Happy Augury

Arun Patil's last public appearance

News comes in of Arun Patil being able to find his feet again. It’s been almost three months since he had to amputate his right foot because of an incurable gangrenous infection prompted by diabetes. As followers of this blog would know, the surgery went off well and he has since been recovering fast – just that it has taken him time to procure a proper prosthetic replacement that would enable him to be up and moving as earlier.
That happened yesterday. After much trial and error, he was finally fitted with the artificial foot and it is now a matter of time before he gets used to it. “There is an alignment issue which has more to do with the brain accepting a foreign body part,” he explained. “Right now I get the feeling of the prosthetic going wonky and requiring to be dragged by the other leg while walking.”
Arun has gone for an imported device

Done for the day... Time to disperse

(instead of the cheaper and easily available ‘Jaipur foot’) which should, in time, enable him to walk comfortably without the tell-tale limp. It has certain springs and clip-on buttons, which again would require getting used to. But the good news is that his doctors are “quite impressed” at the way he has effortlessly taken to the new attachment and is able to stand upright without support.
“I have been learning to walk at home with the walker all of yesterday,” he informed. “Very soon I shall discard the walker and take a walking stick instead. Then I will give you all a surprise by turning up at the Garden unannounced. It could be very soon, maybe this week itself!”
We look forward to being surprised.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is heartening to note that Arun Patil is in a fit condition to walk on his feet. It is also good news that he will be able to join in all the activities of the Club as he used to three months back. This only proves that if one has will, determination and a positive approach, all difficulties can be overcome.

Day 1743

Pic of the Week

TWO CHARMING VISITORS AT THE GARDEN

"Two charming visitors are getting undivided attention and love from three charming regulars."

--Kiran Prakash

Raksha Bandhan 2015

Mallika celebrates with home-
made tea (on popular demand)

Teja Singh Bhambra celebrates
with authentic rosogollas

Srichand Arora celebrates with
prasad from gurudwara

Call it poor planning, lack of foresight, or sheer bad luck… We were robbed of the spectacle of Shekhawat being chased around the Garden by a band of women determined to tie rakhi on him.

Mallika and Prakash fail to subdue Shekhawat

That was what the ladies had lined up for Raksha Bandhan today. But a sudden downpour put paid to all their plans.
Now, Shekhawat’s aversion to playing brother to any female is well known. Equally well known is the eagerness of several women to be his sister. The closest they could get so far is being his make-believe sister-in-law – or saali. Shekhawat is supposed to have acquired four such saalis already.
But there is a HUGE difference between sister and sister-in-law. And for the ladies, the only way to bridge this gap was to tie a rakhi on Shekhawat’s wrist and solemnize a brother-sister relationship on Raksha Bandhan day. In a way, it was also to curb his ‘waywardness’, not to mention the possibility of receiving a gift from him on the occasion.
But Shekhawat is too clever by half and had come doubly prepared and alert.

RAKSHA BANDHAN: Party time in China Hut

“No rakhi for me,” he warned upon entering the China Hut. This predictably was to embolden Mallika Kagzi, the only lady to have braved the rains and make it to the Garden till then. The problem was she wasn’t carrying a rakhi.
For a while, she toyed with the idea of shredding her dupatta and using it as a rakhi. She inquired about the rakhi shops opening in the vicinity. There too, she drew a blank. Finally, she took off her hair band and without any warning, pounced upon Shekhawat, trying to force the elastic band up his wrist. What followed was an unbelievable scuffle with Kiran Prakash joining forces with Mallika -- but all to no avail.
The fauji in Shekhawat prevailed and Mallika conceded defeat. Effectively, Shekhawat retains his exalted status as the alpha male of the Garden and the ladies would now have to wait another year to perhaps rope him with a rakhi.
Kiran Prakash:
We can't ask for more than what we get in those precise 45 minutes at the Garden. It is a superb blend of serious exercise, leg-pulling, humour, sharp-edged wit, snacks, cake, tea and what not. If people wish to see seniors at their best, they just have to peep into our activities in the Garden.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
The sessions of Big Laaf are occasions for enjoyment, no only for the participants but also those witnessing the events. It has a positive and healthy impact on everyone.

