Madness Unplugged

Shekhawat tries to be in Mallika's good books

It all began with Srichand Arora politely informing Shekhawat that had he continued for long with his pranks yesterday, he would certainly have got beaten up. “Huh, nobody is there to beat me?” Shekhawat retorted with practised bravado. “Anybody lifts a hand, I’ll break that hand!”
Out came Mallika Kagzi, right hand raised. “What did you say? Who gave you the right to break anybody’s hand?”
Shekhawat was not prepared for Mallika’s advancing figure. The moment he noticed her, he bolted.

Exchanging 'High Fives'

“Arrey baap re!” he exclaimed, abandoning the exercises.
That set the tone for today’s madness. Every time Shekhawat tried opening his mouth, Mallika went charging at him like a battering ram. This was only to embolden other ladies, including Banoo Apa, Monthi Serrao and Santosh Tyagi.
So when Arora pulled up Monthi from turning up late, he was instantly rebuffed “since women are in a majority today”.

Partners in Madness: Monthi, Santosh and  Laxmi Naidu

Arora meekly accepted the explanation, not daring to question the logic behind it.
At another point, he held both ears (as is his style), apologizing to Banoo Apa for having spoken out of turn. “Ayushmaan Bhava,” Banoo blessed Arora (with long life), mimicking some mythological character from a TV serial.
“You should have said ‘Sada Suhagan Raho’,” Santosh corrected her.
Much to Shekhawat’s delight, Banoo, Santosh and Mallika chorused “Sada Suhagan Raho” (meaning ‘May you outlive your husband’). Arora simply grinned, not knowing which way to look.
Ultimately, it was Mallika’s madness all the way. At her mischievous best, she did not even spare an old balding man on the walking track desperately trying to woo a pretty little girl, young enough to be his grand-daughter. The ensuing drama can well be imagined.
Shekhawat, who was watching from a distance, spoke for the rest of us: “For today, this is enough. Our quota of laughter is over for the day.”

The Survivor

Arun Patil

His story can be told now.
For exactly a month, Arun Patil has been coming religiously to the Garden every morning -- nattily dressed, a grey duffel bag stylishly slung across his right shoulder and presenting a picture of happy confidence and positivity. He walks with a purposeful gait and if it were not for a slight limp, it would be hard to tell that he 'wears' an artificial leg. The walking stick he carries is more of a style statement than serving any utility.
Barely a year back, nobody would have given him a chance in hell to survive this long – let alone ever show his face at the Garden. His blood sugar had hit life-threatening levels, there was no money for treatment, the right foot was rotting, family and friends had abandoned him… Arun was living on borrowed time. Jobless for long, he had already scraped the bottom of the barrel.

Bijoy Gupta (in blue) is on a collision course with Shekhawat today

He had nobody to turn to.
Worse was to follow. He was framed in a legal case of moral turpitude and packed off to prison. After two months when nothing could be proved, the case was dropped and he was released. Anybody else would have become a broken man by then. But Arun, quietly and resolutely went about salvaging whatever was left of his life. He sold his apartment and moved into a rented place. Before long, he got himself operated on and is now back on his feet.
This, in short, is the story of our friend. It is a rare inspirational tale of fortitude and resolve -- of defying rotten luck, social opprobrium, advancing age, penury, loneliness… and eventually, emerging all-smiles. More than anything else, this is a story of reclaiming self-dignity. It is time, Arun pens all this in his own words.
Kiran Prakash:
The way Arun has charted his life is an example for those of us who get stressed on tiny adverse situations. In fact, I was conveying my feeling to him this morning in the Garden. Arun, I salute you.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
The true test of any relationship is in times of adversity. Fair weather relatives and friends abandon you as saaya (shadow) leaves you in chhaon (darkness). It is a testing time for the man to live bravely, with fortitude. With grit and determination nothing is insurmountable. It will certainly take time to attain your goal, but you would certainly reach it. This is what Arun Patil has proved to us. Good luck and three cheers for him!!!

