Picnic Worm

Now that all big parties and feasting are over and since there is nothing major to look forward for, the picnic worm has reared its head. It has been doing so every other month, if only to remind us that we have not gone on a picnic after the Saina Resort outing in 2016 (ref post of November 26, 2016). It is not as though we have not been making plans since, but

Finalising picnic plans

those have proved infructuous for one reason or the other.
However, today morning, in an unusual display of determination and urgency, the Golden Valley Resort at Thane was identified as the next picnic destination for the Club and even the date was decided right away – August 13, 2018. “Regardless of the numbers or who joins us or not, we shall proceed,” Yusuf Rassiwala asserted.
This eagerness to venture out was shared by other members, particularly Banoo Apa and Bijoy Gupta who have been pressing for a “one-day picnic” since long. Today, they got the support of Club president Siba Prasad Maitra as well. “The place is fully air-conditioned, the ambience is great, there is a beautiful swimming pool also, we can get veg and non-veg food…”, informed Dilip Babani, who has already made inquiries about Golden Valley Resort.
A more compelling reason for the picnic is the favorable weather conditions. It would be neither too rainy nor balmy in mid-August. That apart, participation is expected to be high at that time and any delay could mean people drifting away due to the onset of the festive season.
What remains to be done now is checking out the resort rates, the cost of hiring a bus, ancillary expenses, etc. And of course, the all-important task of collecting cash from those interested in the picnic.

Kiran Prakash:
It's heartening to see that the new President, despite a plastered foot, is taking keen interest in organising club's picnic. It will be very much appreciated if the new committee comes up with new ideas and presents a budget and calendar of events to involve members.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
A picnic has its own charm. People will certainly like to go out and enjoy the scenic beauty of a new place. Wish you all good enjoyment and merriment. Be happy and keep laughing.

Bihari Milwani:
We will prove that No 13 may be unlucky for others, but not for Big Laaf members. We will certainly go for the picnic on August 13.

Siba Prasad Maitra:
Date and venue of picnic will be finalized by tomorrow. In fact, committee could have completed entire annual plan and budget by this time but due to my injury, this might have got delayed. Kiran-ji, your suggestion has been noted and we will complete annual events with budget, maybe in another 15 days. You have managed this club for two consecutive years successfully and the new committee will require your guidance and suggestions on a regular basis.

Kiran Prakash replies:
Maitra-ji, thank you very much for your kind words. Perhaps for the first time in the history of the club, a plan for a picnic has been finalised in less than 24 hours. This indicates the big things to come for our club under your leadership.

'Twenty on Thirty'

Mammoth turnout for the exercises today

History was created this morning in the Garden with a record turnout of 20-plus on a non-party day. Also of significance was the spectacle of 100 per cent compliance on wearing the club cap – a glorious show of harmony that called for an extra congratulatory laugh at the end of the exercises.
But to many, more significant than the caps was that no party had been lined up today. Still, one after another, they pretended to be unbelieving

Shekhawat reads out
govt notification

and asked cheekily, “Is there a party today?”
Bihari Milwani also asked the same question when he arrived and quickly corrected himself by doing a head count. “Twenty on thirty,” he declared. “There are 20 of us on the 30th of July!”
“I knew this,” exulted Arun Patil, back from a self-imposed exile of two days. “I have always maintained that if you people want to be regular you can make it and that too, on time. The trouble is you have been far too casual.

Dilip Babani (r) exchanges pleasantries with Arun

You don’t take the exercises seriously.”
Arun’s return (ref post of July 27) was deliberately underplayed and treated as a non-event. Dilip Babani had reportedly called him during the week-end and persuaded him to resume his Garden routine. “I shall henceforth be coming on time,” Razia Khan quoted Dilip as saying.
However, what Dilip and perhaps others do not know was that Arun had already decided to show up on Monday, i.e. today and conveyed this on phone on Saturday morning itself. So all talk of Arun Patil quitting Big Laaf and going to another Garden to exercise, is baseless.
Meanwhile, Shekhawat broke the news of he being eligible for a JCO’s pension (with arrears), as per a recent government notification. What this entails, he knows best. But in his excitement at the sudden windfall, he has promised to treat the full Club to breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
This is the result of the July get-together when everyone had his/ her fill. They are trying to digest the wholesome food and preparing for the next bash. Good strategy. Keep coming regularly and you will see the result. Laughing, coupled with exercises, make you fit!