Mourning in Morning

Morning tea party in the Garden

The laughter exercises were scrapped today as a mark of respect to an elderly lady who passed away yesterday. She was the wife of a movie producer and former member of the Club.
Most of us could not recollect seeing either of them (in the past 10 years) and in fact, both Shekhawat and Srichand Arora were of the view that no harm would be caused were we to continue with our regular morning routine.

Braving the sudden downpour

But another section of the members led by Mohar Singh argued that our ‘Ho-Ho Ha-Ha’ would amount to gross insult to the departed soul(s). And so, in deference to their sentiments, we desisted from doing the laughter exercises this morning.
Strangely, the heavens also mourned the death of the lady who succumbed to brain hemorrhage, following an accidental fall in the bathroom. The skies wept copiously and interrupted our free-hand exercises, even as Arora tried to race us through. Many rushed for shelter in the China Hut while the remaining few completing the exercises, umbrellas in hand. This was a hilarious sight which more than made up for skipping the laughter rounds. Even Ved Prakash Grover, Razia Khan and Nasir Patuni Shah stayed put in the open, defying the rains and eventually, completing the exercises.
Mallika Kagzi rewarded the ‘bravehearts’ with special home-made tea, which, on a rain-soaked morning can only be godsent. It was a matter of time for the others who had abandoned the exercises, to scamper back for their share of the tea. Others on the walking track also joined in. And so, with beautiful white garden chairs laid out under a majestic tree, we had an impromptu tea party with another round of merry-making – thanks entirely to Mallika Kagzi.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is befitting to pay homage to a departed soul. It is immaterial whether the member has been attending the Club or not. Our members did the right thing in abstaining from the routine laughter exercise.

‘Laptop Programme’

Karuna Waghmare

Karuna Waghmare has a genuine problem: “Does the laptop programme come on only during the mornings?”
The question was addressed to no one in particular, but everyone within earshot, perked up. What laptop programme was she talking about? “Oh our Club programme that comes on the laptop,” she responded, a trifle irritated. “I waited for the picnic photographs the whole of last evening, but they did show up on the laptop!”
Turned out, what she meant was this blog, which she was equating to a TV programme.

Tara Chand receives a desk calendar

And she was not joking. Apparently, her grandson had been helping her to switch on the laptop and log into the Big Laaf site whenever she had wanted to be updated on its content. This time, quite possibly he was not around and Karuna’s independent efforts to access the picnic pics (slideshow of August 22) met with repeated failure.

Checking out the two calendars

“I was sitting in front of a blank screen and no picture showed,” she said drawing upon the analogy of switching on to an unresponsive TV channel. Advising her to google ‘Big Laaf’ or perhaps, use the URL obviously made no sense. She was not even prepared to believe Shekhawat when he assured her that the so-called programme

Teja Singh receives his calendar

was available on her laptop round the clock, every day of the week and for all time to come.
Now, Karuna is not alone in grappling with the possibilities of the worldwide web. Several senior members of the Club confess to be living in a phobia towards the Internet and would rather keep their distance from computers. Some have, over time, conquered this ‘fear of the unknown’, but will wait for some kid in the family to be around to assist them in checking the blog.
But there too, problems are cropping up. One member could not understand how it was possible that the blog which appears in her son’s laptop could also be accessed on the PC which her bahu uses at home. “My son has gone to Chennai and taken the laptop with him,” she rued one morning. “I’ll have to wait till he returns and then I can see the blog.”
When told to use the home PC in the mean time, she was simply not convinced. But next morning she came in with a jubilant smile. Today she carries a smart phone and never tires at showing off the blog on its tiny screen.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
Karuna Waghmare is not alone in having difficulties with the laptop, TV, smartphone, etc. These problems are shared by most senior citizens. During their younger days there were no such facilities. For many of them, a laptop or PC is a miracle and they do not feel at home with these gadgets. The younger generation has a duty towards senior citizens in making them understand the nitty gritties of technology. Then maybe, they will be able to give a lesson or two to the youngsters. Good luck to senior citizens.

