Aftermath

Shooting the breeze

In the aftermath of yesterday’s mega shindig (see post), we are noticing a strange but unmistakable consolidation of forces in the Garden. The usual suspects with divided loyalties are beginning to see through the lies they had been fed with for long and are now retracing their steps towards Big Laaf.
“The Reserve Bank of India order has come as a slap on their face,” said one. “Serves them right. Many congratulations to all of you!”
Others like Tara Chand Seth and Karuna Waghmare today demanded their share of laddoos since they missed the celebrations yesterday. Yusuf Rassiwala suggested we also send a box of sweets to Celebration Club for their being "so supportive towards us" during the past eight months. There were also cautionary noises about retaliatory moves by the “opposite party” (as Shekhawat puts it) in order to harass / demoralise us.

Karuna Waghmare gets til-gud laddoos

Shanti Singh brings til-gud laddoos

Some suggested circulating copies of the RBI order for the general information of members. But the idea was dropped later. “They won’t sit quiet now,” was the general warning. "We need to be vigilant."
Meanwhile, the overall sense of jubilation in the Club is fast being replaced by an insistence to loosen our purse strings – now that finances are no longer a matter of concern. Apart from the celebratory party scheduled, there are expenses for the Republic Day function coming up next week. Shekhawat, along with Mallika Kagzi and Arun Patil want a picnic also, even if it were to be at Juhu Beach (“but definitely not Versova Beach”). Incidentally, a contingent from the Club is leaving for a week-long tour of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer on February 5.
Dilip Babani came up with a brilliant idea. Instead of arbitrarily taking off on such recreational activities, it would be better if we put our heads together and chalk out in advance a calendar of events/ programmes to be undertaken by the Club in the course of one year. “Accordingly, we may allocate funds and make sure we stick to our budget for each event,” he explained.
This would require a meeting of the managing committee – earlier the better.