House Party

Shekhawat triggers discussions on today's evening program

Today Shekhawat made us an offer we could not refuse. He has just landed an exponential hike in his monthly pension and is thrilled to bits – more so, because he had neither made any effort nor asked for it. It simply came upon him like a windfall. And to share his joy, he has invited the whole Club to his house at 5:00 pm today, for high tea.
Much as nobody would want to disappoint him, the suddenness of this invite took us all by surprise. Many were already committed elsewhere and tried persuading him to postpone the party and/or change the venue. “What’s wrong in having the party in the Garden next Saturday?” pleaded Nahid Khan.
“Najma Sayyed is in hospital again,” announced Banoo Apa. “We are holding a prayer meeting for her this evening. The lady is suffering a lot. This is her third hip-bone surgery in the past few months. I'll be able to come only after the prayer meeting, around 6:00 pm.”
Fahmida Khan changed tack and tried getting aggressive. “What high tea are you calling us for?”

Disposing left-over toffees from Republic Day

she demanded of Shekhawat. “You are inviting us to your home

Karuna Waghmare

on a great occasion and you should ideally be treating us to not tea but dinner with chicken roast, biryani, kofta, mutton kebabs… Do I have spell out the menu for you? And what about drinks?”
Peculiarly, this was music to Shekhawat’s ears. “Oph coursh, oph coursh,” he chanted. “My daughter-in-law has just brought me English rum from a trip to England. There is enough whishhky also for the gents. For the ladies log, I can offer gin and lime, red wine, vodka-Sprite… whatever you want. I have sparkling wine also. Or would you people like to have champagne?”
Clearly, Shekhawat was in no mood to change his program. He has already made arrangements for the evening and even invited some of his close friends and relatives to join the celebration. It seems yesterday he had sounded his front-door neighbor on the party and for some reason this lady imagined that it would be the same evening. So all evening, she kept vigil, checking for the tell-tale clutter of footwear outside Shekhawat’s door and finally retired to bed at night, hungry and disappointed.
That front-door lady happens to be Karuna Waghmare.
Bihari Milwani:
Do celebrate today before the budget increases costs. One doesn't know if the budget day-after tomorrow would increase the pension amount further.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
An armed forces person is always an armed forces person - whether he is serving or retired. Give him a little opportunity and he is not just joyful, but overjoyed. Shekhawat is no exception. His brethren have been fighting for the rise in pension. Everyone got some money and is happy. So the increase is considered a windfall. Relish the party and be happy.