Spirit of Giving

Swati Punjabi distributes chocolates

Swati Punjabi distributed chocolates this morning – for no particular reason. Her daughter, Trupti had apparently sent them from Virginia, USA where she is settled. “She also sent instructions to distribute the chocolates only among Big Laaf members,” Swati announced.
None of us remember having met Trupti; but we took Swati’s word for the thoughtful treat. Even if it were not to be true, what mattered was her eagerness to share the goodies with us. This is exactly what Mallika Kagzi and Banoo Apa have been doing for long. In the same manner Santosh Tyagi does not have to make kanji for us, but she does so without fail whenever carrots and beetroot are in season. Ditto for Harbans Kaur, with her delectable aate-ka-halwa/ karha parshad.

Bhaswati Bose

Monthi Serrao’s standing instructions for her globe-trotting daughter, Ravina is to “get something for the Club” from wherever she goes.
These are just a few examples to illustrate the spirit of giving that has come to embody the Club. We do not wait for an occasion – a birthday or anniversary to celebrate happiness. And then there are no strings attached here -- no comparing, no compulsion, no competition, no expectation. If anything, behind every act of ‘generosity’ is a silent reaffirmation of how fond we have become of one another over the years.
The real test of bonding is however, in times of adversity. We have been witnessing this since Bapu Rane’s time, through Shekhawat’s heart surgery, during Arun Patil’s amputation… when all members get together as one. Today, Bhaswati Bose is away with her ailing mother in Dibrugarh and here, every single member is just as concerned. Santosh even called up the Garden from home to enquire this morning. A similar situation occurred when Bhaswati’s husband was hospitalized a few days back.
Now, none of this is lip service. None of it is pretentious. In fact, everybody knows that there is no room in the Club for anything phony, petty or negative. And that is what makes Big Laaf so unique and beautiful!
Lt Col Angad Singh from Mohali:
It is not the sweets or chocolates or kanji that matters. The spirit with which each member shares some 'sweet' from the sweetness of his/ her heart is more relevant. This is what wins the hearts of all and binds everyone with each other. That is the real reason for the thriving of the Club.
Harish Wadhwa:
I pray for the good health of Bhaswati-ji's mom in Dibrugarh. God bless her with early recovery and free her from all pain and suffering.

Day 1762

Pic(s) of the Week

"EK NUMBER"

"DOH NUMBER"

"TEEN NUMBER"

"CHAAR NUMBER"

Original 'CHAAR DHAAM'... the privileged FOUR!

'CHAAR DHAAM' darshan in Mumbai! --Kiran Prakash

‘Chaar Saali Yatra’

Shekhawat speaks of hill-top shrines

The morning we were waiting for (ref post of September 24) dawned today. Shekhawat was back from his Chaar Dhaam Yatra – Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath and Badrinath, the four holiest of the holy pilgrimage centres in India that lesser mortals can only aspire to wrap in a life time.
But oddly enough, this was no big deal for Shekhawat. What gave him a far bigger sense of achievement and pride was that he could do this six-day trip with his four real saalis – the ‘original' ones from back home in Rajasthan. Of course, they were accompanied by other relatives from his village, but in that group of 13, Shekhawat was the only male.

Shekhawat shows off photos of his four 'original' saalis

In fact, he was the one to have sponsored the trip, having paid for their travel, boarding and lodging, etc. And so excited was he about pulling off this feat that he spent the entire morning displaying cabinet-size photographs of the four saalis for all of us to see.

Peda prasad from Badrinath

He spoke about them by name, fondly describing their peculiarities and quirks and only in passing mentioning the temples visited, how the weather was “first class”, the rivers and streams they crossed and the monkeys (yes, monkeys!) they accosted during the pilgrimage.
“None of these ladies had ever ventured out of the village earlier,” Shekhawat narrated. “At the most they would have gone to their in-laws and that too stuffed in buses or in packed unreserved coaches of local trains. I made sure they travelled in comfort and stayed in good lift-wallah hotels. I deliberately booked rooms on the fourth floor so that they could have the experience of going up and down by the lift!”
He described in comic detail how panic stricken the women were when they first saw a lift in operation – actually “gobbling” people and luggage in, as is often shown in movies. “And when they got into an air-conditioned coach, they simply could not imagine that their mobile bedrooms could be so freezing cold,” he continued.
Clearly, it will take Shekhawat time to re-connect with his four fake/ make-believe saalis of the Garden. In fact, by some strange coincidence none of them were present today and Shekhawat did not even notice this until somebody reminded him of their existence. “What can I do if all of them keep their phones switched off?” he lied, eager to change the subject.

