law, Gayatri Talreja to join the contingent as a last-minute entry. Till then Khatoon was supposed to share her room with Rakhi (and Nahid with Nasim Khan who has since dropped out.) In the changed circumstances, with Khatoon and Nahid both at loose ends, the only option left was to get them together in the same room. Last heard, Khatoon was requesting that at least their beds be kept apart!
Bihari Milwani:
I am sure when everyone is back from the trip, Nahid and Khatoon will be the best of friends. All fears of Khatoon will disappear.

Day 1594

Pic of the Day

Gulta Fida: Youngest member of the Gangtok Gang

Kiran Prakash: "Aunty, will you be my friend? My scarf matches with your top!"

Bihari Milwani: "Aunty, look behind. We are being guarded by two fierce tigers. There will be no animal nuisance for the Gangtok Gang."

Srichand Arora: Beautiful,  lovely picture. We should call this 'Picture of the Year'.

Under the Weather

Kiran Prakash

Mallika Kagzi

Sharp weather fluctuations till last week and now a sudden spike in temperature and humidity levels have wreaked havoc on everyone’s health. Many familiar faces in the Garden are not to be seen these days. In the Club, members like Mallika Kagzi and Arun Patil have reported sick, unable to bear the rigors of exercising in the morning.
Kiran Prakash however, made a brave attempt today to exercise, having walked the distance to the Garden in spite of severe body ache, fever and weakness. After a while he gave up and quietly walked away in the middle of the first laughter round. Clearly, weakness had got the better of him and he did not wish to take chances by exerting himself any further.
Mallika’s condition was even worse.

Prabha Kapoor celebrates joining the Club

Bedridden for the past three days, she spoke on the phone in a hoarse, manly voice when Santosh Tyagi called her from the Garden.
She complained of viral fever, sore throat, body ache and loss of appetite – in sum, being completely out of commission. Santosh tried to cheer her up by saying how the Garden appears deserted in her absence and that she should get well soon.
The fear of the bug has always been an issue with us at this time of the year. Many suggest starting the exercises half-an-hour late, if that would spare us the harmful microcosms and pollutants suspended in the air around daybreak. With sunrise and the air warming up, the effect of this particulate matter is said to diminish and it would be less risky to stir out in the open.
But that’s all very fine in theory, but not in practice. Starting late means finishing late. And not many of us can afford that, given our commitments for the rest of the day.
Kiran Prakash:
Oh, I have been caught. I was feeling too weak to continue and this was the first time I reported at 6:45 a.m. and left before 8:00 a.m.
Srichand Arora:
I pray to God for the early and full recovery of our dear Kiran Prakash and Mallika-ji. It's of course, the weather bothering us. But never mind. I am sure we will get used to such weather and be fit to fight it. May God bless all of us.
Kiran Prakash:
Thanks Arora-ji, for your concern and good wishes.

Briefing Session

The 'Gangtok Gang' engage in heavy brainstorming

The ‘Gangtok Gang’ (for lack of a better expression) met this morning in the China Hut to iron out the nitty-gritties of the trip beginning next week (ref post of March 18). This customary briefing session, ahead of any tour, is an event by itself and usually more enjoyable than the trip as it lays bare the many kinks, prejudices, fears and idiosyncrasies of individuals, hitherto hidden from us.
Since accommodation in hotels, both at Gangtok and Darjeeling is on twin-sharing basis, Shekhawat had come prepared with a list of “jodis” based on who, in his perception, can get along as best room partners. As expected, he was proved too presumptuous – barring of course, the married couples who perforce shall have to share their room (and bed) with their spouses.
Significantly, there are only three married couples this time. That means three husbands or alpha males – Shekhawat, Yusuf Rassiwala and Mohammad Gulzar – each leading a group of seven females (barring Khatoon Baig’s brother, Ibrahim Qureshi) during the local travel. Three cars would be provided (instead of a big bus) to them to negotiate the narrow and treacherous roads of Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Now problems have erupted here as well. Whoever knew X cannot stand Y or that Y cannot stand Z because of (a) body size; (b) habit of chewing scented gutka; and (c) she is a “pakau”, whatever that means. A bigger problem is motion sickness – something unavoidable in hilly terrain.

