Happy Dozen

Today's hostesses: Banoo Apa (in white) and Fahmida Khan (seated)

Attendance at the end of the exercises

For the first time in nearly 15 years, the exercises were about to be scrapped today. It had been raining so heavily since day-break that just about nobody could make it to the Garden. Even the China Hut was deserted.
It was only around 7:30 a.m. that Zarina Khan came in, followed by Banoo Apa and Santosh Tyagi, and the situation could be salvaged, somewhat.
Even then nobody was in any mood to exercise. Banoo Apa declared it to be 'Independence Day' as there was nobody to tick them off today. “Arun Patil is not around,” she said with childlike glee.
“Let us celebrate our freedom by chatting to our heart’s content,” Zarina suggested. “When will we ever get this opportunity again?”
But Santosh was getting restless. “Since we have already come, might as well do something,” she insisted.
And so, within five minutes of their arrival, it was decided to get started with the exercises, but only the latter half beginning with the second laughter round. By the time we were done, another eight had joined us, taking today’s attendance to a happy dozen.
In between, Fahmida Khan called up from home to check how many had turned up. (She stays across the road.) She said she had made sheer khorma and was wondering whether to prepare poha also to go along. This was to be her Eid treat for the Club, just that the rains had put a dampener on her plans.
Upon hearing very few were present, Fahmida dropped the poha idea. Even then, there was so much of sheer korma around that everyone had two or three refills and there was still enough to feed the whole Club again.
As an added bonus, Banoo Apa had brought chilled mango milk shake. She was unaware that Fahmida was getting sheer khorma and as is her nature, wanted to surprise all of us after the exercises. In effect, those who did not turn up today had only themselves (and the rains) to blame. Their loss was our gain.
Bihari Milwani:
Lord Varun, the rain god was so happy with the introduction of GST from today that he started showering his blessings on all of us. He wanted us to pay full attention to his blessings.
Karun Sharma:
Oh, the Big Laaf blog is full of celebrations and talks of so much of sweetness. My mouth has started watering. Rain rain go away, Little Johnny wants to play...
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Where is little Johnny? Let him come out and play in the puddle!!!