Bihari Milwani:
With today's phenomenal attendance, seats were in short supply. Those tired out were looking for seats to rest. What will be the situation when Shekhawat-ji hosts his grand party of breakfast-lunch-dinner?

DAY 2622

Pic of the Week

Guess what song they are singing to each other

"Bade miya deewane, aise naa bano, Hasina kya chahe, humse suno..." --Bihari Milwani

In Light Vein…

J'ACCUSE! Bijoy Gupta (r) takes Shekhawat apart while Milwani watches  

For better or worse, Bijoy Gupta is known to be unsparing towards Shekhawat – and vice-versa. But of late, they have been slightly restrained towards each other. This morning though, they were back to being their former selves, trading charges like there’s no tomorrow.
What began with Gupta blaming Shekhawat squarely for Arun Patil’s exit from the Club (ref last two posts) turned into something so bizarre that most of us did not know whether to laugh or cry. For once Bihari Milwani was central to the plot – all because he has been helpful enough to give Shekhawat a lift home daily in his car.
This is beyond Gupta’s comprehension.

Shekhawat and Milwani (r) greet Siba
Prasad Maitra outside the gate 

He has even come to believe that Milwani is reluctant to take Shekhawat in his car these days. But Shekhawat is so desperate for a ride that even before Milwani reaches his car, Shekhawat would have got inside.
“I felt that the cause for Milwani’s reluctance

Arun Patil

was the unnecessary detour he has to take every time to drop Shekhawat,” Gupta went on. “But now I know the truth. No sooner than he plonks himself on the passenger seat, Shekhawat urinates right there and then!”
A loud gasp went up and some sympathetic ladies even apprised Shekhawat that there is no shame in incontinence and he better get used to wearing ‘adult diapers’. Others laughed and Shekhawat walked away in a huff.
Gupta had successfully done the damage.
The other big joke of the morning was narrated by Siba Prasad Maitra. He had come limping to the Garden, his foot under plaster (ref post of July 19), just to catch up first hand with the latest in the Club. He is after all, our president. And this, it seems, has rankled Arun Patil no end.
So at the Kailash Parbat Party last Tuesday (ref post of July 24), he buttonholed Maitra in the restaurant and asked why he had consented to be president. “Didn’t you know there is huge gud-bud in the post?” Arun said. “Look at the fate of all previous presidents. Had you refused becoming president you would not have broken your leg!”
Narrating the incident, Maitra broke into a chuckle. It takes all types to make Big Laaf.

Bihari Milwani:
It is difficult to imagine that Gupta-ji, at the age of 74, can still have the humorous nature of a teenager.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Gupta is a big planner. He has many latent talents. He makes use of these talents to suit his convenience. He is capable of making big stories out of nothing. Watch him carefully.

Comic Twist

Shekhawat presents birthday calendar

With Tahira, distributing cake rolls

Bijoy Gupta sings a romantic song

Razia Khan celebrates her birthday in the Garden

The drama over late-coming yesterday (see post) took a comical turn today with Arun Patil boycotting the exercises in the morning. He sent word through Rukhsana Khan that he would henceforth not be coming to the Garden and for all intent and purposes, he had quit Big Laaf!
“He said he would exercise elsewhere in another Garden,” relayed Rukhsana, who usually gets a lift every morning from Arun on his scooter.

Nahid Khan takes Arun's place in conducting the exercises today

“He also told me that the ladies he was to introduce to the Club would now be joining him.”
This is not the first time Arun has threatened to resign. A few weeks back (before being anointed secretary) he remained inexplicably at home until some phone calls went from the Garden. Arun returned gleefully having scored a moral victory.
Or so he thought. For he was soon back to rubbing people the wrong way and worse, he refused to make amends. Much as his intentions may be good, he suffers from a terribly abrasive tongue – something that has caused all-round resentment.
So it came as no surprise this morning when Bijoy Gupta began to mimic Arun – exhorting the ladies to concentrate on exercising, reining in Shekhawat for his pranks, pulling up all and sundry for talking and so on. It was hilarious. “Arun’s ghost has got into Gupta,” observed Nahid Khan.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s core issue of enforcing discipline remains unresolved. Or maybe, it isn’t an issue, after all. For the pains some members were taking this morning to defend their ‘right’ to come late was remarkable. Perhaps it is better to let sleeping dogs lie.
In all this, Razia Khan celebrated her birthday with almost 20 well-wishers from the Club in attendance. She had come with her daughter-in-law, Tahira.