Ramila Mistry pays us a surprise visit

Bijoy Gupta is back from Calcutta

While Siba Prasad Maitra has prescribed Avomine and Stemetil tabs, Shekhawat believes in tying plastic bags around the necks of those who puke in the car. He has warned against disposing the plastic bags by the roadside because plastic littering is banned in those parts and attracts heavy penalties, even imprisonment. In other words, you carry your own vomit around!
Finally, Yusuf Rassiwala came up with a brilliant solution: Put all those prone to throwing up in one car and let them all merrily go wok-wok into one huge bucket kept in the middle. This way no journey would be disrupted, others would be spared of the stink and there shall be no plastic bags to carry around. But what about the groups of eight, so painstakingly planned out?
As everyone knows, all the planning would go for a toss – once the chorus of wok-wok starts.
Bihari Milwani:
Nobody should travel on empty stomach. Nor on an over-full stomach. There will be no vomiting then. And everyone will enjoy the trip.

Mythical Maidens

Shekhawat keeps his only saali entertained during exercises

Shekhawat loves to live in a world of myth and mischief. We understand that and thus no offence is taken every time he lets his imagination run wild and speaks of make-believe females, chudails (in his village) and of course, four saalis (sisters-in-law). Such flights of fancy only reveal an adorable sense of naiveté, even artlessness, rare in a 74-year-old.
Today, he came up with a new one. Out of the blue, he declared that his heart has broken into four pieces. Far from drawing sympathy, the announcement met with a volley of laughter, the instant inference being that each piece has been claimed by one of the four saalis. Nobody bothered to enquire, let alone console him.
Fact is Shekhawat is a terribly worried man. He maintains a jovial front, but deep inside he sorely misses his four saalis flanking him during the exercises.

Maitra suggests SOS treatment for the trip

The eldest of them broke her hipbone and has been rendered bedridden. The next one broke her carpals and has also stopped coming to the Garden. The third one is a terror. Shekhawat likens her to a cow “who kicks back each time someone approaches to feed her chara”.
That leaves him with one saali only and he isn’t sure how long she would last. So he is toying with the idea of cultivating “substitute saalis” as a backup and had even identified one – just that she couldn’t care two hoots about the Club. He is therefore left with no option but to entertain his only "loyal saali" and put in a good word for her, much to everybody’s amusement.
Yet, this is the same man who does not lose sight of his responsibilities, now that he has a gang of 25 under his care for the Gangtok-Darjeeling trip next week. No sooner did he learn that Siba Prasad Maitra was director of GlaxoSmithKline Pharma for 14 years than Shekhawat buttonholed him for advice on must-carry medicines on the trip – for indigestion, vomiting, gas, giddiness etc. “Likho, likho… in capital letters,” he kept insisting, till Maitra offered to prepare a more exhaustive list of all conceivable ailments and their cure by tomorrow morning.
Shekhawat is yet to learn that Kiran Prakash also comes with a pharma background.
Siba Prasad Maitra:
I am extremely happy to see the day-to-day coverage of our morning activity at the Garden. Kindly note I was with Glaxo, but not as a Director. In fact, I was Director with JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of Metrogyl, Rantac etc. Today's blog needs the correction. Thanks for the excellent effort.
Big Laaf: The error is regretted.
Bihari Milwani:
Dear Mr Shekhawat, please remember your old prescription: "Char Botal Vodka" will take care of all your ailments and there will be no need of any medicine prescribed by SP or KP.

Countdown Starts

With exactly 10 days to go, the countdown to the Gangtok-Darjeeling tour has begun. Led by Hari Singh Shekhawat, 25 intrepid travelers from Big Laaf will set out on March 28 for Siliguri (Bagdogra Airport) and there onwards, by road, to the Sikkimese capital.

Shekhawat: Chugging to Darjeeling

After three nights they would drive to Darjeeling where, among other sights, Mount Kanchenjunga, Ghoom Monastery and Batsia Loop shall await them. The toy train ride from Darjeeling to Ghoom is also included.
The highlights of the Sikkim leg of the tour are Rumtek Monastery (naturally), Dodurl Chorten, Orchid House Flower Show, Ganesh Tok, Bakthang Falls and Tashi View Point, followed by a trip to the Tsongo Lake on the Indo-China Border. Gamboling on the snow, yak rides and a trip to the famous Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir are also part of the itinerary.
Funnily, most members in the group have no clue what to expect in the high altitude terrain and have only now begun scrambling for warm clothing.

