Red Riding Hood

Birthday girl, Nahid Khan

Celebrating with cookies and crackers

Nahid Khan had a rare Red Riding Hood moment today. Turning out in a flamboyant crimson-and-gold ensemble, designed and tailored by her, she no longer looked the ‘bhai” (the dreaded don) we have always addressed her as. It was her birthday, after all.
Still, out of deference to the special position she enjoys in the Club, Yusuf Rassiwala instructed Arun Patil to conduct the exercises today on her behalf. Dilip Babani presented her with the birthday calendar and as always, a fourth laugh was raised followed by the birthday song in keeping

Shekhawat gets a birthday bite

with Big Laaf tradition.
Significantly, Nahid is keeping roza without missing a single day of the exercises during the holy month of Ramzaan. Today was no exception. She had brought us a whole bag of goodies – assorted biscuits, crackers and cookies of different brands – to celebrate her birthday without having any.

Dilip Babani (l) presents Nahid the birthday calendar

She solicitously gave Shekhawat a ‘birthday bite’ as he sat quietly at a distance, detached from her celebration.
Fact is, Shekhawat is not keeping well. He has been visiting the Naval Hospital in Colaba over the past several days for a host of complications that have developed since his open heart surgery in 2014. As he revealed today, the doctors had to extract by syringe the coagulated blood around the suture marks on his chest which was causing him intense discomfort.
That apart, he had to “give nine mls of blood” yesterday for a battery of tests, the results of which are expected tomorrow. Consequently, he looked completely drained out and lost for the best part of the exercises and remained seated on a bench, quiet and forlorn. Only when his old pal Bijoy Gupta turned up did his face brighten a bit, but he was too weak to even talk.
Many scolded him for having to come to the Garden in this state when he should ideally be resting at home. Gupta was especially unsparing. Shekhawat’s only reply was that he didn’t know what to do with himself at home. After all, old habits die hard.
Karun Sharma:
* Excellent birthday, Nahid. A cool breeze blew across to wish you and bring comfort to all of us. As the birthday girl, you looked bright and smiling. It made our day. Biscuits added flavour to the celebration.
* Shekhawat is very supportive towards all of us. He loves Big Laaf from the depths of his very heart. Let us all wish him speedy recovery.
Geeta Latte:
Many, many happy returns of the day, dear Bhai-jaan 💐🎂💐!
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
* Happy birthday, Nahid. Wishing you a happy, healthy and long life.
* Dear Shekhawat, please look after your health. Certainly you are the livewire for Big Laaf. However, you are more needed by your family. They remain pre-occupied about your health. Please look after your health. It is the primary concern of everyone.