Bihari Milwani:
How come 'Guruji' absconded on Guru Poornima day, without taking any dakshina?

Karun Sharma:
There is an underlying profile of Big Laaf which states: "We are a bunch of fun-loving, health enthusiasts who have been hanging out at Mumbai's Lokhandwala Garden No 4 from 7 to 8 every morning since March 14, 2003 to eat, drink and make merry... AND WE EXERCISE TOO!". We are not an organisation where discipline is a must. We are actually a group of people. It does not mean that we should be undisciplined.

Under Fire

Arun Patil (c) is cornered

Arun Patil today came under fire when a section of the Club questioned his authority to discipline recalcitrant members. “Where is it written that we must come to exercise on time?” challenged Dilip Babani, raising the banner of protest. "Call a meeting and give it to us in writing. You cannot decide on your own."
He was soon joined by other late-comers, each defying Arun’s instructions to be punctual (ref post of July 18). “I had said right in the beginning that it is not possible for me to report on time,” Naseem Khan asserted. “Shekhawat assured me that it does not matter so long as I pay my annual subscription.”
“Who is Shekhawat to decide?” retorted Arun, who holds the secretary's post. “All Shekhawat wants is that people pay and retain their membership.

Naseem Khan (in red) gets her birthday
calendar from Santosh Tyagi, belatedly

If you are not interested in exercising and insist on coming towards the end, why be a member at all? You are free to leave.”
“In that case she should get back her money,” Dilip intervened. “I suggest we all sit together and divide the Club’s funds so as to pay off every member who leaves. I do not know, but this is what somebody had advised me.”
Promptly Shekhawat, Arun and a few others leapt in, pointing out that no money with the Club was refundable, until of course, it went through a statutory process of dissolution. But Dilip remained agitated till the end, even threatening to quit.
This is rather unfortunate. But it all boiled down to three options before the Club management: one, abandon the idea of any discipline and let everyone a free run; two, draw up a list of dos and don’ts of daily conduct, based on common consensus; and three, identify those members who, for some reason are unable to come on time and allow them the 'privilege’ to be late at will.
This calls for a meeting. But then again, is this even worth it? If grown-ups in the autumn of their lives do not realize the value of good health and fitness, no amount of ‘disciplining’ them is ever going to change anything.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Hey, the club members are senior citizens. There is no difference between them and kids. They have to be coaxed again and again to get them on the right path. Arun-ji, please take care of these 'kids' and get them back politely. You will be held responsible if they go astray. Do keep smiling.

Bihari Milwani:
I have a suggestion to make that would pacify all. We should start the day with a party first and then proceed with the exercises. Everyone will be in time for the party. And Arun will not get an excuse to enforce his Secretarial Power.

Siba Prasad Maitra:
I personally feel we need not call a meeting for this purpose. We all need to be disciplined and being seniors, we ourselves are responsible to become disciplined. But for that, no one needs to shout at any member. We need to understand the difficulty in other people to come on time. Further, we do not want to lose anyone on the ground of late-coming.

Lingering Aftertaste

Garden abuzz with talk on the big birthday bash yesterday

The Big Party may be all over (ref yesterday’s post) but its aftertaste shall linger for a while. This is natural. So also would all the effusive compliments and counter-talk on what could have been better. But the general consensus this morning was that the party was a ‘super hit’ and even the weather gods had a big hand in its success.
“No doubt the party was a success,” Yusuf Rassiwala confirmed. “Everyone in a position to attend had made it on time.

