No More Treats?

The mysterious notice

Happy days are over for us. An unsigned, undated ‘notice’ on the Notice Board today sent chills up our spines. It “strictly” prohibits the consumption of eatables and beverages in the Garden -- the operative word being “strictly”. The implication of this veiled threat effectively killed our appetite this morning and we meekly dispersed, not daring to take even a single bite or sip after the exercises. We were really, very very scared.
So what happens now?
On the one hand, this could be a blessing in disguise as we would no longer be tempted to accumulate extra calories after the exercises. On the other hand, it establishes somebody somewhere is not happy that we have a good time. More specifically, this person is upset that we get to eat, drink and make merry every other morning. All this did not matter for the dozen-odd years that

Swati Punjabi is agitated

we’ve been around in the Garden. Now, out of the blue, we are being threatened without as much as a word of rhyme or reason.
According to some members, this so-called ‘notice’ has been prompted by some evening-time visitors to the Garden who do not bother to clean up after their kitty parties and high tea. Indeed, in the mornings, we are often greeted by leftovers of half-eaten biryani, soiled paper plates and napkins, food wrappers and plastic bottles littered around. In the absence of any conservancy arrangements (barring a few friendly crows and cats), we have been doing much of the cleaning-up by ourselves.
“Nobody can ever accuse us of littering the place,” asserted Swati Punjabi, echoing the anger of most members. “We’ve been making sure that not a single scrap of food or even a piece of paper is left behind after every party. So why pick on us? Why don’t they prevent the evening wallahs? Why don’t they stop the parties in the other Garden? This is unfair. We must protest!”
But protest where… And against whom?
Bihari Milwani:
Letter or notice or cheque not signed is no different from TOILET PAPER.