DAY 2230

Pic of the Week

ANTS IN PANTS?  THESE GUYS NEED HELP.

Ladies, help needed urgently to remove ants! --Bihari Milwani

Mujhe meri biwi se bachaao! --Anonymous

Event ants would be happy playing 'Toy of Joy'. --Karun Sharma

Beautiful picture --Geeta Latte

All in Jest

Bijoy Gupta had not forgiven Shekhawat for getting away without treating us on his birthday (see post of April 27). Over the last 48 hours he kept ribbing the latter for being a show-off when he was actually

Dr Farooq (r) wishes Shekhawat

stone broke, a pauper, a confirmed miser, etc. etc.
“You couldn’t afford even a toffee for us?” Gupta grilled his good friend. “If I had only known you were in such a miserable state, I would have a hosted a lavish party on your behalf. I would have invited the whole Club to my house and celebrated your birthday in grand style.”
Shekhawat obviously had other plans but he wasn’t talking about it.

The big birthday bash

He allowed Gupta the pleasure of poking fun at him and providing entertainment during the exercises. At one point, Gupta lamented out of sheer exasperation: “Why did you take birth at all?”
Meanwhile, Dilip Babani was given a carte blanche to organize a mega birthday bash, belated as it might be, on Saturday, i.e. today.

Doling out the goodies

The talk by Karun Sharma, scheduled for the morning, was pushed to next Saturday. “People tend to be relaxed during the week-end,” Shekhawat reasoned. “I don’t want anybody to be in a hurry to go home because of paucity of time.”
Shekhawat had also made phone calls, inviting his “personal friends” including erstwhile saalis. Dr Muhammed Farooq Khan was specially invited to be the guest of honour and sure enough, he presented himself on time with characteristic grace and dignity. He even returned Shekhawat’s ‘ceremonial salute’ soon after the birthday song, and wished the 79-year-old a happy and healthy life ahead. By then the Garden had taken a festive atmosphere with everybody sporting colorful conical caps, merrily dancing and fooling around.
The celebration spilled out of the Garden to our regular party haunt where a massive spread (too varied to elaborate) was laid out. There was tea also, courtesy Banoo Apa (as always) to wash down the sumptuous fare. But in all this, there was no sign of one man. Bijoy Gupta. Nobody noticed he had disappeared.
Banoo Apa (on WhatsApp):
I want to thank Shekhawat-ji for the grand party. May ALLAH give him a long life with good health.
Kiran Prakash (on WhatsApp):
Yes, we had a grand party today.
Yusuf Rassiwala (on WhatsApp):
I would also like to thank Shekhawat-ji for his dildar birthday party and the goodwill gesture of remembering my wife, Niloo on each and every occasion. Niloo and I wish him a very happy birthday and pray to the Almighty to bless him with good health and happiness.
Geeta Latte:
Happy Birthday, dear Shikhawat uncle. And thank you so-ooooo much for today's​ party. It was very nice of you.
Bihari Milwani:
Jungle jungle pata chala hai, Chaddi pahenkar Shekhawat birthday party ko nikla hai... Shekhawat-ji looks so handsome and smart in half pant. Happy Birthday

Confidence Booster

Santosh Tyagi (l) conducts the tai-chi exercises today

Conducting exercises in the middle is proving to be a big confidence booster for many – particularly those who are shy and reticent by nature. Many of them have led sheltered lives and now, with advancing age, find themselves at a loose end.
“I feel so much better,” Santosh Tyagi said soon after conducting the tai-chi round today. This was the first time in 12 years she was invited to take charge of the exercises. “Thank you very much, everybody.”
Initially though, Santosh panicked and turned beetroot red, refusing to step up when her name was called out.

Khatoon Baig

As she had once mentioned, the fear of being the centre of all attention was working in her mind. “It would feel like 30 pairs of eyes are boring into me,” she explained, knowing well she had developed an acute sense of stage fear. “I realize also that I have to get over this phobia. I got to find my confidence.”
Clearly, the inclination was there, but not the self-assurance. The turning point came last week when she saw Khatoon Baig being goaded to

