Ringing in 2018

First exercise session of 2018 conducted by Nahid Khan

Qadeer Bano treats us to kaju katlis

2018. A new year dawned upon us.
It was the first day of the month.
It was also the first day of the week.
It was also the beginning of a new day – the first sunrise.
Nahid Khan took charge of the first exercises of 2018, but only after steadfastly refusing to respond to Shekhawat’s query on how she spent her New Year’s Eve. All she was prepared to say was that she slept through two years. “I went to bed in 2017 and woke in 2018,” she quipped.
When Shekhawat persisted with Khatoon Baig on her New Year’s Eve celebration, her reply was a contrite “Nahin baba, we are sharif people…” – whatever that might mean.
It happened to be Qadeer Bano’s birthday also today.

Speculation over a mysterious presence in the birthday calendar 

She had no intention to celebrate as her family is in mourning following the death of her brother-in-law recently. Still, she shared with us some kaju-katlis soon after Nahid presented her the birthday calendar on behalf of the Club. We also raised the customary

Banoo Apa celebrates the New Year

fourth laugh and sang the birthday song for her.
A particular photograph in the birthday calendar was soon to become a subject of much curiosity. Present in it was the image of a lady member who had passed away last year. Even more eerie was the fact that when the photograph was taken, this person was no more. She had died three months earlier. Qadeer herself has no recollection of that lady member. And yet, there she was in the photograph, standing ramrod erect and doing nothing – as though reminding Qadeer of her ethereal presence.
Banoo Apa lightened the atmosphere by making a small New Year’s celebration of potato chips, roasted peanuts and salty biscuits. The main celebration is slated for tomorrow when people are expected to be present in greater numbers. Shekhawat has volunteered to sponsor this treat.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The first day of the year was thinly attended. It was perhaps because most of the people had stayed awake late last night ringing in the New Year. The few who came to the Garden certainly enjoyed the morning.

Karun Sharma:
* Happy New Year to all my Big Laaf friends. It was good to have Col Angad Singh back after two days. It is really creditable of him to be participating in all the events of our dear club.
* Happy Birthday, Qadeer Bano. We all enjoyed the fresh and tasty kaju katli. The presence of a lady (in the calendar photo) was a unique observation and realization. We all felt the vibration, more than the physical. Wishing Qadeer Bano good health and happiness on her birthday.

Kiran Prakash from USA:
Happy New Year to all. May the year continue to bring lots of happiness, prosperity and contentment to all our members and their families. Also, a very Happy Birthday to Qadeer. Many happy returns of the day.