Passing the Hat

Mallika Kagzi

Big Laaf continues to evolve and innovate with every passing day. For the first time, a cap was passed around to cover the costs of today’s naashta in the Garden. Mallika Kagzi had brought some keema-pao and tea from home and it was only in the fitness of things that we paid for it -- partially, if not fully.
Of late, Mallika had turned extra-generous, treating us to goodies every other day after the exercises. If nothing else, she would have a flaskful of hot tea ready for us. This had become increasingly awkward for many, more so since none of us is in any position to either reciprocate or refuse her. After all, who has the time and energy to get up in the middle of the night – that too, on a regular basis – to cook for a bunch of people in the Garden?
Mallika’s explanation has been that she “enjoys feeding people” and we believe her because rarely, if ever, does she herself partake in what she brings in the morning. Today also, she did not even take a bite of the keema-pao she brought. Still, this ‘indulgence’ costs money and the least we could do was to defray some the expenses to the extent we could individually afford.
The idea of passing the hat around came up when plans for a picnic at Juhu Beach were being made last week.

Swati Punjabi (centre) is terrified by the waves of Arabian Sea

It was decided then that we should have a potluck after the exercises. But we also knew that most of us (especially the men) would turn up empty-handed and as it happened the last time around (ref post of September 20, 2014), the burden of feeding everyone would fall mainly on Mallika’s shoulders. This would be grossly unfair.
Meanwhile, a date for the Juhu picnic continues to evade us. With the holy month of Ramzan round the corner and consequently, attendance expected to drop sharply, we must set out before June 6. Swati Punjabi excitedly offered to celebrate her birthday by the beach on June 2, but soon changed her mind. “What happens if my birthday cake gets washed away by the waves of Arabian Sea?” she asked, giving a terrified look.
That was a good question nobody had an answer to.
Bihari Milwani:
We should have the Juhu picnic before the onset of monsoon. We can perhaps have the picnic on June 6, Mallika's birthday -- before Ramzaan month begins. Or else, Swati may get a 'waterproof cake' to protect it from sea water.