Lavish Spread

Back to the old days... Happy Birthday, RUKHSANA KHAN!

Rukhsana (l) with Sadaf

The long-awaited Rukhsana Khan Birthday dawned today. It has been more than a month since we had our last birthday bash in the Garden.

Rukhsana receives birthday calendar from Fahmida Khan (c)

By conventional Big Laaf standards, this was over a decade ago.
But then, the wait has been worth the while. For nobody had expected Rukhsana to lay out such a lavish spread – poha, puran poli, sabu-dana wada, potato chop, buns, cake slice… and of course, hot-hot tea to go along. Rarely, if ever, has any birthday in the Club been celebrated on this grand a scale.
Rukhsana and her daughter, Sadaf had ensured that nobody found anything wanting. Everybody had multiple helpings and many were given take-aways for their families at home. Mother and daughter had also ensured that their friends and well-wishers were all present, having personally invited them on phone for the party.

Rukhsana supervises serving of the plates

As a result, we had a packed house today and many not-so-regular members turned up to wish Rukhsana on the occasion.
On our part, we went through the ritual of singing and dancing, raising the fourth laugh and Fehmida Khan presenting Rukhsana with her birthday calendar on behalf of the Club. Sadly, Bijoy Gupta could not make it (he had excused himself due to indifferent health) or else, we would have had an impromptu teaser number as well from him.
In all the rejoicing and revelry, only Karun Sharma had the presence of mind to gift Rukhsana a red rose to mark the occasion. We do not know if he succeeded in doing so because the florist in the neighborhood was still shut while we were there. Long after everyone had dispersed for the day, Karun could be seen hunting around for his rose.
He may draw comfort from the fact that more than a flower, it is always the thought that matters – assuming that the rose eluded him till the end.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Happy Birthday to Rukhsana. Enjoy good health and long life. It was a good treat after Dussehra. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed and there was good merry making.

Karun Sharma:
Yes, I managed to find the red rose for Rukhsana. She gladly accepted and smelled it deeply to appreciate the intent.