Razia Khan (middle) brought us chikkis and lozenges from a visit to Pune

conduct the exercises (ref post of April 22) and eventually surviving the session, unscathed. What’s more, she noticed Khatoon to have turned unusually vocal and assertive – indicators of her newfound self-esteem.
Now Khatoon, like Santosh has been painfully shy and used to largely keep to herself. A nagging asthmatic condition aggravated matters. She was gradually losing her voice when it was decided to push her up centre, if that would help conquer her inner demons.
It worked. Khatoon has since been on a song, even rebuking talkative members and once, much to everybody’s surprise, threatened to take Shekhawat to task for being inattentive towards her. She no longer needs to be told but volunteers to conduct the exercises.
Likewise, Santosh has found her place in the sun. Before dispersing today, she offered to conduct the main free-hand exercises tomorrow morning. This, from a person who, not-so-long ago, had threatened to stop coming to the Garden should she be told to step in the middle.
Dilip Babani:
Santosh-ji became new teacher of tai chi.
Siba Prasad Maitra:
Belated Happy Birthday, Gupta-ji and Shekhawat-ji. I missed two important birthday gatherings due personal engagements. But I pray to God to give both of you a long and healthy life ahead. Namaskar!

Birth Day Boy

Bijoy Gupta (l) returns Shekhawat's salute after presenting the birthday calendar

Hari Singh Shekhawat ushered his 79th birthday with us in the Garden today, at 8:00 a.m.. Till then, according to Bijoy Kumar Gupta, he had not taken birth. “Nobody should talk to Shekhawat now,” he appealed during the exercises. “He is still unborn!”
Gupta himself played midwife in the birthing process by presenting Shekhawat his photo calendar on behalf of the Club. With much ceremony, the two clicked their heels and saluted one another in pucca military style. Earlier, Gupta broke tradition and delivered a short but moving speech as he wished his old buddy a long and joyous life. “Aise hi hanste-khelte rahe,” he said.
We too wished our favorite Peter Pan many happy returns of the day, sang the birthday song and raised a fourth laugh to mark the occasion. Some ladies like Fahmida Khan stuck beautiful white flowers on Shekhawat’s ears and cap while he pranced about gleefully like a child

Shekhawat studies the photo calendar

in a new lemon yellow bush shirt – a birthday gift from his adopted sister, Swati Panjabi. Sadly, she was not present as she had to be by her husband who is recuperating

Members peer into the birthday gift

from an eye surgery.
But Shekhawat was clearly over the moon. “I have suffered a great deal in my youth to be seeing this day now,” he confided in Yusuf Rassiwala early morning. “As a daily wage worker in the village, I used to carry head loads from morning to night for a contractor. There was never enough to eat at home. God is being kind to me only now, in my old age.”
Followers of this blog would reckon Shekhawat’s age to be 73 years now. That’s because his official date of birth (as per records with Indian Navy, his last employer) is April 27, 1944. He deliberately shaved off six years at the time of recruitment. “This was the practice back then in villages,” he explained. “There were no hospitals, no age proof, let alone birth certificates... And everybody took advantage of it.”
By that token, Bijoy Gupta was not far amiss when he wanted to give Shekhawat a new birth day today morning.
Dilip Babani:
Happy Birthday, Shekhawat-ji and God bless.
Geeta Latte:
Watching Shekhawat-uncle and Gupta-uncle reminds me of Tom and Jerry.

Bizarre Coincidence

Santosh Tyagi

Fortune, they say, follows the brave. But what would you say when fate conspires to follow you with a bizarre concurrence of events wherever you go?
“It is called kaand,” says Santosh Tyagi who has unwittingly found herself to be a front row witness to some of the most sensational crime breaks in recent times – all because she happened to be in close proximity, residing in the same building complex where they took place.
“Yesterday my maid told me not to

Nahid Khan receives Pehchaan Kaun trophy from Kiran Prakash

tell anyone that cops had entered our complex and picked up someone,” Santosh narrated this morning, little knowing that the incident was all over the papers today. A boutique owner had been arrested from Mira Tower for raping a 20-year-old woman.
“Last week, Pawan Kumar (a singer) committed suicide in a 14th floor flat,” she recounted. “He was staying alone and seemed to be doing well for himself. His body was recovered four days after he died. The police broke into his flat after neighbors complained of foul smell…”
Significantly, Santosh does not appear rattled and even tries to make light of the circumstances destiny positions her repeatedly. “These kaands have to happen only to me, wherever I

Dilip Babani receives his trophy from Banoo Apa

take up residence,” she said smacking her forehead in jest.
It all began at Tarapore Towers in 2009 when her then neighbor, movie actor Shiney Ahuja was picked up on charges of raping his maid. The incident made national headlines and Santosh would feed us daily with “inside information” she would gather from her neighborhood.
Before long, she moved to Samarth Aangan whereupon the gruesome Arun Tiku Murder Case broke out in 2012. A 62-year-old businessman was brutally done to death by two persons in his home. The incident hogged headlines for weeks, but this time Santosh did not talk much. She appeared genuinely disturbed. And now she has to deal with the Mira Tower kaands...
“The tragedy about living in Mumbai is that we become incredibly self-centered and indifferent,” Santosh muses. “We don’t even know who lives next door. You enter your house and lock out the world. There is no interaction with anybody in the neighborhood. Why, the other day my watchman asked me for identity proof. Even he does not know I stay in the building!”

