Pleasantly Surprised

Tara Chand Seth introduces us to
the magic of shakkar parei

Harbans Kaur receives her birthday
calendar from Lt Col Angad Singh

Dark and chilly morning, broken by the warmth and revelry of two unexpected events: one, Tara Chand Seth celebrated his return to the Garden (on December 18) after giving his grand-daughter in marriage in Delhi; and two, Harbans Kaur received her long-pending birthday calendar from the hands of Lt Col Angad Singh. All of a sudden, it was sunshine again in the Garden.
Harbans Kaur’s gift was however, tinged with sadness. Her birthday was on Sunday, November 29, when many members of the Club were away on the tour of South India. Nevertheless she had a “small celebration” on December 1 (ref post) saying that she intended to throw a bigger bash, when the rest of the Club returns from the tour.

Mohammad Gulzar and his wife (extreme rt) drop by

She would collect her birthday calendar then.
Unfortunately, she had to rush to Delhi as news came in of her sister being terminally ill and in a critical state. “The doctors have given up on her,” she informed upon her return yesterday. In the circumstances, a celebration was considered grossly inappropriate; but upon our request, she agreed to accept her calendar.
As for Tara Chand’s treat, it was yet another occasion when the Club got to savor a somewhat forgotten culinary delight. Not many in Mumbai are familiar with shakkar parei – a crunchy molasses-coated sweet that owes its origins to weddings in the Pakistan side of Punjab. Or so we were told. We thank Tara Chand for introducing us to this magical confection.
Mohammad Gulzar and his wife, Tabassum also gave us a pleasant surprise by turning up after the exercises – though briefly – to collect a cash refund Shekhawat was making. Sadly, they are unable to attend our morning exercises as their little daughter Gulta Fida needs to be dropped to school around the same time. We do miss all three of them.