Settling accounts on party expenses

The food was good and so was the service. Even (Siba Prasad) Maitra could make it with his fractured foot. We had an almost full house. This, by itself, is a huge credit.”
“I toh enjoyed a lot,” exclaimed Banoo Apa. “So much variety of food, so many of us, everybody doing dhamaal and such cooperative staff putting up with every demand… Tell me where else can you get such value for money?”
However, what had left a lasting impression was Bijoy Gupta’s idea of presenting the nine birthday hosts with a rose each. It was a personal gesture that came as a pleasant surprise, prompting many to wonder why nobody had thought of this earlier. Ideally, the roses should have been 'sponsored' by the Club.
There were also some who felt that the biggest hit of the party were the mini gulab jamuns on the buffet menu. Nahid Khan simply gorged on the sinfully sweet delicacy, until an obliging waiter served her so many of them together in a bowl that she had to refuse.
But then, as always, there has to be someone sounding a dissenting note. Arun Patil observed that the Kailash Parbat restaurant was a glorified chaat joint, not worth the price it charges. “The same stuff, if sold at half the price by a hawker on the street outside would hardly have any takers,” he surmised. “We are so easily taken in by the ambience of the place.”

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Good to know that everyone enjoyed the big bash. Now please concentrate on digesting the sumptuous lunch. Do not miss coming to the garden daily and exercising. Happy Birthday to all the hosts.

Bihari Milwani:
When called for a party, everyone is on time and no reminder is required from Arun Patil!

Fun-filled Fiesta

NAVA RATNAS (l to r): Khatoon Baig, Nahid Siddiqui, Santosh Tyagi, Razia, Banoo Apa, Yusuf R, Geeta Latte, Bhaswati and Naseem Khan

Section of the dining hall

Bijoy Gupta presents roses

Like the sound of approaching thunder, a loud roar of laughter rose from the Garden today at 8:00 in the morning. Soon after, another followed. And another. And another… Wave after wave, the rumble continued – altogether nine times for each of the eight ladies and one man who were to jointly celebrate their birthdays today.
Only five of them were present – Banoo Apa, Razia Khan, Geeta Latte, Khatoon Baig and (the lone male) Yusuf Rassiwala. They were joined in the afternoon by the other four – Nahid Siddiqui, Bhaswati Bose, Naseem Khan and Santosh Tyagi – at Kailash Parbat, a fine dining speciality vegan restaurant for what was to be a memorable, fun-filled birthday fiesta.

Diners gather around the long table

Bijoy Gupta gifted the hosts with a red rose each to the accompaniment of Karun Sharma reciting a witty couplet (in the form of a riddle) for every recipient. It was totally unrehearsed.

Siba Prasad Maitra

Apart from the element of novelty, it had a dash of drama that left everyone in splits. (And they included other diners in the restaurant as well). It is not for nothing that Karun is fast being recognized by the sobriquet, ‘Ludhianvi’ tagged to his name.
But this was one part of the story.

Male section? Do not disturb!

The other important part was the cake cutting ceremony with Banoo Apa overseeing the time-honored ritual. A table was specially brought upfront on request by the restaurant management for this purpose. And probably, for the first time in human history, a candle on top of a cake was blown off nine times and lit eight times in quick succession.

Prima donnas!

Only then was the cake quickly diced and consumed by 24 eager mouths.
As for the food on offer, the restaurant measured up to its reputation as one of the best in town in vegan fare. Some had to deal with a problem of plenty, but that too was expected. An extra bowl of falooda, which was not part of the regular buffet menu, was also served. In all this, we missed some friends who could not make it – Kiran Prakash, Bihari Milwani, Qadeer Bano, Pushpa Gupta and Nasir Putani Shah.
Karuna Waghmare cut short her stay with her daughter in Powai to be with us on this big day. Most important, Siba Prasad Maitra was there in spite of his plastered foot and doctors’ orders to take it easy till the fracture heals. And of course, there was Dev Das as well, photographing the event for posterity, together with his sister Geeta Latte. Full credit to both of them for sharing some of the accompanying pictures.
In the end, it felt like Sunday!

Whose turn is it to blow the candle?

Singing and dancing continues

Dilip Babani:
Very nice party at Kailash Parbat. Nice food, falooda , gulab jamun and of course, very nice birthday cake ordered by Banoo Apa. May god bless all nine Big Laaf members. Very nice photos. Also roses presented by Mr Gupta. Very nice commentary by Mr Karun Sharma. A very, very nice party.
Geeta Latte:
It was a beautiful party. Each moment was worth remembering forever. I thank every single host (including myself!) for making the event such a wonderful experience.

