Born Behind Time

Braving the mid-summer heat

Rukhsana Khan made a blistering attack on Bijoy Gupta this morning. “Why weren't you born one day earlier?” she demanded. “You should have been born on today’s date. We could then have celebrated your birthday today itself tabiyat se!”
Her tone and tenor caught Gupta off-guard. But he soon regained his composure realising the intent behind charge. There were just six people who turned up for the exercises today – three men and three women.
“We would have eaten twice our share, even thrice, and there would still be enough to go by,” Zarina Khan explained. “Tomorrow, just watch out. People who have nothing to do with exercising will show up in full strength. They know it is your birthday.”
There are many hilarious tales about the club's party raiders – especially those who habitually turn up late and of course, the famous last comers – but out of politeness, nobody raises this in their presence. Gupta merely smiled, knowing well who the usual suspects are.
Suddenly he changed the subject to his wife. “Pushpa is not keeping well,” he informed. “Since yesterday, she has been running high fever. It was her idea to have my Diamond Jubilee celebration on a big scale, but now I doubt if she’ll be able to make it tomorrow. Let us hope for the best.”

Bihari Milwani:
I can understand stepfather, step father-in-law, stepmother, step mother-in-law... But I cannot understand how a husband can laugh (as in the laughter exercises) when his wife is not well!!!