Eid-ul-Zuha 2015

Swati Punjabi greets Yusuf Rassiwala

Yesterday’s Hajj tragedy that claimed over 700 lives in a stampede in faraway Mina cast a long shadow on this year’s Eid-ul-Zuha at the Garden. None of our Muslim members were present this morning – barring Yusuf Rassiwala. Being Bohra, he celebrated Eid the day-before yesterday. But he had an air of gloom around himself and shared his grief over the loss of so many lives, even as Swati Punjabi playfully tried to cheer him by dancing around and twirling his hand. That was her way of greeting him and invoking the festive spirit – unbecoming as it might have seemed at that moment.
On our part, we raised a fourth laugh after the exercises and wished one another ‘Eid Mubarak’ as per Club tradition.

An almost all-male group for the exercises

Over the years, another practice has gained currency during this Festival of Sacrifice. Many members have started exchanging/ distributing mutton from the sacrifice as a gesture of goodwill – a quaint custom that was not so apparent till a couple of years back. Now, even an ailing member like Najma Sayyad (who is down with a crippling knee problem) observes this ritual religiously as a means to reaffirm her association with the Club every year.
Strangely enough, the absence of Muslim members on this festive day left us with an all-male group for the exercises. This is rather unusual. And it would have remained so, were Kiran Waghmare, followed by Monthi Serrao and Swati not to join us later. Still, we were a healthy complement of 22 making merry on a pleasant, sun-drenched morning. Eid Mubarak, everybody!
Harish Wadhwa:
It must have been real fun -- a silent exercise session without the ladies! Right? At least today, the focus must have been on executing the exercises the correct way.

Being Missed

Siba Prasad Maitra joins the jokes' session

After a dismal week of heavy rains and low turnout, we saw sunshine today morning. Instead of exercising inside or around the China Hut, we went to our old stomping ground in the middle of the Garden. Attendance swelled to a happy 20-odd, with many like Mumtaz Jahan, Gita Latte and Siba Prasad Maitra showing up after extended spells of absence.
Santosh Tyagi, fresh from prolonged illness, revived the jokes’ session, if only for old times’ sake.

Shekhawat

She narrated her favorite about Lord Shiva eating Maggi noodles with his trident (supposedly taken to be a fork), only to have Maitra chipping in with a side-splitting interpretation of ‘Maxi-Mum’ and ‘Mini-Mum’.
Much as such light-hearted banter helps in spreading good cheer, one inescapable fact is the state of tentativeness we are currently caught in. It would appear as though something major is in the offing but we need to wait for it (like Godot?). Fact is, the continued absence of regulars like Sitaram Hivarkar, Bijoy Gupta, Kiran Prakash and Bihari Milwani has created a sense of vacuum and hence, growing anticipation. Also, Eid-ul Zuha is round the corner and that has robbed us of another sizable number of regulars. Above all, the Peter Pan of the Club is still missing.
Hari Singh Shekhawat was supposed to be back on September 23, till somebody said it would be 26th, if not 25th … In fact, every morning we are given a new date of his return from Rajasthan. Even now, nobody is quite sure. But everybody agrees that till he returns, the state of ennui will continue in the Club. For no one else is capable of uplifting the spirits the way Shekhawat does with his madcap antics and no-holds-barred clowning. If truth be told, he is the magnet that draws many fun-loving members to the Garden every morning.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is strange that some of the regular members have become not-so-regular. Is it forced absence or lethargy? Mr Shekhawat might have got entangled by his new-new saalis in Rajasthan. Hope he is not hooked on there for too long. Old saalis must take note and get him back to the Garden.
Kiran Prakash:
Happy to see the blog back in its usual form.

Passing the Baton

Blog Monster -- flat on his back!

Sorry, folks. What happened last week was bad. For the first time in six years, the blog has had to be suspended on ‘medical grounds’. Blog monster (the guy you see in this pic alongside) was hospitalized straight out of the Garden in a semi-conscious state on September 14. He was down with low BP, described rather dramatically as a ‘life-threatening emergency’. But that was then.
Now, as we shuffle back to normalcy, there’s a niggling question bothering some of us.