Luddoo treat from Nahid Khan

Rukhsana Khan also brings sweets

Banoo Apa gets mango milk shake

Geeta Latte:
Congratulations, bhaijaan💐👍💐 Nahid Bhai!

Piquant Situation

Shooting the breeze as usual, after the exercises today

Amid the fun and frolic every morning at the Garden, we are fast moving to a situation when certain members would have to turn up not to exercise, but only to be photographed. Or else, they would stand to lose their birthday photo calendars!
The absurdity of it all stems from the renewed popularity of these personalised calendars following their revival after a year. Till these were suspended, it did not matter who came to the Garden and when. As the calendar highlights their involvement in the Club’s day-to-day activities over a period of 12 months, nobody would really like to be left out.
Still, Shekhawat had to bring this up today morning when the names of certain members known to habitually play hooky were mentioned. They include Fahmida Khan, Rakhee Bansi, Pushpa Gupta, Mumtaz Jahan, Vandana Kankanwar and a few others.
Significantly, many of their birthdays are round the corner. And it would be hard to explain to them that at least 12 of their pictures are required to cover the 12 months/ pages of a calendar. Upon being denied the calendar the feeling of being discriminated against is bound to arise.
One member who understands this problem came up with a funny solution. She offered to show up one morning with 12 dress changes. It would be a proper photo shoot in the Garden, rather than even a pretense of exercising. The dress changes would create the impression of attendance on different days right round the year.
What a brilliant idea, Madam-ji!
Bihari Milwani:
Madam! Please make sure that after changing the 12 dresses and getting the photo shoot you come on your birthday with sweets. Otherwise you will not get your photo calendar.

Turning 74

Geeta Latte presents Bijoy Gupta his birthday calendar

Bijoy Gupta turned 74 today. And if there was anyone happier than him in the Garden, it had to be his bff, Hari Singh Shekhawat. “He is still five years behind me,” the latter ribbed Gupta. “However hard he may try, he can never match me!”
In his show of upmanship, Shekhawat had worked himself crazy long before the birthday boy showed up in the Garden. He needlessly chased a stray puppy, telling it to come later because Gupta would be giving a big treat today. “He’ll be coming soon,” he called out at the playful canine.

Curious eyes examine the calendar

“It’s his birthday today.”
Even in Gupta’s presence with the exercises on, Shekhawat continued taking digs at his friend while the puppy scampered around wagging its tail. Earlier on, he signed Gupta’s birthday calendar on behalf of the Club by adding a personal note

The big birthday bash

(in Hindi) addressed to his “Gudri ka Laal” – whatever that might mean.
“Padho, padho,” Shekhawat urged after Geeta Latte formally presented Gupta with the photo calendar. “Everybody should read what I have written. It is meant for him.”
Gupta took it all sportingly and occasionally shared a joke in Shekhawat’s ears, obviously not meant for public consumption. But the way the two oldies kept cracking up over such childish exchanges was by itself a treat to the eye. At the end of the exercises Gupta obliged Shekhawat by joining his ‘train round’ – something he has always been averse to – all because it was his birthday today.
But then, the one to corner all praise in the end was neither Gupta nor Shekhawat. It was Gupta’s wife, Pushpa. Apparently she had stayed up in the kitchen for the best part of last night to rustle up a sumptuous mix of fresh cheese sandwiches, a unique lip-smacking vermicelli dish, brown cake slices and an assortment of salties/ fries.
Never before have we been treated to such a luxurious birthday breakfast – that too, almost entirely home-made.
Bihari Milwani:
Gupta-ji is actually three days older to Shekhawat.
Geeta Latte:
Tum jio hazaaron saal... Happy Birthday dear Gupta uncle 💐🎂💐

DAY 2223

Pic of the Week

Yeeeah! That's it!! THE JUBILANT LAUGHTER!!!

