Back from Kiwiland

Welcome back, Siba Prasad Maitra

Siba Prasad Maitra is back from New Zealand. He had been on a 10-day business trip that took him on a whirlwind tour of Auckland, Mt Maunganui and Queenstown (among other places). Time did not however, permit him a visit to the national capital, Wellington.
That Maitra was being missed in the Garden all these days was evident the moment he showed up this morning. Abruptly the exercises were suspended and everybody broke into a round of applause welcoming him back – something unprecedented in the Club. He had actually informed some people on WhatsApp yesterday of having

Mallika Kagzi

touched base in Mumbai and that had raised expectations all around.
Not finding him at the start of the exercises (because of the rains), frantic calls were made to his residence – some ladies even plotting to send him back to New Zealand should he have forgotten to get chocolates for them!
Maitra did not disappoint. He brought Whittaker’s popular cocoa bars along with loads of photos on his new iPhone and charming anecdotes that would probably take a month now to narrate. A gifted raconteur, he is capable of transporting his audience

Soothing hot tea from Mallika Kagzi

to the “heaven on earth” (trust him to say jahannam in Hindi) he had been to – the picture postcard beauty of clear water lakes, verdant stretches of greenery, the crystal blue skies, even the depths of ‘mines’ from where dark medicinal sub-soil is extracted... in short, the natural splendour New Zealand is known for. Even cloud shots taken by him from the aircraft looked ethereal.
Significantly, Mallika Kagzi made a surprise appearance (while on roza) mainly to celebrate her marriage anniversary with us today. On a wet, drippy morning, nothing could have been more welcome than the special, piping hot tea she had brought along. But in the end, it was the jolly, sharp-witted and charismatic Maitra who carried the morning.
For the record, Maitra is founder director of Geluk Pharma, a company set up late last year in Mahim for marketing some extraordinary cosmeceutical and skin care products. It was in connection with sourcing and familiarising himself with the stuff in much of its raw form that he had made this trip to New Zealand.
We wish him the very best in his enterprise.
Siba Prasad Maitra:
I was really amazed at the reception from members -- even as I am quite irregular for the exercises. I appreciate the gesture of that made me feel their very own and as close as a family member. I thank the Blog Monster also for the good words on my new venture and his wishes on the success of Geluk Pharma.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
It is nice of Mallika Kagzi to come during Ramzan and join club members to celebrate her marriage anniversary. Wishing her a long and happy married life.The very presence of Siba Prasad Maitra in the club is in itself a healthy sign. His simple and innocent jokes make everyone laugh and enjoy.