Ramzaan Eve

Banoo Apa's tea party

Bihari Milwani was spot on when he predicted that “on Saturday, attendance will be full at the end of the exercises – just to attend the tea party hosted by Banoo Apa” (ref comments on post of May 25). In fact, it had got so crowded towards the end of the exercises today that there was no way we could dodge the advancing shafts of sun rays in the Garden.
At one point, Yusuf Rassiwala could not suppress his concern when the late-comers continued to crop up.

Shekhawat is dressed to kill

“They are still pouring in,” he alerted us, visibly alarmed.
Milwani simply smiled.
Banoo Apa too was unflustered. She had obviously come prepared for them also – with (two huge flaskfuls of) tea and abundant slices of fruit cake. No one knows better how food can be the most powerful magnet at drawing people to the Garden. After all, today was the third day in succession that she was feeding the Club, absolutely gratis.
There was another reason for today’s overcrowding. The first roja (fasting) of Ramzaan will be observed tomorrow (Sunday) and thereafter, for a month, Banoo Apa will not be turning up. Consequently, there’d be no tea, no fruit cakes, no lassi, no… nothing for us.

Pre-Ramzaan gathering... soaking in the sun

We will also perforce have to abstain from all goodies during the month.
Fact is, nearly half our members would be observing roja and most likely, taking a break for Ramzaan. Attendance for the exercises is bound to drop from Monday. In that sense, today’s gathering was a get-together of sorts, replete with a fourth celebratory laugh after the exercises, followed by a chorus of “Ramzaan Mubarak!”.
Shekhawat appealed to all “to be punctual from Monday” (to keep the numbers up) and even threatened to barge into the homes of habitual late-comers. The funny part was that he had turned up, all suited-booted, ready to go for his routine medical check-up at Colaba. Midway through the exercises he realised it was Saturday today and his doctor would not be there. Apparently he shows up only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As usual, Bijoy Gupta smelled a rat. “There must be a lady doctor out there,” he concluded. “Why else should Shekhawat be so eager to go to Colaba today itself?”
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The crowd is quite joyous when there are eats. Everyone knows Ramzaan means no festivity during the month. Attendance is likely to be thin during the ensuing days.
Karun Sharma:
It was an 'achievement' for me to observe the first roja. Big Laaf is much bigger than any religion. When Yusuf-bhai joins us for surya pranam, he not only stands for something but also serves to encourage many of us. I love Big Laaf.