Happy faces on a rainy morning

Lt Col Angad Singh made a mention of this in his last comment (ref post of September 13) when he suggested the training of some members in the Club to fill in, whenever the blog monster takes a break. This would not only ensure that “the blog will be dot on time” without interruption, but more importantly, eliminate the dependence on a single person in keeping the blog going day after day. After all, this is nobody's personal blog. It is a Club blog.
That apart, new writers would bring into play fresh inputs, viewpoints, insights and perspectives in the daily reportage. We could actually be looking at a more vibrant and lively blog – a departure from the old, dreary and tiresome monotony of the past six years. Moreover, we can expect greater involvement and in effect, better bonding between members in putting together the blog every day. How this can be achieved, with or without the 'blog monster', requires some thought. Do send in your comments earliest. Better still, please volunteer to write.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
The Club blog has strong strings -- resham ki dor. Everyone awaits its publication with eagerness. It is certainly not monotonous. The substitute blog master must keep the blog always operative. The hidden talent in some young and not-too-young club members is well known to the blog monster. They require little polishing and scrapping here and there. Certainly they can work as a well-knit unit, especially when the blog monster is away on furlough - forced or otherwise. Try and do help them come up to the requisite mark.
Harish Wadhwa:
I propose the baton stays with none other than the present Blog Monster himself. There has not been one blog which is "old", "dreary" and "tiresome monotony" in all these years. In fact, I am still learning and will continue to learn the art of writing from this man. There is no niggling question "bothering us". So lets rest this matter. Rather, the blog is an open forum for anyone to express himself/ herself, and they can always do so as Comments. Long live and write on, my dear 'Blog Monster'.

Day 1757

Pic of the Week

Okay, this is an iconic pose from a Dev Anand film. Name the film.

All Dev Anand films. --Bhaswati Bose

Missing the daily blog of the club. This is like an important tonic. We have a number of talented members in the club who, with a little guidance and help from the chief blog writer, would ensure that the daily blog will be dot on time. This will be appreciated by everyone. --Lt Col Angad Singh (retd)

'Teen Budiyaan' (Three Old Ladies), the movie yet to be released --Bihari Milwani

No Blog Today

Nahid Khan conducted the exercises today (file photo)

Sorry, there's
no blog today.
BLOG
MONSTER is
down with viral
fever and did
not turn up at the Garden this morning.
The lapse is regretted. 

 --Big Laaf

Kiran Prakash:
We wish and pray for Blog Monster's speedy recovery. Get well soon.

Booking Closed

Monthi Serrao accounts for cash receipts meant for the trip

Tara Chand Seth also wants to pay Monthi some money

The House Full board has come up for the South India tour (ref post of September 3) beginning November 24, 2015. The required number of 30 members has been reached and no further booking is being accepted. However, in the face of mounting pressure from other interested members, a ‘waiting list’ is now being drawn up in the event of last-minute drop-outs.
As things stand, the itinerary for the tour is as follows:
Departure Mumbai (by air): 24/11/2015
24/11 (night stay): Bangalore
25/11 to 26/11 (two nights): Mysore
27/11 to 28/11 (two nights): Ooty
29/11 (one night): back in Bangalore
30/11: overnight train to Hyderabad
01/12 to 02/12 (two nights): Hyderabad
03/12: Return to Mumbai (by air)
Significantly, the steadily lengthening ‘waiting list’ already has five members – among them, regulars like Bijoy Gupta and his wife, Pushpa. In all probability, Shekhawat would like to include them also, leaving nobody disappointed. But this more-the-merrier attitude is being strongly resisted, the argument being that the group would become ‘totally unmanageable’. The 40-member troupe on the disastrous Kerala tour of 2013 is being cited as a case in point.
There is yet another problem. Reports from the tour operator in Ooty indicate that any bus larger than a 30-seater would not be able to negotiate the sharp hair-pin bends on narrow hill tracts, thereby entailing a good deal of walking for the seniors.
Nobody wants to be caught in such a situation. And engaging two medium-sized buses would only raise costs – not to mention the individual liability of paying higher air fares for booking late.
How these issues are resolved depends entirely upon Shekhawat. He would have to take the final call when he returns from his vacation this month-end.

