On Cloud Nine

Shekhawat (in green) hosting his tea party

Hari Singh Shekhawat today made the mistake of wearing his heart on his sleeve. And he had to pay the price for it. He had to treat everyone to a grand tea party at the nearest joint open in the wee hours of the morning – right under a drippy, rain-soaked tree!
The trigger for his blooper was a little beep in his mobile telling him that his monthly pension from the Navy had been credited to his bank account. He should have ideally kept quiet about it, but being the boastful simpleton, he went on to display the message to everyone around in the China Hut.
On top, he informed that he is one of the many lucky beneficiaries from the Rs85,000 crore bonanza announced yesterday for government staff and pensioners. So chuffed was he that he even started reeling out details of his investments in landed property across Mumbai and Rajasthan when nobody really asked him to.
Clearly Shekhawat was on cloud nine, blissfully unaware that he was surrounded by the Club’s famous ‘female terrorists’ who would not forgive him for being left high and dry.

Shekhawat waxes eloquent on his windfall... and investments

Dilip Babani (l) advises Kiran Prakash

Bhaswati Bose, Kajal Babani, Swati Punjabi and Geeta Latte promptly got into their act and demanded that he write off one apartment in each of their names forthwith. Their demand dropped to free and unfettered access to one of his Rajasthan properties after converting it to a swank holiday home. Eventually, they settled for tea. Shekhawat was game.
Meanwhile, here is a piece of sage advice Dilip Babani was to give to Kiran Prakash today which should hold all insomniacs in good stead: “Pick up the most boring second-hand book you find with a scrap dealer. Don’t take a novel, because reading it is like watching a movie and it will keep you awake all night. The book might cost you 20-30 rupees, but it is cheaper, more effective and less harmful than any sleeping pill. You will fall asleep in half an hour, guaranteed!”
For Prakash, who habitually wakes up every night at 3:00 a.m. and is unable to sleep after that, this was music to his ears.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
Armed forces personnel are simple and happy-go-lucky. Whenever some amount is received by them, it is a 'pay day' for them and worth enjoying. It is good that dear Shekhawat remembers the old tradition and celebrates joyfully with his colleagues.