Siba Prasad Maitra (in turquoise tee) produces a rib-tickler

Even Shekhawat was taken by shock when told that temperatures there could dip to 5 degrees at this time of the year – but this has only prompted him to double his stocks from the Navy canteen. The detailed documentation required in the army-controlled area is also a major irritant, not to mention the medical dos and don’ts for those prone to breathlessness. An emergency meeting has now been called to brief members on how they should prepare themselves for the trip.
Meanwhile, on a happier note, the Club discovered a new raconteur of jokes in Siba Prasad Maitra today. After Santosh Tyagi and Jagmohan Papneja, he is emerging as the next go-to person after the exercises for an extra laugh. This morning he narrated a hilarious conversation between father and son, behaving like complete strangers, which had everyone in splits. Such variety in our morning routine adds spice to life.

Waiting List?

A QUESTION OF NUMBERS

A small but increasingly vocal group is lobbying for a total freeze on any further enrolment in the Club. In its opinion, we need to put a cap on membership with a figure of say, 50 and all those (beyond that number) wishing to join Big Laaf will have to be placed on a ‘waiting list’.
“Otherwise, it becomes very difficult to manage,” opined Srichand Arora. “The more members there are, the more there would be divergent views, only leading to chaos and confusion. Where is the bonding between us then? Just for the sake of their subscriptions, we cannot ruin the ethos of our Club.”
The opposing view to this is that more the members, more the revenue, and that is good for the financial health of the Club.

Prabha Kapoor

As Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) put it: “Why should it bother anyone if people want to join? We are getting money with every new member and we should welcome this. The more the merrier.”
In Kiran Prakash’s opinion, it is always better to contain ourselves to a “small, cohesive group of like-minded people” rather than go for big numbers.

Pushpa Gupta distributes khir kadam

As of date, our membership stands at a robust 54, the last to join being Prabha Kapoor and Sadanand Pawar. “We don’t even know half the members,” is the complaint of ladies like Santosh Tyagi, Harbans Kaur and Monthi Serrao. “The closeness we once shared is gone. We feel lost in a crowd!”
Newer members have another complaint. Not knowing the ways of some habitual late-comers, they take strong exception to old-timers who “come at the fag-end of the exercises looking hungrily for something to eat”.
On this, surprisingly, many old-timers are one. “If somebody is not interested in exercising, why be a member? Is it only to eat?” is the common refrain. What remains unsaid is the extra financial burden on those hosting a treat. Where arrangements for 15-20 people should have sufficed, they are suddenly confronted with 50-odd members, each having a rightful claim on the pie.
Already the pruning exercise has begun. Five so-called “sleeping members” have been identified who will have to be dropped to bring the membership figure below the 50 mark. Phone calls will be made to some others who, for some reason, have been erratic in their attendance – the idea being to remove such deadwood by March 31 and start the new financial year on a clean slate.
Bihari Milwani:
This is what my wife says: "Already you are having sweets almost every day on the occasion of birthday or anniversary. I don't understand what exercises you are doing. If the number (of members) increases, only God help you!"

Sumptuous Windfall

Shekhawat greets Kiran Prakash

Kiran Prakash ushered in his first birthday with us at the Garden this morning. As usual we clapped and rejoiced for him, raised the customary fourth laugh after the exercises, presented him with a personalized desk calendar, hugged and wished him well in life…

Royal Repast: Kiran Prakash celebrates his birthday in style

But what absolutely took our breath away was the lavish spread laid out on the occasion – sweets and salties of all shapes and sizes, far too many to enumerate. That an unprecedented 70 cups of tea were consumed in that half-hour would give an idea of the scale of celebration.
Kiran Prakash turned 66 today.
Even as we were coming to terms with the bounteous repast, Sheela Mirani turned up with two bags of goodies with loaves of pao peeping out of one. She wanted to celebrate the club calendar she had received on Saturday, little knowing that Kiran Prakash had already come loaded with his birthday treat. Ultimately, she had to make do with distributing packets of biscuits and carry the rest of her stuff home.
If that were not enough, Bijoy Gupta’s wife, Pushpa showed up out of nowhere with two big boxes of Bengali sweets.

