Time to Come Back

Banoo Apa treats us to Lucknawi delicacies

Among those gone missing after the Annual Function last month (ref post of January 20), two showed up today. Banoo Apa was away for a family wedding in Lucknow while Pushpa Gupta had been visiting friends and relations in Calcutta. Both came loaded with stories and lots of sweets for all of us.
There are however, many who are still keeping low. From Santosh Tyagi and Siba Prasad Maitra to Nahid Khan and Nasir Putani Shah, their absence is being felt every morning. Among them, the one being missed most (though for the oddest of reasons) is Arun Patil – the self-appointed disciplinarian

Arun Patil

in the Club everyone loves to hate.
So relieved was Banoo Apa on not finding Arun this morning that she instantly threw her hands up in joy. “India has won freedom,” she declared.
Arun has been away for almost a week. He left last Friday

Pushpa Gupta treats us to Bengali pedas

saying that he had to join a film shoot and would be back in four or five days . But now he says his job (as a special effects supervisor on the sets) would take him another week as the shoot is only half-way through.
Arun is shooting at Film City, Goregaon for a big budget Yashraj Films production, Thugs of Hindostan. Starring Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif among others, the period drama is being helmed by director Vijay Acharya and boasts of a predominantly international crew and a team of top notch technicians.
“We work feverishly all night, right from sunset to early morning,” Arun informed. “But I am enjoying every moment. It gets freezing cold at night, much like a hill station and we are all padded in woolen jackets and mufflers... But nobody is complaining. It’s great fun, much like being on an extended picnic and getting paid for it.”
So long as Arun is away (from the Garden) the mice will play.
After thought: Since our picnic is not happening, let us all join Arun Patil at Film City on his 'extended picnic'. He may even recommend us for key roles in Thugs of Hindostan. After all, we have proven acting talent in us -- as Nirasaram Bapu, Haseena Don, pickpocket, bike chor... and such other thugs. Why waste money on Mr Bachchan and Aamir Khan?

Bihari Milwani:
In the absence of 'school monitor' and with the presence of 'party material', it was like a grand picnic today.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Home-coming is an event to be celebrated and enjoyed. It is immaterial whether the martinet is present or not. Enjoy the eats. But do proceed on a picnic before the onset of summer.