Turning 71

Birthday celebration in full swing

Yusuf Rassiwala receives calendar from Dilip

Dressed in white t-shirt and black track pants, Yusuf Rassiwala stood tall in the Garden as he ushered his 71st birthday this morning. In deference to his age and height, an extra-long fourth laugh went up after the exercises.
Upon his express request, Dilip Babani presented him with his birthday calendar on behalf of the Club. Bijoy Gupta sang a birthday number from a yesteryear movie and Yusuf R wrapped up the celebration by distributing packets of vanilla cake to all his well-wishers.

Checking the birthday calendar

Yusuf R gives away cake packets

It was a short and sweet event -- a perfect prelude to the mega birthday bash in store at Kailash Parbat tomorrow afternoon (see previous posts). As many as nine members (Yusuf R included) are jointly hosting this lavish lunch and their names were read out to all present.
What however, stood out as odd was the birthday boy claiming to be 72 years today when it is common knowledge that he had celebrated his 70th birthday on a grand scale last year. This is much like Shekhawat whose age has been galloping by two years every year for the past three years. Today, he claims to be hitting 80!
In contrast (and quite unsurprisingly) the age of female members in the Club remains static for years on end and they wouldn’t want to discuss it even. Nobody asks either. But Arun Patil, in his new avatar as secretary of Big Laaf, wants everyone to submit a copy of his/her Aadhar Card in order to verify their antiquity!

Siba Prasad Maitra:
Happy Birthday Yusuf-bhai. May God give you a long and healthy life.

Dilip Babani:
A very Happy Birthday Yusuf-bhai.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Happy Birthday, Yusuf Rassiwala-ji. I wish you a very happy and healthy long life. July-born members, being in majority, have joined hands to celebrate the month in a lavish manner. Good show. Enjoy and keep laughing.

DAY 2615

Pic of the Week

How would you best describe this scene? 

Rukhsana is crying for missing the Idd party at China Gate. Shekhawat is consoling her: "Don't cry, Baby. You can attend another party on July 24th to be given by the July-born girls and boys!" --Yusuf Rassiwala

Shekhawat is saying: "I am a 14-year-old with 60 years' experience. That is why I have come in half pants. But why are you singing 'Main kya karoon Ram mujhe budhdha mil gaya'?" --Bihari Milwani

"Hey, don't cry, spring is not far away. Enjoy a bellyful treat on 24th July." --Angad Singh

Looks like he is adjusting her spectacles so that she can see him better. --Bhaswati Bose

Competitive Birthday Treats

Banoo Apa (r) celebrates the visit of her son (from Jeddah) with
chocolates. Khatoon Baig (l) in turn treats her to khaja. 

We’ve heard of ‘competitive exams’, ‘competitive programming’, ‘competitive bidding’, even ‘competitive dynamics’. But whoever heard of ‘competitive treating’?
Well, we are seeing this play out as birthdays are being celebrated one after another even as a mega joint-celebration is scheduled for July 24 (ref previous posts). So much so, Khatoon Baig celebrated her birthday (which was on June 4) today with soft, crunchy khajas, lest she be left out of the celebrations.
Yesterday Geeta Latte and Bhaswati Bose celebrated their birthdays and before them, Banoo Apa (July 12) and Naseem Khan (July 13) did the same. They have all pitched in separately for the July 24 mega bash at Kailash Parbat restaurant, together with other July-borns.

Lakshmi Hadimani

Oddly, Khatoon is joining the hosts for that party also, contributing in equal measure.
The idea behind hosting a lavish joint-party in a restaurant was to eliminate the prospect of treating everyone to an unhealthy overeat every other day. At no other time of the year do so many birthdays

Bijoy Gupta regales Khatoon Baig on her birthday celebration

come up in a single month. But such is the eagerness to outdo one another with treats that every individual is ending up celebrating twice.
Bijoy Gupta put it succinctly when he remarked this morning that for once, we are having “double-double birthday celebrations”. Many of course, are enjoying this free overload and take the individual treats as a “trailer” to the main event on July 24. Not just that, we are now told that Santosh Tyagi (whose birthday was on February 10) and Naheed Siddiqui (May 25) have also joined the ‘me too’ bandwagon with the July-borns.
It does not end here. Lakshmi Hadimani, a non-member, who got her son married last December, also wants to pitch in for the July 24 bash. It is her way of celebrating the event, but regrets that she will not have the time to attend the party. She will happy to pay though. Very politely we had to tell her ‘thank you, but no thanks’.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
The month of Saawan is to enjoy lots of eats and be happy. People have forgotten this because of their fast-paced life. July treats remind veterans of their salad days. Keep enjoying, but please come to the Garden for the exercises.