Where Next?

Shekhawat fields questions on the next picnic

Shekhawat is still on cloud nine over last Saturday’s trip to Royal Hills (see post). Basking in its success, he does not miss a single opportunity at reminding people how the whole Garden has been “going balle balle” over the picnic. While the intention was to create some jealousy among those who could not make it, those who did go are also getting a little tired of hearing the same thing said over and over again.
Srichand Arora tried to divert Shekhawat’s attention by demanding that the next trip from the Club should be to Bangkok.

Sitaram inquires on the welfare
of Mrs Arora post-operation 

“It’s high time everybody got their passports in order,” he said only to be briefed about certain technicalities which could cost members heavy. “In case someone’s visa does not come through, the advance paid on hotel booking and airfare will be forfeited,” Shekhawat explained.
“But I’m told, Thai visas can be obtained at the airport on arrival,” Arora persisted.
“They have become very strict after the last bomb blast in Bangkok,” Shekhawat said. “I have already made inquires. Suppose they send you back from the airport? Why get into such complications?”
Quite clearly, the experience from organizing so many picnics from the Club has turned Shekhawat into a supremely confident and seasoned planner who would leave nothing to chance. “I am leaving for Rajasthan on September 3. From my village, I shall be taking a group of 14 on a trip to the main pilgrimage spots of Haridwar and Rishikesh,” he informed.
There is another significant change being noticed in Shekhawat. He is no longer the man in a perpetual hurry to organize the next picnic. He would now rather wait for the initiative to come from members and also, not disappoint anyone. Bihari Milwani proposed the next trip to be on March 2016 and he is fine with it. Today Bijoy Gupta suggested a “one-day picnic every month” and Shekhawat is fine with that also. Some ladies spoke of a trip to Rajasthan while a few others wanted a tour of South India… On all counts Shekhawat is game – but would make no commitment to anybody as of now.
Bihari Milwani:
Can we have the next picnic at Shekhawat's native place? We will then get the chance to see his other four salis.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
Picnics break the monotony of our daily routine. These are welcome and healthy for our members. Enjoy the picnics.

Inside-Outside

Missing the action on the 'other' side

For the first time half of us did the exercises inside the China Hut and the other half, just outside. This peculiar bifurcation was prompted not so much by a lack of space as by the vagaries of nature. Many took their chances and stepped out in the open, in spite of intermittent drizzling and the skies threatening to descend on the Garden any moment.
Luckily that did not happen. Everybody survived the morning without getting drenched.
Those who were inside comprised mostly ladies who trusted Shekhawat more than Mother Nature. The ones outside, in a rare display of machismo, braved the elements and refused to enter the 'Ladies Compartment' (as the China Hut was today called) even as the drizzle intensified at times. Their main bonus was that they could breathe freely the fresh morning air and did not have to put up with the squalid and claustrophobic stuffiness of the China Hut.
The sharp contrast in the ‘inside’ and the ‘outside’ was heightened by the absence

Srichand Arora

Razia Khan

of any interaction between the two sections, let alone the usual exchange of jokes and wisecracks. Srichand Arora was there today, having returned after a long hiatus, and he chose to keep the company of his own gender. As a result, his typical one-liners were lost particularly to Shekhawat, much as he kept craning his neck out to catch a few words floating in the air.
Likewise the outsiders were deprived of the sniggers and titters of the ladies, centered on two playful kittens bent upon making Razia Khan’s life miserable. As we all know, Razia is allergic to felines and here there were two of them leaping about and running between her legs with a vengeance. In the whole big China Hut with so many ladies around, they did not find anyone else to target. It was clear that Razia’s heart was in her mouth every time the kittens darted towards her. Her nervousness and efforts at dodging them became a recurrent theme for mass entertainment right through the morning.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
When members of both sexes are together, everything becomes enjoyable. If they are segregated by gender, you do not enjoy as much -- particularly the jokes. Stay together and make every session not only enjoyable, but healthy as well.