Congratulations, Nahid aunty!!! 💐👍 --Geeta Latte

How about she teaching us this new laughter exercise? --Anonymous

Congratulations on winning the Pehchaan Kaun contest! --Kiran Prakash

Nahid-ji, Congratulations! You won the Pehchaan Kaun --Dilip Babani

It is the Biiiiiiiiig Laaaaaaaf!!! --Bihari Milwani

‘Sleeping Lion’

Members listen to Dr Muhammed Farooq Khan with rapt attention

Dr Muhammed Farooq Khan began his talk today on diabetes with an unanswered question raised during his last session (ref post of April 8) in the China Hut: Why don’t dogs and cats get diabetes?
“They do,” he said. “But when left to themselves, like the strays who run around foraging for food, it is unlikely they’d contract diabetes.

'Test walk' for Santosh Tyagi (r)

The risk of diabetes increases manifold the moment you curb their natural instincts and domesticate them. You would then be

Banoo Apa treats us to mango milk shake

enforcing a lifestyle change which can be detrimental for them.”
Elaborating on the “lifestyle disease”, Dr Farooq once again underlined the risk factors like lack of physical exercise, obesity and family history that could awaken “the sleeping lion” within us. But it is never too late to take remedial measures and remain alert, he said.
“How often do you get your blood sugar checked?” he asked. “Or for that matter, your toes and eyes tested for diabetes? These are regular precautionary measures we need to ordinarily take before diabetes spreads like termite inside the body.”
Dr Farooq spoke of the various forms of treatment -- from insulin shots and patches -- developed

Khatoon Baig (r) conquered her shyness by taking to the middle today

with advances in medical science but as yet, there is no absolute cure. “Prevention is better than cure,” he emphasised. “My experience tells me that 50 per cent of our ailments can be prevented naturally by taking adequate rest and control over diet. Also, keep a check on your emotions.”
That apart, there is a tendency in most of us towards self-medication which can only aggravate a condition rather than provide treatment: “Please listen to your doctor. He knows best. Take the medicines as prescribed and don’t skip the routine. In our forgetfulness, we become our own doctors. That would invite trouble.”
Dr Farooq will do a wrap-up on diabetes (and pain management) by inviting questions from members in his next session, scheduled on May 6 (Saturday) in the China Hut.
Bihari Milwani:
Join Big Laaf. Laugh regularly and loudly. There will be no diabetes!!!
Kiran Prakash:
Unfortunately I missed Dr Farooq's session since I could not go to Garden today. Although this blog conveys most of the points, attending the session would really have benefited me more. It is nice of Dr Farooq to take so much trouble and share his knowledge and experience with us. No words would be enough to thank you, Doctor.
Geeta Latte:
Farooq uncle, thank you so much. Aap se bahut kuch seekhne milta hai🙏🙏💐

Natural Jokester

Bhaswati Bose

Since the advent of smartphones, the practice of narrating jokes extempore or from slips of paper has become a thing of the past in the Garden. Today, online jokes are the norm with everyone wanting to catch up with the latest 'forwards' on the mobile. So popular is our post-exercise session of jokes that even outsiders (read non-members) are dropping by, if only for a few laughs.
In all this, Bhaswati Bose has emerged as an unlikely jokester much sought after by members of the Club. A natural wit, she has a certain way with words that can turn the most bland or insipid anecdote to a riotous gag (often unintended) triggering peals of side-splitting laughter.

Siba Prasad Maitra in form with his tongue-in-cheek narration

Not just that, Bhaswati has also become a veritable repository of the Club’s jokes. From Banoo Apa to Kajal Babani and Karun Sharma, everyone routinely shares their jokes with her so that she would narrate them the following day. Clearly, nobody tells them the way she does.
Siba Prasad Maitra however, stole her thunder today when he came up with three jokes (also from the Net) that were no less hilarious. Starting with an apocryphal tale directed at Narendra Modi, he quickly switched to a typical husband-wife wisecrack – the man unable to get a word edgeways while his wife keeps chattering away.
Another story, equally funny, was a play of words – a suspicious man misreading “battery full” on his wife’s mobile as “beautiful”.
Maitra’s sense of humor is contagious. But he is rarely seen these days, partly due to a painful catch in his back and also because of compulsions at work. His presence today in the Garden thus came as a welcome blast of fresh air. And his jokes’ narration was the proverbial topping on the cake.
Dilip Babani:
Really, Maitra and Bhaswati are best in telling jokes. The jokes session makes us more happy than the exercises. We all wait to listen to the jokes. Santosh-ji is also best in telling jokes.
Geeta Latte:
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap and the best medicine.
Siba Prasad Maitra:
Dear Blog Monster, you are putting me in a difficult situation by mentioning I have stolen her thunder. Remember, I have to go to the Garden again. In fact, Bhaswati's one joke, "What is common between Cricket and Toilet?" was hilarious.

