Monsoon Arrives

Too wet to fly?

After many false starts, monsoon has struck with a bang. Torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed Mumbai through the night and in the early hours of the morning. But by daybreak, when we landed in the Garden, it had all subsided and we were greeted by the spectacular sight of more than a hundred pigeons roosting peacefully in the green lawns. Apparently they were too wet or sleepy (or both) to take flight so early in the morning.
We let them be and contained ourselves to the China Hut during the exercises, lest it started to rain again. The fear of getting drenched by another downpour dissuaded many from turning up today, much to Shekhawat’s consternation. It was his wife, Mohan Kanwar’s birthday. And for one who believes in numbers, the absence of regulars like Bijoy Gupta, Kanta Sharma, Ram Shankar Shukla and others was making him uneasy.
Those following this blog would know that Mohan Kanwar was hospitalised last week for a day and she still hasn’t recovered from a state of weakness and fatigue (see post of June 17).

Hubby wishes Birthday Girl

Yet she showed up today. Looking withdrawn, she was not her usual self, despite our best efforts to cheer her up and wish her many happy returns of the day.

Mr and Mrs Shekhawat posing for the birthday photo

Shekhawat chivalrously clapped and danced around her and was to later pose with her against a backdrop of red hibiscus for a photo-op. All that made a difference and brought a smile to her face. But she was much too stressed out and under the weather.
The only dampener on an otherwise dry morning was that the food packets ordered by Shekhawat did not turn up on time. It was a minor lapse, not something to be made an issue of. But we all need to be careful on placing orders with Vyanjan next -- more so, as this is the second occasion (after Kanta Sharma's birthday) to be let down by them.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
The arrival of monsoon with a bang resulted in empty benches and the presence of pigeons flocking on the ground. The birds and men have been together to enjoy nature. Wishing Mrs Shekhawat Happy Birthday and a healthy life.