Happy Birthday Pt II

Mumtaz Jahan (rt) handing out glassfuls of Kashmiri kahwah

Mumtaz Jahan celebrated her second birthday in as many days. Clearly not satisfied by the lavish spread yesterday, she hosted another treat today, this time with a traditional Kashmiri specialty that money cannot buy in Mumbai -- kahwah.
This home-brewed concoction of almond flakes, saffron, honey and green tea leaves was just what the doctor would have ordered for us after our exercises.

Fahmida (rt) tried to hold back Tara Chand

Mercifully, Bijoy Gupta (ref yesterday’s post) had not turned up this morning.
For the rest of us, the lukewarm brew came as a welcome diversion from the milk tea we are accustomed to having every other morning. Mumtaz had thoughtfully brought nankhatai and mini coconut pastries as accompaniments which together made for a unique, wholesome birthday treat. May she live twice as long for this double celebration.
Amid all the merriment and bonhomie, Tara Chand Seth sounded a discordant note by announcing that he would have to leave for Delhi later in the day.

Shekhawat (l) announces next session of Dr Muhammed Farooq Khan

His flight ticket was already booked and as always, he wasn’t sure when he would return. “Delhi is also home to me,” he iterated.
Tara Chand has been with us for barely two-and-half months this time and naturally, many did not want him to leave so soon. Fahmida Khan tried to persuade the 88-year-old to stay back and even physically clung on to him in the hope he would change his mind. Others simply tried to extract a commitment that he would be back in Mumbai before the notorious Delhi monsoon.
Meanwhile, Shekhawat announced that the next session on pain by Dr Muhammed Farooq Khan (ref post of February 1) would be held this weekend (Saturday) – same time, same place. The topic to be covered is Managing Pain with Pain. “All members who wish to have their pain treated should desist from taking any pain killer 24 hours before the session,” Shekhawat urged.
The session will be followed by light refreshments, courtesy Banoo Apa.