Self Analysis

Post-mortem of yesterday's proceedings

Now that the dust has settled over Pehchaan Khan-14 (see yesterday’s post), the Club indulged in some serious self-analysis over how most members got it wrong on recognizing Dilip Babani from his childhood photograph.
“Had he given his current photograph, none of us would have made any mistake,” remarked Bijoy Gupta innocently. “Dilip deliberately fooled us by putting out a photo of his teenage years. Everything about him has since changed – his ears, eyes, smile… Nothing about him is the same today.”
Little realizing that that was precisely the challenge posed by the contest, Gupta was unrelenting: “I can understand if you simply ask me to recognize this chap from his face in the photo. That itself is a tough call because I don’t even know whether he is boy or girl. Instead you are asking me his shoe size, where he stays… Arrey, how am I concerned?”
Dilip, who was till then a silent observer, made some polite noises, whereupon the winner of the contest, Nahid Khan pointed out that his ears and mischievous eyes were total give-aways.

Santosh Tyagi

Zarina Khan

"There was no mistaking them," she pointed out.
Banoo Apa, who also got it spot on (but was sadly, eliminated in the draw of lots) pointed out that Dilip’s smile had not changed. “I could easily identify him from his jawline,” she said, sportingly describing herself a “losing winner”.
Santosh Tyagi rued over spending days on end in vain studying Dilip’s photograph till her granddaughter at home freaked out: “She became terribly concerned, wondering why I kept staring at one black and white photo in the mobile all the time.” And Yusuf Rassiwala recounted how every other phone call he received till yesterday was an inquiry about his shoe size and where he stayed. “I myself got deceived by those ears,” he conceded, while accusing Gupta for being born with Dilip Babani’s ears.
Zarina Khan however, was absolutely unforgiving towards Dilip: “I did not come to the Garden yesterday, but I heard of the contest results in the evening. Since then I have become pareshaan. How can Dilip-bhai have looked like that as a child? I can’t believe it. Now toh he looks alright!”
The discussions will not die any time soon.
Banoo Apa (on WhatsApp):
I would like to say something which I always had in my mind. In all my years I have seen many happy moments and endured much sadness, sorrows and trauma. I have gone through all these. But I have no words to describe how much I enjoy from the moment I enter the Garden early in the morning. The love I get from everyone, I cannot express. People go to so many gardens. But have you ever heard of anybody getting the calendar that we get? What memorable things Big Laaf gives us! Hats off for this remarkable gesture!!!
Dilip Babani:
Really, we all enjoy in Big Laaf. Being there every morning is one-and-half hour of good time-pass. Very good entertainment free of charge!
Bihari Milwani:
Dilip-bhai, do you have any documentary proof to suggest that the boy/ girl in the black-and-white photograph is indeed you and only you? I still doubt it was a photo of a boy and that too, a Humpty Dumpty like you.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Big Laaf is a unique club where everyone has an enjoyable time. Occasional pinpricks are taken sportingly and laughed away. In addition, we get the energy to sustain ourselves in life. So the aim of the club is more than fulfilled. Let's stay happy and keep laughing.

It’s a boy!

The Winner: NAHID KHAN

DILIP BABANI today

This 14-year-old is...

After 17 long days of seemingly interminable suspense, the 14th edition of the Pehchaan Kaun contest (see post of April 2) came to a nail-biting finish this morning with Nahid Khan emerging the winner. She could identify Dilip Babani as the 14-year-old boy in the photograph.
Nahid was not alone though. Banoo Apa, Kiran Prakash and Naseem Khan had also submitted all-correct entries (see post of April 18),

Bhaswati Bose conducts today's proceedings

but since there can be only one winner, a draw of lots had to be conducted. Dilip did the honors by picking Nahid’s name as the lucky one among equals.
Altogether there were 25 contenders for the trophy this time around and as pointed out by Bhaswati Bose (who conducted today’s proceedings), it was the most keenly contested and arguably,

Dilip makes the final pick

the toughest of all the Pehchaan Kaun competitions held so far. Many like Shanti Singh and Arun Patil, least expected to participate, plunged headlong

Dilip flanked by the final four: from left Banoo Apa
Kiran Prakash, Naseem Khan and Nahid Khan

into the fray with unusual gusto. Adding to the build-up generated by such enthusiasm was the ambiguity about the gender of the child featured.

Geeta gets bouquet from Santosh 

For the first time, no name was required to be given, but the size of shoe, place of residence and of course, whether the photograph is of a boy or girl.