Joint Celebration

Bhaswati and Geeta cut the birthday cake

All set for celebration: a section of celebrities 

The joint birthday party scheduled for July 24 has scarcely diminished the enthusiasm of our July-borns in celebrating individually on their own. Bhaswati Bose could not

Kiran Prakash (r) presents calendar

Bhaswati gives Geeta first bite of cake 

do so yesterday (see post) but today, she showed up with a tall, three-tier cake to make up for the miss.
What was more, Geeta Latte had come with steaming fresh momos to ring in her birthday today. In effect, we had a double birthday treat this morning and there were close to 20 of us to make the most of it.
While Kiran Prakash presented Geeta with her birthday calendar, Qadeer Bano did the honors for Bhaswati. Together Bhaswati and Geeta cut the birthday

Bhaswati (r) gets calendar from Qadeer Bano 

Another bite from 'papa' Kiran Prakash

cake and the rest of us did our number singing and clapping to the birthday song.
Bijoy Gupta, as always, had a special ‘item song’ for the birthday girls – invoking a long-forgotten, but hilarious vintage ditty, much to the amusement of old timers. It was amazing how this gentleman could recall the lyrics without faltering a moment.
But the highlight of the morning was a video clip played by Geeta’s brother, Dev on his mobile which had recordings of her friends and relations wishing her on the birthday. This was meant to be a surprise and had the desired effect: Geeta simply broke down, sobbing with joy. It was a unique gift, very touching and priceless -- from brother to sister.

Dev Das (l) records the birthday celebration

It's party time!

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
It is heartening to note that the July-borns have joined together to celebrate their birthdays. Good luck to all of you. Enjoy yourselves. Wish you all happy and healthy life. Keep laughing.

Dilip Babani:
A very happy birthday, Geeta. May god bless you. Very nice momos.

Mt Abu-Udaipur Trip

Bhaswati Bose

It was Bhaswati Bose’s birthday today. But she did not show up at the Garden. She was at home, feverishly booking railway tickets online for a trip to Mt Abu and Udaipur four months down the line – between November 16 and 22, 2018.
Similarly, Kiran Prakash was booking his ticket from home. And Nahid Khan had gone to Andheri Station to secure tickets for herself and Lakshmi Hadimani the moment the booking counter opened at 8:00 a.m.

Siba Prasad Maitra (file photo)

They were successful, except for Bhaswati.
According to a nonsensical rule of Indian Railways, bookings open exactly 120 days in advance and as is well known, tickets disappear within minutes. For all the alacrity of our ticket guerillas, many were left stranded. Their tickets showed up wait-listed!
Meanwhile, we are told that the fracture Siba Prasad Maitra incurred from a road accident last week (ref post of July 13) is not as “minor” as he would want us believe.

Rains pursue us to a new location for the exercises

A follow-up at Kokilaben Hospital yesterday has earned him a huge plaster on the affected leg and strict orders from his doctor to remain under house arrest for one-and-half months.
Clearly, what was supposed to heal within a week or ten days is now being extended to well over 50 days. And this is getting on Maitra’s nerves. “It is sheer torture,” he complained on the phone. “I am not the sort to remain rooted at home. For how long can one sit immobile watching TV all alone, listening to music or reading a book? I need to get out!”
Maitra is so exasperated that he is prepared to defy doctor’s orders and “walk it up to the Garden one of these days” to meet us. “I will not be able to exercise, but be seated and watching you all,” he says. “But then, why don’t you also come over and have a cup of tea with me? I will get company.”

Karun Sharma:
Happy Birthday, Bhaswati Bose. It is wonderful to know and wish you on your special day.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Maitra-ji's fracture will take time to heal. It is very difficult to be sitting at home without any activity. He may like to come to the Garden in a vehicle and enjoy watching the people walking around or participating in the exercises.

Bihari Milwani:
We understand Bhaswati had hard luck in getting the tickets. But why post her photo in an angry mood? Post some photo of her smiling face!