Personal Calendar: Gift from the Club

Sheela Mirani distributes biscuit packets

The couple has just returned from a trip to Calcutta and obviously felt obligated to treat us today. For the first time, we had to be blunt enough to refuse, much as she kept insisting that one extra sweet would scarcely make a difference to any of us. Finally, she agreed to keep the sweets in her fridge at home and come with them again tomorrow.
All this goes to prove one thing: We are fast acquiring the reputation of being the only health club in the world that meets every morning, ostensibly to burn off calories and ending up piling on more carbs, cholesterol, sugar and what have you. Just check backwards the daily posts on this blog (only for a month) and the picture becomes eminently clear. Maybe, it’s time we should close our kitchens at home.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Kiran-ji, thank you very much for providing so many wonderful items to eat which everyone enjoyed. Thanks also for all the love, care and attention in hosting the birthday party. A good person like you is hard to find nowadays. Surely our relationship will last forever. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. May God bless you abundantly. Happy Birthday my friend.
Also, thanks Sheela Mirani-ji for the goodwill gesture shown by you dil se.
Kiran Prakash:
Thanks, dear Jagmohan-ji. In these times when love and happiness are scarce, it is difficult to imagine for the outside world that it pours in the Garden. Today was one more such occasion to witness this. I thank everybody who showered their blessings and good wishes on my birthday. It is a feeling difficult to express in words. Thank you for presenting the club's My Calendar. It is the most precious gift I have ever received on my birthday. And thank you Pushpa-ji and Sheela-ji for your gesture.
Bihari Milwani:
Dear Prakash-ji, we are awaiting an even bigger party than today's on November 16, 2015 when you will achieve the landmark of 800 months. Coincidentally, November 16, 2015 is also Monday.
Dilip Babani:
Happy Birthday, Prakash-ji!

Day 1587

Pic of the Week

CO-TRAVELERS ON A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

Kiran Prakash:
First thing first: I salute the blog for beautifully capturing such memorable moments. We should have a digital exhibition of such photographs clicked in the Garden for our members. And dear Mr and Mrs Shekhawat, we will remember the event for years to come. May God continue to shower His choicest blessings on both of you.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Bravo Shekhawat-ji, it is a happy journey of life both of you have been traversing all these years. Wish you many more years of happy, married life.
Jagmohan Papneja:
This is not a goodbye, my dear friends and salis. Thank you for coming for my party and giving me joy. Thank you for the memories. I will cherish them forever.
Dilip Babani:
Dearest Mr and Mrs Shekhawat, we enjoyed the story you narrated on how you spent 55 years of marriage together. Happy Anniversary to both of you.

Mr & Mrs 55

Shekhawats' Emerald Anniversary

SIDE SHOW: Sheela Mirani's calendar

The gods were either crazy or extra-benevolent today. Why else should it have rained early morning? At this time of the year, in Mumbai? And if the cool, refreshingly divine weather was not enough, there was a colourful pandal in the Garden, already constructed outside the China Hut, as though waiting for the Shekhawats to make an appearance and celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary there.

How many of us can count ourselves so lucky? For that matter, how many of us have survived a marriage for 55 years? Think about it. What we saw and experienced today was heaven’s way of showering its blessings on this incredibly beautiful couple who have lived and loved each other through thick and thin, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in tears and in laughter, in sickness and in health… Yes, the pictures speak for themselves.
Bihari Milwani:
Why is Shekhawat getting married every year on the birthday of our club? Big Laaf was founded on March 14, 2003 isn't it?
Jagmohan Papneja:
Shekhawat-ji, please accept my warmest congratulations on this wonderful occasion. Your completion of 55 years of marriage is a marvelous achievement. You both have set such great examples for not only your four salees in Mumbai, but also to all others who know you. Happy Anniversary! May you enjoy many more years together.
Raghuvir Shekhawat (son):
Thank you all. Really touched. This is what the group is all about -- celebrating and cherishing important moments together and standing as one when the weather gets rough. Thanks again.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Couples who stay together lively, happily, healthily and with well-brought up children are blessed. The Shekhawats are one such couple. We are happy to have this couple with us. I am sure there are many more. I wish them all a very happy, healthy and happy married life.
Kiran Prakash:
Dear Raghuvir, it is indeed a privilege for all of us to be part of 55th Wedding Anniversary of your Dad and Mom. Shekhawat-ji has been a guiding and motivating force for all of us at the club. He has today set another benchmark for us in marital relationship. Once again, I wish your parents a very long and happy married life. I hope Raghuvir, we will be able to meet you too on their 56th Wedding Anniversary.