Yusuf Rassiwala hosts a gala treat for Geeta Latte

The other big event of the morning was Yusuf Rassiwala’s gala treat to felicitate Geeta Latte for qualifying as a yoga teacher (ref post of April 9) recently.

Razia blesses Geeta with sweets

More than an expression of generosity, this was as much an act of personal affection as of pride on the accomplishment of one of the younger members of the Club.

Geeta Latte today

Santosh Tyagi presented Geeta a bouquet of red roses on behalf of the members and what’s more, Razia Khan gave her blessings with a box of sweets. This was entirely voluntary and imbued with so full of heart.

Kiran Prakash gifts a memento

And then came the piece de resistance: a beautiful, glass-framed memento capturing verbatim the sentiments expressed in the April 9 blogpost. Only a well-wisher as imaginative and blessed as Kiran Prakash could have come up with such a thoughtful, yet priceless gift for someone not even related to him.
Clearly, Geeta was expecting none of this. Visibly moved, she went around saying that it felt like her second birthday today. “I have never felt so happy earlier!” she sniffled.
Post Script: For better clarity of the photographs, please click on the image of your choice to get a full-screen enlargement. You could even preserve this picture (in a separate folder) with a right click on the image and clicking 'Save'. This applies to all pictures in the blog since 2010.
Kiran Prakash:
I have not seen many in my life capable of loving all. Geeta is one, who not only loves human beings but animals as well. Understandably, this is reciprocated well. May her newly acquired skills take her further to serve humanity. Indeed, Geeta is not related to me. But she is more than a relative. She is like a daughter and every achievement of her is a matter of pride for me. It was nice of Yusuf-bhai also to organise a bouquet and a party to felicitate Geeta and express his affection.
Bihari Milwani:
Dear Dilip, as a teenager, how many boys were impressed by you?
Dilip Babani:
Today's programme was very well conducted, thanks to Bhaswati-ji. All members were happy. A nice party was given by Yusuf-bhai and a very nice photo frame was given by Kiran Prakash. Geeta became very happy on receiving photo frame and bouquet from Yusuf-bhai. Razia gave very nice mithai to Geeta. And Geeta gave mithai to all. Nice mithai.
Kiran Prakash adds:
Last, but not the least, Bhaswati Bose conducted the entire proceedings quite professionally. She is creating a niche for herself in the Club. Well done!
Bhaswati Bose:
Congratulations to Tai Chi (Geeta)! Felicitating her was a wonderful gesture from Yusuf-bhai. Thoughtful of Razia-ji also to celebrate the occasion with sweets and what a unique gift from Kiran-ji! Very innovative.
Also, thank you all for participating in Pehchaan Kaun and tolerating me in today's proceedings. Congrats to the four who got it right -- particularly, Nahid who also got lucky. It was great fun.
Kajal Babani (on WhatsApp):
With each day our Club activities are becoming more interesting and entertaining. Every activity becomes a family celebration with each person rejoicing in the other's happiness. Yusuf-bhai holding a party today is an event of that kind. To feel the pride of a member of the Club is commendable. Members have become more fun-loving in the past year.
Razia Khan:
We are proud that our very own blog is progressing day by day and the bonding amongst the members of Big Laaf is becoming stronger. As the years pass by, we as a family have become more united. We cannot think of parting from our Big Laaf family. The warmth and affection towards one another is priceless. Let us thank the Almighty for giving us such a loving family. I love my Big Laaf family.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
It is interesting to note that a large number of members took part in the Pehchan Kaun contest. Heartiest congrats to the winners. Heartiest congratulations also to Geeta - the youngest member of the Club. She is adored and loved by all members as a daughter. Good show. Keep enjoying and be happy.
Geeta Latte:
Thank you soooooooo much, my Big Laaf family. My life isn't perfect. But I am thankful for everything I have now 😇😇😇!

Disruptive Thinking

Bhaswati Bose reads out details of entries from her cell-phone

In these disruptive times, it was only natural for Yusuf Rassiwala to try toppling the applecart on the eve of declaration of results for the Pehchaan Kaun-14 contest (ref post of April 2). Bhaswati Bose had just read out from a mobile the ‘trend' of the entries received so far when Yusuf R made a grand proclamation: “All those voting for me will be rewarded with free tickets for a movie show!”
The promise made no sense. But it threw everyone in a quandary because it was believable. On at least two occasions earlier, Yusuf R had treated select Pehchaan Kaun contestants to free movie shows, the last one being the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer, Piku. So Banoo Apa jumped up and promptly demanded he take us for the current box-office hit, Begum Jaan.
But Bijoy Gupta was not so convinced – even as Yusuf R promised him two tickets (including one for his wife): “Fine, I understand you want to take us to the movies. What has that got to do with Pehchaan Kaun? I have made

