‘Be-early Birthday’

Fairytale setting for Khatoon Baig's birthday celebration today

People celebrate all kinds of birthdays – official birthdays, notional birthdays, real birthdays, occasional birthdays… There are also belated birthdays, a euphemism for missed birthdays. And then there was today what Razia Khan coined as “be-early birthday”!
Khatoon Baig ushered her 69th birthday this morning in the Garden – a clear 15 days ahead of time. On June 4 she would be in the midst of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan (starting May 26) and in all likelihood, unable to throw the kind of lavish treat she did for us today.

Birthday hug from Mumtaz Jahan (l)

“But please don’t make this to be a birthday party,” she insisted.
Whatever be her reason for this unusual request, it was verily a birthday party as far as we were concerned. We had come prepared with her birthday calendar and she received it happily from the hands of Arun Patil.
She even gave a short-‘n’-sweet speech, thanking us all for the love and good wishes showered upon her on this occasion.

Laying out the feast, fit for a king

“I have never enjoyed so much of love and affection as I do in Big Laaf Club,” she said. “My blessings are with you all.”
It was a joy to see this otherwise self-effacing lady turn increasingly cheerful and talkative as the celebrations got under way. She was

Arun Patil (r) presents birthday calendar

not so when she arrived in the Garden, obviously tensed about the preparations. Dilip Babani was to pick up the eats (as always) and there was no trace of him. She was also worried about the numbers as attendance was low during the exercises.
Time and again, Khatoon broke away from the exercise circle to make phone calls. Before long, one by one, the late-comers began surfacing. During the last 10 minutes of the exercises, as many as 13 people showed up. Soon Dilip also materialized. Khatoon Baig looked relieved.
“This is the effect of dua,” she said, her face breaking into a lovely toothless smile. Our day was made.
Bihari Milwani:
It was a party day. More and more members were expected as we all are hungry for parties. Happy Birthday, Khatoon. She will have to repeat pre-poning her birthday celebration for the next two years. Her birthday in 2018 and 2019 will continue to fall in the holy month of Ramazan.
Geeta Latte:
Happy Birthday, dear Aunty! 💐🎂💐
Dilip Babani:
Happy Birthday, Khatoon-ji. The party was very nice.
Yusuf Rassiwala:
Khatoon Baig has shown her love towards Big Laaf members by celebrating her birthday in advance. Her birthday was in mid-Ramzan and she could very well have skipped the party. This speaks highly about her bonding and liking for the Club. We wish her a very Happy Birthday with health, wealth and happiness.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Happy Birthday Khatoon-ji -- though I missed the grand birthday celebrations.