In Top Form

Action replay of the pick-pocketing act

Srichand Arora nearly got pick-pocketed during today's exercises. Stationed at his usual position in the circle, he was flexing his muscles and swinging his arms in the air, blissfully unaware of a hand that had stealthily slithered into the right pocket of his shorts. It pulled out some house keys, replaced them, then began exploring the other contents of the pocket… and still Arora was unaware of the intrusive hand.
Only when he discovered that everyone in the circle was staring at him open-mouthed, did he realize something was amiss. He swung around and came face to face with the owner of that hand: Mallika Kagzi. “She is the only person in the world capable of such mischief,” he deduced.
“But don’t you ever keep cash in your pocket?” Mallika asked cheekily.
Mallika was in superb form today.

Mallika won't give up on Arora easily

For more than a month, she had been unusually quiet and keeping low, often speaking about her brother-in-law who is critically ill in Surat. Even yesterday, when someone asked why she appeared off-colour,

Sitaram Hivarkar will be away
from tomorrow to nurse his knees

she revealed that her brother-in-law was still in ICU. But this morning, she was back to being her former self.
She started out by holding durbar in the China Hut with her famous weather forecasts. “It won’t rain today,” she declared, even as the sky was heavily overcast. “Go ahead and exercise bindaas in the middle of the Garden. Nothing will happen today, I'm telling you. But tomorrow morning, be careful. It will rain heavily. And the day after, it will be dry again!”
Even before the Arora-episode, Bijoy Gupta was to get another taste of the Mallika treatment. He needlessly provoked her, demanding to know what she and Santosh Tyagi were giggling about. “What’s so funny?” he bellowed. “I want to know!”
Out came Mallika like a bulldozer and proceeded towards Gupta with measured steps. Suddenly Gupta looked a pipsqueak before a larger-than-life entity, actually backing off to avoid a fatal collision. He blabbered something about being inattentive, not to talk while exercising and so on while Mallika kept advancing. She had one question for Gupta: “What's preventing you from talking?" and went on to cajole him. "Talk, talk… talk right now, let me hear what you have to talk.” Gupta clammed up instantly.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
This shows what female enterprise and skills are all about. Mallika Kagzi has demonstrated her expertise with hands -- which is not restricted to the enjoyable tea she makes.

Health Check

Harbans Kaur

Rainfall in Mumbai is said to be ‘below normal’ this year. And now, with the monsoon waning, there comes a sudden spurt in viral ailments of all variety. Not a day passes without news of someone or the other in the Garden down with some affliction – the most common being viral fever. Santosh Tyagi had it last week. Now it is Harbans Kaur’s turn. Even as she is recovering well, she remains home-bound and is yet to summon the strength to walk up to the Garden to exercise.
Given this backdrop of mounting health concerns, Jagmohan Papneja today extended

Jagmohan Papneja distributes papers on KDAH treat

an invite from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) to high tea in its premises on Friday, September 11 at 4:00 pm. If that is not enough, there shall also be free lunch two days later, on Sunday, September 13 at the same venue. “It will be a five star fare,” Papneja assured while distributing copies of the invite.
Such uncalled-for generosity from an Ambani enterprise came as a surprise – more so, as KDAH is known for being the most pricey, exploitative and sub-standard medicare facility in our neighborhood. But then, to obfuscate matters, mention was also made of two seminars on Obesity and Diabesity and Alzheimer – words that were lost on practically everyone present this morning. What mattered was the free “five-star fare" Papneja was promising at KDAH’S expense and everything else on the sidelines be damned!

Big Deal

A new ‘joy train’ was commissioned today with Mumtaz Jahan taking Shekhawat’s place at the head as engine driver. Even Bijoy Gupta could not believe his eyes. “Thank God for this,” he clapped in joy. “I was sick and tired of seeing that black engine driver every morning leading the train.

Happy Birthday, Monthi Serrao

From today, we shall be having a gori engine driver!”
“This is our train from Kashmir coming directly to the Garden,” remarked Mohar Singh.
“And it is the only train from Jammu to arrive in Mumbai early morning,” added Mumtaz.
“So long as the train does not end up at Radhe Maa’s ashram…” Gupta joked.
The human train is an innocuous, if juvenile ritual enacted at the end of the freehand exercises and in effect, marking a transition to the second laughter round. Nobody ever thought much of it till Shekhawat made it a prestige issue, appropriating the right to be its engine driver and getting himself a whistle to do the honors every morning without fail. Nothing in heaven or earth – least of all Bijoy Gupta -- could make him surrender this right even for one day.
So, Mumtaz taking charge this morning became a big deal. And nobody could be happier than Gupta, who had faced Shekhawat’s wrath for the 'audacity' to lead the train once.

