Lull Descends

SHUKLA'S BIRTHDAY BARFI: Look at Sitaram's mouth!

After months of frenetic activity, the Club is suddenly caught in a strange state of ennui. The eagerness and excitement over picnics dried up with the Mahabaleshwar trip last week. Now there is nothing to look forward. No trip is planned for the foreseeable future. Besides, summer is at its peak and the heat shows no sign of abating. Attendance too has dropped sharply. Many members are out on vacation, if only to beat the heat.
This was not the situation till a couple of weeks back when no less than 30-odd members turned up every day for the exercises.

Secretary Papneja reads out AGM agenda

On weekends, the numbers were even more. The Gangtok-Darjeeling trip in March-April, which was kickstarted six months earlier, kept energy levels brimming with Hari Singh Shekhawat occupied full-time on bookings, cash collections, cancellations, etc. In between, he slipped in a day-trip to Chhota Kashmir also. Then there was the enormously successful ‘Biryani Nite’ that again kept adrenalin levels peaking.

Curious members peer into Shukla's birthday calendar

Somewhere along the way, the ball was set rolling for Mahabaleshwar. And now, we have this awkward lull upon us.
Still, there was an occasion to celebrate today, as we ushered in Ram Shankar Shukla’s birthday in the Garden. He has turned 80. He is however, not in the best of health as a peculiar foot problem makes him walk with a limp. “A bone near my right heel has started growing,” he explained haltingly. Yet, he kept his appointment with us and brought a box of barfis as his birthday treat. We gave him a personalized desk calendar as a keepsake with compliments from Big Laaf.
Jagmohan Papneja, as secretary, read out the agenda for the annual general body meeting scheduled tomorrow. This will be our first AGM since the registration of Big Laaf in November 2014. It will be held in the China Hut from 8:00 a.m. onward soon after the exercises. All are invited.
Bihari Milwani:
After the AGM, attendance will increase tremendously as there are as many as SEVEN birthdays in June -- the maximum in any month. And the heat wave will also reduce.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Happy Birthday Shukla-ji. But as a senior member you have to keep up the discipline of the Club. You are without the Club Cap. This is not expected of a senior member. I wish you many more happy birthdays and a healthy inning ahead. Enjoy yourself!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Happy Birthday Shukla-ji. When I look at you, I don't see an 80-year-old. To me you are six decades young. I see the gleam in your eyes and the look of pure joy on your face. Once again, wishing you an amazing 80th birthday.