Weather Change

Photos of south India tour change hands

It is mid-December and only now is winter creeping in. The mornings are dark, but cool and pleasant. Woolens have started to appear on the likes of Razia Khan, Monthi Serrao and Siba Prasad Maitra. And even regulars are turning up late these days or reporting sick due to the ‘change of weather’.
Khatoon Baig showed up after four days, looking anxious and scared. Her asthma problem has aggravated – much like when she had to be hospitalized in Hyderabad earlier in the month. But rather than agonize in self-pity, she kept assuring her friends that she will “manage somehow” and that nobody should worry unduly for her.
Many seniors like Srichand Arora, Sitaram Hivarkar and Jagmohan Papneja have turned erratic in their daily attendance.

Chauudhurys, father and son

Bijoy Gupta today could not take the exercises beyond a point and plonked himself on an empty chair, complaining of “weakness”.
Shekhawat is going every morning for tests at the Navy Hospital in Colaba. Mumtaz Jahan and Fehmida Khan are said to be still under the weather.
And then, there is the growing mystery surrounding several long-term absentees. For one, Nirmala Yadav (ref post of November 28) has disappeared without a trace, significantly, after collecting her Club cap.

Khatoon Baig

For another, there is no news of the Choudharys, who used to be so popular and had endeared themselves to everyone in a short time. It is over two weeks since the family stopped coming to the Garden and Ajit Choudhary isn’t taking any call either. And what can be said of those lively ta'i chi Chinese girls, last seen on November 23? Like the rest, they too have vanished into thin air!
The good news though, is that Kiran Prakash could make it to the Garden this morning (ref yesterday’s post). He had to drive down from Malad, but if he had any plans for the Annual Day programme, it is unlikely he could make much headway. Nahid Siddiqui had brought a bunch of photos on the South India tour (November 24 to December 3) and everybody got so taken in by them that everything else receded into insignificance. The tour hangover would apparently last for some more time.
Ajit Choudhary:
I am sorry I could not accept any call. My mom is now okay but Papa has developed some urinary problem. Due to this, I am busy with office, the pathology lab and hospital. Really sorry. Once this settles, we will be back with Big Laaf. We are really missing you all.
Anonymous:
Early morning my wife clings to me and cries, "Mujhko thand lag rahi hai mujhse door tu na ja, na-ja, na-ja na-ja na-ja..." Then tell me how shall I come.