Picnic Musings

Back to business as usual

Compliments came thick and fast on Shekhawat for organizing what many described as the ‘best picnic’ from the Club so far (ref post and slide-show of August 22). “I have never enjoyed more in any other picnic,” said Nahid Khan, still smarting from a nasty fall from a water slide at the Royal Hills resort on Saturday.
“It shall go down as the most memorable picnic of my life,” declared Mumtaz Jahan as others shouted slogans, “Shekhawat-ji ki jai!” Needless to mention, we raised an extra laugh for him soon after the exercises.
Beaming from ear to ear, Shekhawat strutted around like a man who had just accomplished a major mission in life. “Those who did not come with us have no idea what they missed,” he said while doing a running commentary on the picnic photos flashing on his laptop. “Such an opportunity comes but once in a lifetime.”
Bijoy Gupta agreed, even as he turned momentarily red-faced when some intimate pictures with his wife showed up on the laptop. “This is the first time we have kissed in public,” he clarified. “All our lives we have done such things in hiding, surreptitiously, scared that nobody must see us.

Shekhawat is super-excited with the picnic pics

This time we have been caught on camera. These are our first pictures of intimacy!”
Mumtaz quipped that her son would disown her, should anybody bring her picnic pics to his notice. “He says that he would refuse to acknowledge me in those photos,” she joked as others joined her, confessing how they too would have felt inhibited at “enjoying” themselves in the presence of their children and family members.
“It was because we were part of the Club that we could let down our inhibitions,” Fehmida Khan pointed out. “If any of us were to have gone separately to the same place, alone or with our families, do you think we could enjoy as much? It can never be the same again.”
What remained unsaid was that we were plain lucky to have got the resort all to ourselves – that too, on a holiday. It was more like a private party for us with none of the chaos and messiness other popular resorts are known for. That apart, the weather gods were unusually kind to us.
Anonymous:
Picnics allow you to enjoy -- away from the daily monotony and hustle-bustle. The picnics of the club are really enjoyable. But the present one surpasses all the past events and is worth remembering. Those who missed it will certainly feel the loss.
Bihari Milwani:
Can we have another picnic of such beauty on March 14, 2016 to coincide with Shekhawat's 56th wedding anniversary? The cake for the occasion will be sponsored by me.

Day 1736

Pic(s) of the Week

STRIKING 'THE TITANIC' POSE? 

COSYING UP...

STOLEN MOMENTS

CANDID CAMERA: REKINDLING THE SPARK OF YOUTH!

'Jab Pyar Keeya toh Darna Kiya? Pyar Keeya Koii Chori Nahain Kii...' --Bihari Milwani

'Royal Hills' Picnic

They call this place ‘Royal Hills’. Neither was there any hill, nor had it anything to do with even climbing. It was appropriately a water park (and a beautiful one at that) where all you did was swim in a pool, use the water slides, fool around getting wet, and do some rain dance if you will. But who was asking for more?
This was THE perfect opportunity to let down our hair, inhibitions and much else, away from prying eyes. The spontaneous songs and dancing extended on to dry land with round after round of improvised games, including the usual Housie, passing the ball, tongue-twister challenge and most enjoyably, musical chairs. By some strange coincidence, Yusuf Rassiwala followed his wife, Niloufer in winning two successive rounds of the musical chairs.
Mercifully, there was no antakshari. But it has to be said that this was one resort that was incredibly spic and span, afforded a degree of privacy not seen elsewhere and most importantly, maintained excellent standards of hygiene. The food served – be it breakfast, lunch or high tea (with a surprise ice-cream break in between) -- was sumptuous and the service absolutely top-class. Tara Chand Seth, for one, was so impressed, that he wants to book the place (they have a swank hotel in the complex) for guests during a family wedding this October.
Harish Wadhwa:
Wonderful pics. Seems like you all had great fun.