Gupta cannot understand why Yusuf R is offering him two movie tickets

my pitch as per my own hisaab. Why must I vote for you when you are not the person?”
Not to be outdone, Kiran Prakash threw another spanner in the works by announcing he was the person in question and would treat everyone to unlimited pani puri provided all the votes come to him. He already is a ‘prime suspect’, having garnered a major chunk of the votes. And now he wants a clean sweep while he himself has pitched for another person.
Sensing how the two were hell bent on cutting off competition, Dilip Babani leapt into the fray by insisting it was his photograph that had been put up and unlike Yusuf R and Kiran Prakash who were intent on giving away freebies, he would charge Rs100 from every person who voted for him. Now this was a proposition defying all logic, putting many heads on a double spin.
Meanwhile, some more entries have come in, along with a few alterations/ corrections. These have been incorporated (and highlighted in blue) in yesterday’s post. Please check that list for the latest update. And don't forget that the lines are open till midnight today.
Bihari Milwani:
Revised entry: It is a boy, Siba Prasad Maitra. Indra Darshan. Shoe: English Size 7 i.e. American Size 42. The person to be identified on the last day would be one who is born also on the last day of the year i.e. 31st December.

Wild Guesses

Guessing Game: Who could he be? Or is it a she???

Yusuf Rassiwala announces a treat on Wednesday to celebrate
Geeta Latte qualifying as a yoga teacher

Suspense is mounting over the identity of the person featured in the 14th Pehchaan Kaun contest (ref post of April 2) under way.
With a day left for the deadline on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, the Garden witnessed a flurry of activity in the morning with members taking potshots in the dark for whatever it may be worth.
Here is a complete list of all the ‘wild guesses’ on record:
Bihari Milwani: Boy | Sharma House | No shoes!
Bihari Milwani: Boy: Indra Darshan: Shoe No 7.
Dilip Babani: Boy | Malad | Shoe No 10
Dilip Babani: Girl | Shantivan | Shoe No 8
Kiran Prakash: Boy | MHADA Building 18 | Shoe 8
Kiran Prakash: Boy | Orchid Tower | Shoe No 9
Karun Sharma: Boy | Akash Ganga | Shoe No 9
Banoo Apa: Girl | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 11
Banoo Apa: Boy | Orchid Tower | Shoe No 9
Swati Panjabi: Boy | Link Garden | Shoe No 8 / 9
Swati Panjabi: Boy | Orchid | Shoe No 8
Swati Panjabi: Boy | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 7
Yusuf Rassiwala: Boy | Amity CHS | Shoe No 9
Niloufer Rassiwala: Boy | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 7
Arun Patil: Girl | 5 Yamuna Nagar | Shoe No 7
Kajal Babani: Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 10
Rukhsana Khan: Boy | Amity CHS | Shoe No 9
Naseem Khan: Girl | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 9
Naseem Khan:  Boy | Orchid Tower | Shoe No 9
Fahmida Khan: Boy | Akash Ganga | Shoe No 9
Fahmida Khan: Boy | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 7
Shanti Singh: Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Shanti Singh: Girl | Vishwakarma | Shoe No 7
Bijoy Gupta: Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Karuna Waghmare: Boy | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 7
Nahid Siddiqui: Boy | Indra Darshan | Shoe No 7
H.S.Shekhawat: Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Khatoon Baig: Boy| Indra Darshan | Shoe No 7
Geeta Latte: Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Geeta Latte: Boy | Akash Ganga | Shoe No 9
Nahid Khan:  Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Nahid Khan: Boy | Orchid Tower | Shoe No 9
Siba Prasad Maitra:  Boy | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Pushpa Gupta: Girl | Orchid Tower | ?
Santosh Tyagi: Boy | Amity CHS | Shoe No 8
Razia Khan: Boy | Palm Court | Shoe No 9
The idea behind publishing this list is that should any of the above participants have second thoughts or perhaps, feel misquoted, there is still time to make corrections. Also, this is an invitation to all others to participate. The more the merrier.
So please rush in your entries at the earliest. On Wednesday morning (April 18), the contest closes and results will be declared.
Bihari Milwani:
Thanks Blog Monster, for giving a valuable hint. As per rules, the person in the photo and his/her family members cannot contest. Hence by disclosing the names of persons who have contested, you have shortened our list of options.
Clarification: People ineligible can always come in as red herrings to confuse and throw you off-track. This has been our tradition. But they do not qualify to be a winner. So be careful about them. --Blog Monster)
Siba Prasad Maitra:
My answer to Pehchaan Kaun: BOY | Greenfield | Shoe No 9
Kiran Prakash:
My revised entry: He is Dilip Babani. Boy, lives in Orchid Tower and shoe size is 9.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Good homework. Keep guessing. But also keep smiling.