Dilip Babani:
Happy Birthday, Bhaswati-ji!

Siba Prasad Maitra:
I see a big coverage on my fractured foot. Don’t worry I will be fit in another 10 days. Initially the plaster was given to control inflammation. Now it is for treatment of fracture. Doctor has asked to keep it for 15 days. So by 1st or 2nd August, I should be free from the plaster. July is a month of birthdays and I am out from the Garden. Sorry, but let me wish each of the July-born members 'Happy Birthday'.🙏

Tussle Continues

Shekhawat's Jaipur Superfast chugs out of the China Hut after the rains subside

Life in the Garden just got a little more interesting as members turn increasingly defiant towards Arun Patil disciplining them. That he is now de facto secretary of Big Laaf seems to have emboldened him at throwing his weight around, especially while conducting the exercises. And nobody is liking this at all.
Today he picked on Yusuf Rassiwala for starting out on an exercise before getting the cue. Yesterday, he demanded Rukhsana Khan change her

Arun Patil (l) gives Dilip Babani some gyan 

place in the China Hut, only to be rebuffed squarely. Ditto with Nahid Khan, who plain ignored him. Shekhawat is of course, Arun's favorite punching bag and it makes no difference to him. Being pulled up for talking, absent-mindedness and laughing out of turn, etc. has become all too common for everyone.
“Arun is keeping us on our toes,” remarked Bijoy Gupta jovially, unable to hold his sarcasm. “Without him there can be no discipline in this Club!”
Fact is nobody takes Arun seriously. Much as he tries to impose himself by riding rough shod, we indulge

Yusuf Rassiwala and Banoo Apa present Khatoon Baig her
long-pending birthday calendar

him out of politeness. We all know he bears no ill-will and that being lonely in life he has no other means to assert himself with authority. In the Garden he finds a suitable platform to affirm his identity.
“See how I have got everyone to wear the cap every single day,” he boasts, refusing to believe that nobody would ever thank him for what he does. Rather than live and let live, he argues that unless you persist with what you think is correct, the world will not improve.
But Khatoon Baig will have nothing of it. Otherwise a withdrawn and painfully shy person, she has become surprisingly aggressive of late, thanks to Arun. She not only back-answers him but protests vehemently, when not in the mood to obey. “Who are you to stop me from saying kissa kursi ka or hai mera dil?” she challenged Arun (ref post of June 29) the other day. The tussle continues.

Change of Plans

Those expecting an invite to the birthday bash at Kailash Parbat today (ref post of July 11) were in for a disappointment. Shekhawat announced that the party has been deferred by exactly a week, to next Tuesday.
“You are invited to a buffet lunch at Kailash Parbat restaurant on July 24 at 12:30 pm,” he said.

Shekhawat (l) announces party scheduled for next Tuesday

“The party is being jointly hosted by eight members whose birthdays fall during this month. I’d expect only our members to be present.”
The eight members sponsoring the party are Banoo Apa, Naseem Khan, Bhaswati Bose, Geeta Latte, Yusuf Rassiwala, Razia Khan as well as Nahid Siddiqui and Khatoon Baig.

Santosh Tyagi

The last two are not July-borns, but want to pitch in nonetheless.
The announcement follows a formal booking made last evening at the restaurant by Banoo Apa. She, together with Bhaswati Bose and Dilip Babani, had gone to finalize the menu for the party (which shall be strictly vegetarian), the seating arrangements, ambience, etc.
Meanwhile, Santosh Tyagi turned up this morning

Bijoy Gupta (r) at his flirtatious best

to pay her annual subscription and in a sense, revive her membership in the Club. It seems that domestic compulsions had kept her away from the Garden for the past few months. Thankfully, she has realized that this was doing her no good and is now determined to be regular for the exercises. Or so she has promised.
On a lighter note, Bijoy Gupta shifted attention from Shekhawat and concentrated on a new lady who has been attending our exercises for the past few days. Much to her amusement, he said he knew her from the past and that they had spent many romantic moments “in the shade of trees singing songs to each other" in their youth.
Being a sporting kind, the lady could see the joke and played along. Gupta was at his flirtatious best and even as he did not remember her name now, insisted that she had left him heartbroken. Surely, it takes both presence of mind and a terrific sense of humor to keep such a conversation going on, indefinitely.