'Terror' Strikes

Mallika Kagzi

Mallika Kagzi is turning out to be a terror. In fact, where Srichand Arora, Nahid Khan, Harbans Kaur, Ved Prakash Grover and other 'disciplinarians' have failed, this otherwise mild-mannered lady has managed to rein in the recalcitrant elements of the Club quite effectively.
Yesterday, Shekhawat was fooling around with Jagmohan Papneja, Mumtaz Jahan and Fehmida Khan when Mallika stepped in to reveal her true colors. She started off by saying, “Buss bhi karo” and politely urged the four to concentrate on the exercises. Moments later, a shrill “Choooop!” rang through the group. Everybody froze, but the four continued their tomfoolery, giggling like delinquent kids.
That was when Mallika lost her cool.

Shekhawat reads out the final 'seating plan' 

She halted the exercises and told Shekhawat, “Now talk, talk for as long as you like and after that we shall exercise!”
Everybody sniggered watching the fun, leaving Shekhawat and his pals red-faced with embarrassment. The exercises were resumed, but Mallika was unrelenting. She launched on a diatribe accusing the chatterboxes of repeating the same old stale jokes and pranks every day, little bothered about the disturbance they caused. After she was finished, the four were at their best behavior, not uttering a single word for the rest of the morning.
Bijoy Gupta had obviously forgotten about that incident when he started taking pot shots at Shekhawat today.

Monthi distributes Filipino mango leather

Shekhawat was unusually quiet, aware that Mallika had a hawk’s eye on him. An emboldened Gupta became even more provocative and then Mallika swung into action. “What did you say?” she challenged Gupta and that was it. She did not have to say another word and Gupta instantly clammed up as though he had met his nemesis. From a distance, Shekhawat kept laughing silently and peace was restored.
After the exercises, Shekhawat gathered everyone around and read out the ‘seating plan’ he had devised for the bus (see yesterday’s post) going on tomorrow’s picnic. Surprisingly, no one had a problem with the plan today. He also instructed everyone to report to the Garden by 7:30 a.m. as the bus would leave for Royal Hills Resort at 7:45 a.m. sharp. “We will not hold up the bus for any late-comer,” he warned repeatedly.
The happiest part of the morning though was the mango leather Monthi Serrao’s daughter had brought for us from the Philippines. Even as it was suspiciously close to the Indian aam papad (but less juicy and more elastic) for most of us, this was a first. Thank you, Ravina for yet another wonderful treat!
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is high time our worthy members recognise 'woman power'. Chatterboxes, be careful the next time you open your mouth during the exercises.

A Miracle!

Shekhawat finalises seating plan in the picnic bus

Hari Singh Shekhawat has pulled off a miracle. From a distressful situation yesterday morning (see post), he has managed to more than double the picnic contingent, far outstripping the required minimum of 30 persons. On last count this morning, he listed 41 paid-up confirmations for the 49-seater bus headed to the Royal Hills Resort on August 22, 2015.
Not everybody was happy though. A former member (who opted out of the picnic because carpenters are to invade her house) created quite a stir by claiming that Shekhawat knocked on some doors last evening to collect money for the picnic – the suggestion being that he was some kind of an extortionist who had held a gun to people’s heads to extract cash.
Shekhawat heard this, but did not respond. He was preoccupied on a fast developing problem with several belligerent ladies demanding they be allotted the front seats in the bus – their argument being that they were the first to pay for the picnic.

Kiran Arora

In their wisdom, the ones who paid last must be made to sit at the rear end of the bus.
Caught in a tricky situation, Shekhawat produced a ‘seating plan’ that he knew would make no sense to anybody, least of all to him. He soon junked the sheet of paper, declaring that seats would be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis. Within moments, he realized he would be faced with an unmanageable free-for-all among the ladies and promptly changed it to “sitting according to date of birth”.
Somehow, this sounded more logical and fair, and was immediately accepted – nobody realizing that married couples would be grievously affected. For example, a January-born like Dilip Babani would be seated within kissing distance of the bus driver while his wife, Kajal Babani, a December-born would be condemned to the rearest or rear end of the bus for no fault of her.
Meanwhile, here’s some fabulous news from the Arora household. The knee surgery Kiran Arora underwent on August 11 has been a super success and she can now move around home with a walker. “She is 100 per cent out of pain,” reported Srichand Arora, her doting hubby. “The stitches are a bother though, but those would come off on the 22nd. After that, maybe from next week, I would be able to resume my morning routine at the Garden.”
Kiran Prakash:
All is well that ends well. Shekhawat has proved that in organising picnics he can never go wrong. He is a master strategist. Is he now going to use his 'gun' and extract money from 8 more people? That will certainly get him some more discount at Royal Hills.
Bihari Milwani:
Now that his mission of filling seats is almost complete, Shekhawat should notify that the front 8 seats are 'premium seats'. Whoever pays 10% premium will get to occupy one -- again, on a first-come first-serve basis.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
Shekhawat has once again proved he has a solution for every tricky situation in a picnic. It speaks well of his organising abilities. It is also heartening to know that Kiran Arora has new knees and will now be in a position to put her knee jerks to good use. Srichand Arora, be careful!