Checking Monthi's birthday calendar

Eggless cakes and chocos for all

He almost got socked on the face for doing the unimaginable in the latter’s absence. Now, with the drama replaying in almost similar circumstances, he is dying to see the reaction when Shekhawat returns and is informed of the “gori engine driver”.
Meanwhile, Monthi Serrao celebrated her birthday this morning with scrumptious eggless cakes and chocolates. She turned up late from the morning mass at church, resplendent in a striking gold-and-mauve silk sari that made her unrecognizable for a moment. But then, today was not just her special day. September 8 happens to be also the birthday of Mother Mary – otherwise known as Monthi, minus the Serrao.
Harish Wadhwa:
A very Happy Birthday Monthi-ji. Wishing you good health and joy in life.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
Happy Birthday, Monthi-ji. Wishing you a very happy, healthy and enjoyable year ahead. A fair-complexion engine driver is always welcome. Everyone will keep his/ her eyes glued to the front and the train will operate smoothly. Good luck to every passenger.

Belated Celebrations

Happy Birthday Najma Sayeed

Najma Sayeed celebrated her birthday today in absentia. She is in poor health and does not come to the Garden these days. On her birthday last Saturday, she had sent us a box of sweets with her neighbor, Khatoon Baig.

Khatoon Baig celebrates Teachers Day

But since we were in mourning (over Kishor Babani’s untimely demise) the treat was deferred by two days. We wish her the very best on the occasion and look forward to seeing her back for the exercises, hale and hearty.
Khatoon also wanted to treat us on Saturday, but for the same reason kept the celebration in abeyance. September 5 was Teacher’s Day. Today, the former high school teacher distributed kaju barfi to a round of applause and we even composed a song for her. A few mischievous old men went up to touch her feet and seek her blessings, the way kids do in school. It was all in good humour and Khatoon, though initially confused, took it sportingly.
Yet another reason to rejoice this morning was Arun Patil being able to walk into the Garden without support – not even crutches. Ved Prakash Grover was the first to notice this and when Santosh Tyagi joined him in congratulation, we realized that Arun was relying entirely on his prosthetic foot.

Birthday sweets from Najma

This was the first time since his amputation last April that he looked entirely self-reliant and in control.

Dilip Babani (centre) puts up a brave front

Still, we advised him not to take chances yet and move around with a walking stick in hand, just in case.
Despite the good cheer, Kishor Babani’s shadow hung heavy over the Garden through the morning. Time and again, his name cropped up during the exercises. As we were about to disperse, Dilip Babani met us at the gate. He was in grief no doubt, but managed to put up a brave front, acknowledging the condolences of well wishers with a look of resignation. After all, it is not easy to get over the loss of one who has been much more than an elder brother to him.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is nice to see Arun Patil walking without support. Initially one has to be careful, but gradually one builds the confidence to walk easily. Sheer determination and continuous effort will enable Arun to walk comfortably. Good luck to him.
Srichand Arora:
Very good news for all of us at Big Laaf: Mr Raghuvir Shekhawat has won the best TV writer award of 2015 from ITA (Indian Television Academy)). Congratulations, dear Raghuvir. May God bless you.

Day 1750

           FAREWELL, DEAR FRIEND...

This slide-show says it all: Kishor-bhai laughing, cracking jokes, always cheerful... That's how we want to remember him - one who spread cheer and laughter with his amiable nature and terrific sense of humour. --Bhaswati Bose

A realization that we are all so vulnerable. And yet we talk of fights, religion, hatred, crime, wars... Think again. Renu, our deepest condolences. Very sorry to hear this news. --Harish Wadhwa

Alas dear Renu, please accept the deepest condolences from our entire group in Big Laaf. We are with you at this time of sorrow. May God bless you and give you the courage to face this difficult time. Kishor-bhai will be missed for ever. --Srichand Arora

He was a jewel of a person, full of life, extremely witty and always helpful. We shall be missing him. May his soul rest in peace. --Monthi Serrao

Kishor Is No More

KISHOR BABANI (1957 - 2015)

