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.”