Lost Opportunity?

Happy Birthday, URMILA SINHA! Banoo Apa presents her the club calendar

Disappointment writ large on everyone’s face this morning. Neither did it rain yesterday nor was there any violence on the streets. Had either of these occurred, our decision to call off the beach party last evening (ref post of November 9)

Cutting the birthday cake

would stand vindicated.
The overall feeling among members was that of an opportunity lost for ever. “We could easily have gone to Juhu Beach yesterday,” rued Nahid Khan repeatedly, echoing the general sentiment around. “Who knows when we would get the chance next.”
Bijoy Gupta informed that our new member, Saeeda Sayed landed at Juhu Beach late last evening not knowing that the party had been cancelled. It had become dark

Preparing the plates

by then and she was alone. Not finding any of us there, she started making frantic calls wanting to know our whereabouts.
“It was Shekhawat’s duty to inform her (of the cancelled party),” Gupta continued. “The arrangement was that he’d give Saeeda a lift by autorickshaw. How could he leave a young lady in the lurch?

Flipping through the birthday calendar

She has complained to her mamu now and he'd come here any moment with three-four goondas to beat Shekhawat up.”
Shekhawat chuckled, admitting that he had indeed offered to give Saeeda a lift. “But she was supposed to call me at 4:30pm to confirm the arrangements. She did not phone. So how am I responsible if she wanted to take a stroll at Juhu Beach by herself?”
“She trusted you and you have let her down,” Gupta persisted. “Now you better call her and apologise, or else her mamu won’t spare you. There is still time. When I entered the garden, I saw four fierce looking men at the gate asking for Shekhawat…”
Meanwhile, Urmila Sinha celebrated her birthday with a lavish spread of samosas, suji halwa, tea and biscuits. Earlier on, we sang the birthday song for her and raised the fourth customary laugh while she cut the birthday cake.
Banoo Apa, who presided over the ceremony, presented Urmila with the birthday calendar on behalf of the Club.

Geeta Latte:
Bahut bahut janmdin ki badhai ho aapko! Aap har saal aise hi aapka janmdin manate rahe apne Big laaf family ke sath💐🎂💐💪💪🤗💃😍

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Juhu party is still outstanding (or standing out). Long live Shekhawat! He will again convince you all for the picnic. Be ready. Happy birthday to Urmila Sinha. May she live long and be in good health.

Karun Sharma:
Happy Birthday, Urmila-ji. May God give you good health and simplicity.