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!