Drop Outs

Shekhawat takes members to task for letting him down

Many quietly slink away

After a fun-filled session of fooling around, Shekhawat today blew his fuse after the exercises. Fuming with rage, he declared: “Never again shall I organize a picnic. You people keep pestering me for a picnic and back out at the last moment. If I had not paid Rs2000 as advance, I would have cancelled this picnic right now. In future, let anybody organize any picnic. But for me, this is the last picnic.”
The picnic he’s caught up in is scheduled for Saturday, August 22. The date was fixed after much deliberation, taking everyone’s convenience into account and now, with barely three days to go, members are opting out one by one. Someone has a relative admitted in hospital, another has guests arriving unannounced at home, a third has to rush out of town on that very date, a fourth has to attend to an ailing spouse, a fifth wasn’t even aware of the picnic and would require time to think… there is no end to excuses.
“This is grossly unfair,” Banoo Apa said, taking up for Shekhawat. “If you people were not interested in the picnic, why did you bring it up in the first place? What fun do you get in harassing a man? He has made numerous phone calls, negotiated the best rates for you, listened to all kinds of gaalis, been begging for money… all for what? He does not make a personal profit from this. He does it so that you have a good time. And now you want to back out?”
Shekhawat’s problem is that he doesn’t even have the numbers he had estimated and in order to stay within budget, he would have to make renewed efforts at coaxing people to join. “Even if there’s a shortfall, we’ll individually pay 10-20 rupees extra… it hardly makes a difference,” Tara Chand consoled him while signing up. “I had some other program fixed for Saturday, but I will cancel it now.” Mallika Kagzi offered to get her friends on board so as to make up for the drop-outs. “Just tell me how many people you require, I’ll produce them in front of you tomorrow morning,” she assured Shekhawat.
True, the bus shall get filled one way or the other; but whether it would be ‘club’ picnic remains to be seen.

Navroz Today

Shireen Homavazar (in red) hosts Navroj treat in the Garden

Unknown to us, it was Navroz today -- the Parsi New Year. We do not have a single Parsi among us in the Club; but as with every community celebration, the spirit of merriment associated with a festival permeates the air, automatically turning the mood upbeat for us during the exercises.
Shireen Homavazar, an old friend of the Club and regular at the Garden, hosted a surprise treat to celebrate the occasion – aflatoon, luddoos and marble gulab jamuns.

Kiran Makharia

It was only then that we realized the importance of the day. But as always, for most us, we were not to question why, but to eat and die (of diabetes)!
If that was not enough, there was Tara Chand Seth back from Delhi with a box of (what else?) sweets – large cylindrical confections soaked in ghee. Nobody knew the name of this sinful treat and it did not matter.

Tara Chand returns with good news... and box of sweets

What mattered was the good news Tara Chand was carrying with those tissue-wrapped sweets: “I did not tell you earlier -- the reason for my being away for such a long time. We were busy finalizing the wedding of our grand-daughter. She has found her match now in a doctor and the sweets are in celebration of their engagement. She is also a doctor…”
“So we can expect free treatment?” Yusuf Rassiwala butted in jokingly.
“But you will have to go to Mira Road to get cured,” Tara Chand retorted amid rousing laughter.
The other big reason for rejoicing this morning was the return of Kiran Makharia, another old member who had been away for close to a year. She tried to downplay her absence by explaining that she “just felt lazy” and could not “wake up in time to get to the Garden” when Shekhawat cornered her: “You can find time to go to that garden and the other garden, but not this garden? I get all information sitting here. So don’t come up with lame excuses.”
Kiran promised to be regular henceforth and to mark her return, an extra laugh was raised after the exercises.