Kishor Babani has left us for ever. A former member of the Club, he had gone to attend a family wedding in Canada where he suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

Kajal Babani (centre) informs us on the worst 

Two-minute silence in memory of the departed soul

Within moments he slipped into a coma. In spite of the best medical facilities at hand, he failed to come around.
Late evening yesterday (India time), he breathed his last. He was only 58.
Kishor is survived by his mother, wife and two children – a son and a daughter, both settled in Canada.
Yesterday his sister-in-law, Kajal (brother Dilip Babani’s wife) tearfully broke the news in the Garden while we were at our exercises. Kishor was on ventilator then. We abandoned the exercises and joined our hands in prayer. This news was deliberately not carried in yesterday's blog post in the fervent hope that our prayer would be answered and Kishor would recover. But that was not to be.
Throughout yesterday, Dilip patiently updated us on developments at the hospital. However, it had become increasingly clear that he was losing hope on his brother's recovery because “all his vital organs had stopped functioning”.
Late evening, at 9:00 pm, Kajal informed via SMS: “No hope now. Will do MRI. They have signed the papers as not to rescue him.” And this morning, she visited the Garden to tell us that it was all over. Her ‘bhaiyya’ is no more.
To us all in the Club, Kishor will best be remembered for his amiable nature and penchant for jokes. A jolly good friend, he was the only one who could not only raise a laugh, but also laugh at himself – a rare quality in human beings. It speaks of a certain generosity of spirit -- of nobility and grace, large-heartedness, compassion and an ever-caring attitude. Kishor Babani had them all.
May his soul rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family members in this hour of grief. We trust they are able to bear this loss with courage and fortitude.
Harish Wadhwa:
I am shocked to learn of the demise of our friend and colleague, Kishor. A gentleman at heart, who had a penchant for jokes and humour, is just gone! I can't believe it. My deepest condolences to Renu, Dilip, Kajal and family to bear this big loss. Losing a dear one makes me weep within. Kishor, R.I.P.
Renu Babani:
Thanks so much to all of you for your moral support and beautiful memories on the Sunday blog (next post). Kishor will be remembered as the 'gentleman always smiling' with everyone he met. His jokes made everybody laugh and he enjoyed life to the fullest. However, at the end of the day it is what He wills. We are mere mortals and He holds the reins. He brought us to this life and when the time comes, He calls us to return to our true home.
The kids and I are doing well surrounded by immediate family and that is a huge support in itself. Time will heal the pain and sorrow as death is never easy, especially when it's a loved one. In honour of him, considering it would have been his birthday on the 12th, let us celebrate that day by singing Happy Birthday, Kishor knowing he would love it. Thanks again and God Bless.

Palace Coup

Bijoy Gupta

Hari Singh Shekhawat

Yesterday, Kiran Prakash left on a short trip to Patna. Tomorrow, Teja Singh Bhambra will leave for a long sabbatical in Faridabad, his home town. In between, Shekhawat left for Rajasthan by train and as you read this, he should be resting in his ancestral home in a village near Jaipur. He is expected to return towards the end of this month.
Shekhawat’s absence from the Garden was no doubt felt, but in a strange sort of way. The spot he has always occupied in the circle during the exercises was left vacant, not as a mark of respect, but to signify what many chose to designate as Lover’s Spot. If there was anyone eager to fill that spot, it was Shekhawat’s arch rival and bete noire, Bijoy Gupta. And eventually, he did succeed.
Before leaving yesterday, Shekhawat laid down three strictures, the intent of which was not hidden from anybody. One, nobody should attempt to take his place during the exercises. Two, nobody must play proxy to his four saalis, no matter how compelling the circumstances may be.

Warm send-off to Sardar Teja Singh Bhambra

And three, nobody but he holds the right to lead the ‘joy train’ at the end of the free-hand exercises.
Always the agent provocateur, Gupta walked in determined to violate all three conditions. Finding a yawning gap at Lover’s Spot, he stepped in without blinking an eye. “Wah, what a beautiful view you get from here!” he exclaimed. Razia Khan tried to dissuade him, saying that Shekhawat would be terribly annoyed. “When he learns about this, he would surely blow his top,” she warned.
But Gupta couldn’t care less. The so-called Lover’s Spot automatically put him in a position with Shekhawat’s saalis flanking him all through the exercises. He even did a little cameo of the 'peacock dance' with Razia. That was the second rule violated. And when Ved Prakash Grover, Jagmohan Papneja and Mohar Singh, among others, demanded a treat for having wrested Shekhawat’s “crown”, Gupta again turned a deaf ear. “He has staged a coup in the king’s absence,” Razia concluded bitterly.
What remains now is the third rule to be broken. Watch this space.