Tit for Tat

The only male among females

Santosh Tyagi, Mallika Kagzi and Sunita Jajodia constitute a trinity. Not only are they of approximately the same height and build, they share the same cares and concerns – health, daughters-in-law, recipes for the day's cooking, Bijoy Gupta and so on. The three would invariably be the earliest to arrive at the Garden, but the only time they get to discuss their issues is during the exercises – not before, not after. And Srichand Arora does not like that.
He has time and again interrupted their conversation, reprimanded them for being inattentive, tried his best to ensure that they do not stand next to one another and talk, but all to no effect. So this morning, he did the unimaginable. Abruptly, in the middle of the exercises, he strode up to the trio and stood in between them. It was so sudden that Sunita thought he was charging at her and instinctively took to her heels.
Arora had broken the group and stopped the talk, but others were not sparing.

The only female among the men

“How sad, the ladies have held a nabalak captive,” Razia Khan commented sarcastically. “They have not captured anybody, the balak has offered himself as their captive,” Tara Chand Seth corrected her. “Let him remain there!” Seeing so many tongues wagging, Arora had to beat a hasty retreat to save himself further embarrassment.
But he was hardly at peace. Next to him, Jagmohan Papneja was full of questions today and every time Arora answered out of politeness, the ladies picked on him. He tried to explain that he was not talking any nonsense, but nobody was listening. Clearly, Mallika was out to pay Arora back in his coin. And sure enough, when he was deep in conversation with Jagmohan, she came bounding towards them. It was Arora’s turn to flee. Mallika plonked herself between the two men and the exercises continued peacefully thereafter. More importantly, the scores had been leveled.
Out of such innocuous, if mindless capers, we derive our daily dose of entertainment.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Indian curry cannot be relished without spices. Similarly, our morning session of laughter cannot be entertaining without interruptions from the ladies. Arora-ji has been chiding them off and on, but to no effect. Let us continue with this hide-and-seek game because it adds mirch-masala and makes the whole morning enjoyable.

Spiritually Uplifting

Token of affection from Mallika

Surprises do not cease at Big Laaf. If Arun Patil’s return to the Garden the day-before yesterday was least expected, what came as a bigger surprise was the way Mallika Kagzi welcomed him in our midst with great feeling and affection. Whatever doubts anyone might have had about Arun’s guilt (or otherwise) evaporated that very moment.
Today, Mallika came up with yet another surprise when she announced that she would like to celebrate Arun’s return with a “small party” after the exercises. She had brought some home-cooked potato curry, to be washed down with tea.

Mallika hosts today's chai-nashta for Arun Patil 

But before that, she presented Arun a can of perfume and chocolate bar – her personal gift to him.
At times like these we stop to ponder what we have done to deserve such a noble, yet unassuming soul in the Club. As Srichand Arora once put it: “Mallika makes us feel blessed by her presence. Where was she all these years before joining us?” Today, everybody agrees that with every passing day, we are discovering aspects of selflessness and compassion about Mallika, almost bordering on the spiritual.

Santosh gingerly feels the jackfruit

She is indeed a patch over all of us.
As we savored Mallika’s wonderful repast, a young lady from the Garden came with a vessel filled with fresh, ripe jackfruit. She said her son had brought them from their village in interior Maharashtra and having observed us as a “bindaas happy-go-lucky group”, she felt we deserved a bite. The trouble was, not many of us are familiar with jackfruit and did not know what to expect. Some refused, while others looked more shocked than surprised by its slimy texture and sweet taste. The best reaction came from Santosh Tyagi. “Are you sure this is not a non-veg fruit?” she asked the lady in all seriousness.
Now what can anyone say to that? It took all of Sunita Jajodia's immense powers of persuasion to convince Santosh to rest assured the jackfruit will not suddenly jump up and bite her face.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
For Mallika Kagzi to give us a treat while welcoming Arun back speaks volumes of her large-heartedness and sisterly feelings. Let us hope the good wishes bear fruit soon. It was also nice of the lady walker (who comes daily and sees us laughing and enjoying our exercises) to offer us jackfruit. Many of us tasted it for the first time. Very good gesture. God bless her.