Shekhawat's train rolls out of the railway shed (oops!) China Hut after the rains subside.

Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
The celebration of Parsi New Year confirms the spirit of 'unity amid diversity' among members of different faiths in the Club. We love to be happy in each other's company and at other times of celebrating. Good luck to the Club and its members.

Over Indulgence

Little Mubaraka greets the guests

The effects of over-eating were evident in the Garden this morning. Attendance had dropped drastically. A majority of those who had attended Yusuf Rassiwala’s big bash last evening did not show up today. And most of those who, for various reasons, absented themselves yesterday, turned up for the exercises today morning.
Like every year, Yusuf had hosted an evening of high tea post-Eid at his residence for members of the Club. This year, there was another reason for celebrating.

Autograph please!

His grandchildren, Hussain and Mubaraka have been making waves in the world of glamour and entertainment (ref post of August 13) and quite naturally, Yusuf wanted us all to join him in his moment of pride and bless the talented kids.
Eleven-year-old Hussain is no small star (being a veteran of several movies and tele-serials) and like other busybodies of his ilk, was away on a shoot when we landed at his place.

Belated Happy Birthday, Nasir-bhai

We therefore missed him. But six-year-old Mubaraka, being relatively a fresher, could take time out for us after her ‘beauty nap’ in the afternoon. Dressed in bright crimson, the pretty little lady came down from her bedroom and gracefully greeted everyone -- even obliging her fans with an autograph!
Yusuf had made elaborate arrangements for the evening, with his full family in attendance. As a gracious host, he had called up every member (including Arun Patil, Siba Prasad Maitra and Teja Singh Bhambra) making sure nobody got left out. He and his wife, Niloufer personally attended to the guests, entreating each with the choicest of delicacies – be it vegetable lollipop or springroll, barfi or sheer-korma.
And then, there was Vasudev Batheja with his non-stop singing and random shayaris with Maitra and Harish Wadhwa chipping in for good measure. The ladies had formed their own singing group, with a round of antakshari as usual. But the one to have a real ball was Shekhawat. He was the only male to be seated, bang centre among the females and enjoyed every moment of it. Even this morning he had not got over the ‘special position’ he could occupy. “The other men could be burning with jealousy, but I damn care,” he declared. “I had a blast!”
Bihari Milwani:
Yusuf-bhai ka jawaab nahin, Sabh ko rassi se bandha...

Day 1729

Pic of the Week

Defining image of our I-Day celebration yesterday... bears repetition

Kadam kadam badai ja / Khushi ke geet gaye ja! --Bihari Milwani

Independence Day - 2015

INDEPENDENCE DAY celebrations are getting bigger and better with every passing year -- just that today, we were looking more like a runaway cricket team. But then, it wasn't our fault that it was a Saturday and since habits die hard, most of us were in regulation white. That apart, it was fun-filled morning -- as this slide-show should establish. Sometimes, pictures speak louder than words. So without much ado, we leave you with these lasting images of Independence Day -- 2015.
Bihari Milwani:
Today we completed 68 years of freedom which included 17 leap years. That makes total of 24,837 days. 163 days from today, on Monday the January 25, 2016 it will be another landmark -- 25,000 days of freedom and and the next day, January 26, 2016 will be the 66th Republic day. Will somebody bring this important event to the attention of the Government and suggest declaring the week commencing Monday, January, 26 2016 as a Duty Free Shopping Festival. It may be done in a small industrial town and this will automatically create a Smart City!

Song Birds

Ladies rehearse for tomorrow's I-Day function

It doesn’t take any persuasion to get things up and cracking in the Club. A little trigger will do. Monthi Serrao had only to distribute the lyrics of a song and in two minutes, the Club’s ‘song birds’ gathered together. In another two minutes, she had a full ‘choir’, ready to put up a performance for tomorrow’s Independence Day celebration.
This would be a first. Never before have the ladies of the Club ganged up for a live musical session on I-Day at the Garden.

