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.