DAY 2216

Pic of the Week

WITH BLESSINGS OF THE BUDDHA, FROM BANGKOK

Travelling to Bangkok was a learning experience. People of Thailand, 90% Buddhists, are happy and content with life by simply following Buddha's teachings of love and compassion. Difficult to even imagine for us who, without reason, are always in DMM (dukhi mun merey) mode. --Kiran Prakash

Two beautiful souls. Very fortunate to meet you both in this life. 😇 --Geeta Latte

Glad to know that your visit to Thailand was enjoyable, beautiful and lovely one. Keep smiling and be happy. --Lt Col Angad Singh

Cute couple. --Kajal Babani (WhatsApp)

Yes, they are made for each other. --Bhaswati Bose (WhatsApp)

Very nice jodi. --Yusuf Rassiwala (WhatsApp)

Both of you are looking great. Buddha's teaching is really great. I believe Chinese and Japanese are following the same philosophy, though there is some conflict with the Chinese approach. God bless both of you. --Siba Prasad Maitra (WhatsApp)

Why one month early. This trip should have been on 13th May! --Bihari Milwani

"Jodi No 1" --Dilip Babani

Thank you all for your good wishes and blessings. --Kiran Prakash

Matter of Mind

A full-house, yet again to hear life coach Karun Sharma (standing)

"Detach yourself from the mind. Or else, it would continue to play mischief. They say the mind is a monkey. It will get into your way of connecting with the supreme powerhouse above – the source of all our strength, happiness, even fulfillment.”
This, in a nutshell, was the thrust of the talk by Karun Sharma in the China Hut today. It was the second and concluding part of his exposition on Being in the Moment (ref post of April 1) directed at members of Big Laaf.
“Immerse yourself in the now and here,” he urged. “It’d be foolish to let this moment pass by allowing your mind to interfere needlessly with extraneous thoughts. There’s nothing wrong about being yourself. You don’t have to be guilty about it or worry that you have left things unattended.

Gupta welcomes Shekhawat back in the Garden

Father and son, Prakhar Sharma (l)

That is all in the mind. Just enjoy this moment”
To illustrate his point, Sharma instructed us to close our eyes for a minute and concentrate on what gives us pleasure. “Let’s say, you are feeling good after the exercises. Why is it you are feeling good? Is it because the exercises make you feel fit or healthy? Is it a sense of accomplishment, of time well spent?

Kiran Prakash (l) marks his return from Bangkok

Let this feeling grow inside and consume you…” he intoned.
Sharma followed this with a couple of other exercises. He asked us to look the person seated alongside in the eye and wish him/ her well. “Tell each other to stay happy, that’s all,” he said. “No need of making a general statement like wishing the world well. Make a personal connect, a one-to-one expression of mutual concern and wellness.”
Another exercise had us relapsing in silence for a minute and playing the devil’s advocate with the mind. “Close your eyes and invite the worries… Don’t block them. Let the thoughts pour in. Think of say, the next meal you might have to prepare. Are those thoughts coming now? You will realize the mind has stopped bothering you!”
Sharma wound up with a Hindi couplet composed for the occasion. Significantly, his son was also there as part of the audience. This was the first time we were meeting Prakhar Sharma, an investment banker.
Kiran Prakash:
Karun Sharma's session was enlightening. We should practice what he said religiously. It helps a lot. In fact, these are life changing applications and we should do it with conviction. Fortunately I am blessed with a good feeling of myself and for others and it gives me immense peace and happiness in my life. We have a gem in Karun Sharma. He has reinforced my decades old belief about love, happiness and relationship. Thanks, dear Karun.
Yusuf Rassiwala:
Karun-ji, hats off to you for your excellent seminar on how to remain happy inwardly. Your presentation was superb and very informative. All the members were seated and heard you till the end. It was good to see your son also with very modest and innocent looks. Like father like son. Hope to hear you again very soon. My good wishes.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Happiness exists within everyone. When we were little school going kids, we were very happy. As time passed, our responsibilities and with it, wealth increased and our happiness diminished. It is good that Karun Sharma-ji is teaching Club members the good lessons of life. Those who are attending his life lessons are lucky to hear him. All efforts must be made to put them in practice.