Yusuf takes charge of tomorrow's snacks

All we have had in the past was recorded patriotic songs from movies playing with a brief interregnum for singing the national anthem. There would be a ‘march past’ around the Garden with the national tricolor followed by refreshments/ snacks and thereafter, everybody would disperse.
This time around, we shall have the ladies singing as well.
Now, here’s the catch. Monthi had come up with the lyrics of ‘Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat purani… Hum Hindustani!’ To many that did not sound patriotic enough, even as everyone, including Harbans Kaur and Fehmida Khan could sing this number effortlessly.

Santosh Tyagi cracks an unexpected joke!

Someone suggested another number, and then a third… just that beyond a point, the lyrics were getting muddled. Siba Prasad Maitra suggested the sweet and simple ‘Saare Jahaan se Achcha’, only to have Banoo Khan countering him: “There are at least four versions of the song, each with a different tune. Do you want the military tune or the Lata version?”
“Anything will do,” Maitra replied, whipping out his mobile to connect with You Tube and the ladies peered in to catch the tune. Having decided on it and with everybody familiar with the full lyrics, rehearsals began in right earnest. Only Monthi was upset: “What is all this? I come with one song here and they decide on singing another song!”
Meanwhile, Shekhawat handed charge for organizing tomorrow's refreshments to Yusuf Rassiwala. The menu was decided last Wednesday and only the question of delivering the stuff early morning remains. Swati Punjabi had her way on pitching in with poha as a personal add-on. And before everybody dispersed, Santosh Tyagi narrated an unusually bawdy joke on the controversial godman Asaram Bapu and in-the-news godwoman Radhe Maa, much to Shekhawat’s eternal delight!
Bihari Milwani:
* Sare laughing club se achhcha, Big Laaf hamara / Hum iske member hain, yeh club hai hamara...
* Chhodho sabh health clubs/ Health club hain purani/ Aao milke banain ek /Hassi ki Big Laaf hamari...

Two Announcements

Shekhawat breaks the news on Yusuf Rassiwala's party  

Hari Singh Shekhawat had two announcements to make today. But he was in no hurry. “I will not say anything now,” he said upon entering the Garden. “But you will be happy to hear about two pieces of very good news. Just wait after the exercises.”
Having raised everybody’s curiosity, the exercises were conducted in perfect harmony, but for a brief disruption due to rain. It was not supposed to rain, but since Maliika Kagzi had predicted so at the beginning, we were treated to a mild shower. At that point, Banoo Apa’s music system was playing ‘Babuji dheerey chalna…’ – the 1954 anthem from Aar Paar. Let alone run for cover, everyone broke into an impromptu jig with Shekhawat and Razia Khan in the lead. With colorful umbrellas bobbing up and down to the infectious beat and Banoo Apa lip-syncing to Geeta Dutt’s sensuous lyrics, this was one rain dance that can never be enacted again.

Dancing in the rain

It was wild and spontaneous. But still, nobody had quite forgotten Shekhawat’s promise.
So immediately after the exercises, Yusuf Rassiwala was summoned and Shekhawat made the first announcement. “With great pleasure I wish to inform you that the heavens have turned a benevolent eye on Yusuf-bhai and his family,” he began dramatically. “This is the beginning only. I am sure the family will be showered with much more money in future…”
He was not getting to the point. So Yusuf intervened: “Two of my grandchildren have made their mark as actors. The elder one was already acting in movies, as you all know. Now the younger one has made her debut in a tele-serial, Ek Tha Raja, Ek Thi Rani, currently aired on Zee TV. Now she is shooting for another serial also, Akash Ganga. The response to both have been very good. So I would like to invite you all home to bless the kids. We shall have a small party in the evening of August 16, Sunday. Please do come, all of you.”
And what about the second announcement? True to style, Shekhawat blurted out, “I forgot. The second announcement is that I have forgotten.”