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 💐🎂💐