Fresh Start

NEW BEGINNING: Mumtaz Jahan takes to the middle for the first time

Today was an auspicious day. From Poila Baisakh to Puthandu to Bihu and Vishu, a plethora of Hindu festivals have converged upon us, all signifying one thing – happy tidings on the new year.

Monthi hands over charge

It is an occasion for a fresh start. And Monthi Serrao understandably chose this holy day to formally hand over the Club’s accounts to the new treasurer, Kajal Babani. Indeed, very thoughtful of her.
For the rest of us, it was a day of joy and celebration. Siba Prasad Maitra took the Club out to a stall nearby for a round of chilled, creamy lassi.

Siba Maitra (ext left) treat us to lassi on Bengali New Year

Nothing could be more welcome and god-sent on a sultry morning than this refreshing treat. It takes a Bengali’s imagination to come up with something so out-of-the-ordinary, especially on Poila Baisakh. Indeed, very considerate of him.
But the bigger celebration was the arrival of Mallika Kagzi. She had landed from Hyderabad by the Hussain Sagar Express barely two hours earlier and after freshening up at home, made a quick beeline to the Garden. “What to do, the pull of the Club was so compelling that I couldn’t rest peacefully at home,” she said.
Mallika was accorded a welcome befitting the president of Big Laaf, what with Kiran Prakash, Dilip Babani, Geeta Latte and others lining up solider-like and pulling off a smart salute in her honour.

Welcome back, Mallika Kagzi

Clearly, she enjoyed all the attention till suddenly, her mind started working overtime. “From tomorrow, none of you guys should come wearing shorts for the exercises,” she declared. “I’ll be standing at the gate.

Mallika cooks Gupta's goose

Anybody I see coming in shorts will be sent back!”
We were all shaken out of our wits. But this was also the trigger for today’s entertainment. No amount of reasoning could change the president’s decision with Bijoy Gupta (ref yesterday’s post) eventually turning out to be the fall guy. “Females are wearing shorts everywhere and here you want us men to drop our shorts for full pants?” he argued like a clueless schoolboy. “You should actually be telling the ladies to wear shorts from tomorrow. Go check in any gym…”
Mallika was in no mood for excuses. “Order is order,” she said wagging a finger at Gupta.
“But I don’t understand,” Gupta pleaded. “Why do you want men to cover their legs? Tomorrow, who knows you might order men to cover themselves from top to toe and start wearing burqa to exercise…”
The fun and games had just begun.
Dilip Babani:
Very nice photos!
Bihari Milwani:
Gupta-ji, please remember that the boss (president) is always right!