Overwhelming Response

It is raining currency notes with Shekhawat for the south-India tour 

Preparations for the south-India tour announced yesterday (ref post) gathered momentum today. As many as 23 members came forward this morning, advancing money to book their seats for the ten-day excursion of Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty and Hyderabad beginning November 24, 2015. Shekhawat had reckoned a 25-member troupe – stretchable to a maximum of 30.
Such an overwhelming response is unprecedented – even beyond Shekhawat’s wildest imagination. He is leaving today for his village in Rajasthan and would be back only at the end of this month (after an extensive pilgrimage to Haridwar, Rishikesh, etc). His plans were to sow the idea of the southern tour among members before leaving and then take it forward after returning. Little did he expect everybody to be so enthused as to advance money within 24 hours of his announcement.
“There are still about three months to go, but I have already made arrangements with the travel agent,” he informed. “Monthi (Serrao) and Bhaswati (Bose) were introduced to him yesterday.

Arun Patil fixes Banoo Apa's music system

Holy offerings from Monthi Serrao's novena

In my absence, these two ladies will coordinate between you and the agent for finalizing the flight bookings… I shall take over upon returning to Mumbai on September 25.”
Clearly, the reason for such widespread enthusiasm is the unbelievably cheap airfares on the Mumbai-Bangalore and Hyderabad-Mumbai sectors. Several members who have never been on any excursion in the past have confirmed their bookings. Some like Yusuf Rassiwala, Mumtaz Jahan and Santosh Tyagi, known to delay their confirmation till the eleventh hour, have also put in their money. Even Nahid Khan, who was planning to go by train as usual, has changed her mind. Such is the mad scramble for air tickets that the question of involving ‘outsiders’ (read non-members) this time around appears remote.
The upshot of all this is that many are bound to end up disappointed, especially after the cut-off figure of 30 is reached. Those taking time to decide may even have to contend with higher airfare – something that is beyond anybody’s control. And that could be a perfect recipe for bad blood within the Club.

Southern Tour

Shekhawat announces 'picnic plans' to a captive audience

Shekhawat today pulled out a new rabbit from his cap, announcing that the next excursion from the Club would be down south. It will be a ten-day tour, slated between end-November and early-December 2015 and would cover principally the cities of Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty and Hyderabad.
“The journey out of Mumbai to Bangalore and the return from Hyderabad to Mumbai would be by air,” he informed. “In between, there will be an overnight train journey from Bangalore to Hyderabad.

Arun Patil

The rest of the trip, including local sight-seeing and shopping shall be by chartered bus.”
Getting into details on costs, he explained what the Club was offering is a “tour package” that would cover travel, hotel stay on a twin-sharing basis, one-time daily meals (veg and non-veg) etc. “Those who do not want to travel by air may opt for train and avail of the senior citizens’ concession,” he said. “But I must also inform that we are getting air tickets for merely Rs2000, should we book right now.

Swati Punjabi celebrates her membership with a big treat

This early-bird advantage will not last long. So those who want to join in, please give your names at the earliest.”
Effectively, this puts to rest all speculation of a foreign tour any time soon. Even as this is the second trip down south (the earlier one being a 40-member contingent to Kerala between February 10 and 17, 2014), the clinching factor here is clearly the dirt cheap air tickets. But Shekhawat added that he would restrict the group to 30 members this time. “So all bookings would be made on a first-come, first-serve basis,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Swati Punjabi celebrated her 'joining the Club’ (ref yesterday’s post) with a big treat that included home-made dhokla, poha and pakoras. And Arun Patil kept his word on ‘surprising us’ (ref post of August 31) by showing up unannounced. The moment he appeared at the Gate, Srichand Arora left the exercises and ran up to escort him through the Garden. Arun came limping in with his prosthetic leg on (and a single crutch) to a spontaneous round of applause from all present, followed by an extra laugh at the end of the exercises.
Welcome back, Arun Patil!