Another Diwali Bash

Swati Panjabi (centre) attends to the guests individually

Today was Swati Panjabi’s day. Here is one person who, at the drop of the hat, has been treating us to sabu-dana khichdi, suji halwa and many such delicacies every other day. Now that Diwali is upon us, she did not even attempt inventing an excuse to ply us with her culinary magic yet again – oven fresh dhokla, crispies and chips,

Banoo Apa

kachori, besan luddoo… all home-made.
Nobody asked her either. “There are such people who, regardless of everything, enjoy feeding others,” observed Yusuf Rassiwala. “Call it generosity or large-heartedness, you cannot reason such things with them. On the contrary, they’d feel insulted if you discourage them from being so generous. Swati belongs to that rare breed of do-gooders.”
Much as Swati reiterated that nothing gives her more pleasure than seeing people enjoy her food (“I don’t like eating, but I love seeing others enjoy my cooking”)

Shekhawat announces his Diwali Party for Monday

a lot of time and effort (not to mention, money) had gone into today’s bash. After all, she was catering to 30-odd mouths. So the preparatory work had begun a week back and last night, from 2:00 a.m. till daybreak, she had been on her toes next to the gas stove, rustling up the sweet and salties. “But I am still not satisfied with the besan luddoo,” she remarked in passing.
Banoo Apa added the topping to the treat with biscuits and once again, divine home-brewed tea. She has come in for all-round praise for yesterday’s tea (on Chanda’s bash) though she made light of it by comparing her preparation with that of Mallika Kagzi. “My tea is nothing compared to Mallika's,” she said with pronounced humility.
Meanwhile, Shekhawat has ‘booked’ Monday (tomorrow being a holiday) as his day for another Diwali party. He said he would have liked to call us home in the evening, but since his wife is not keeping well, he has had to drop the idea. Lest he were to change his mind any further, the ladies assured him that a ‘Garden party’ would do just fine!
Dilip Babani:
HAPPY DIWALI to all! We are enjoying Diwali parties. All are happy. God bless you all.
Kiran Prakash:
It is beyond anybody's imagination that Swati gets so much pleasure in feeding people. She does not do this as a formality. She puts her heart and soul in it and treats us as if we are guests in her house. Thank you very much, Swati.
P.S.:The besan ladoos were delicious. I had three ladoos!
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
There are normally two Diwalis -- Chhoti Diwali and Barri Diwali. In Big Laaf we find three Diwalis -- Chhoti, Barri and Barri Barri Diwalis. Are these Diwali celebrations or a competition for accumulating calories? Anyway it is a good gesture. Keep enjoying, but not at cost of your health.