Three Announcements

"Let us all decide on how to take the Club forward."

Scrumptuous crackers from Frontier, Delhi

The long-awaited announcement for reconstituting Big Laaf (as a registered association) finally came today. As club chairman, Hari Singh Shekhawat extended an invitation to a meeting being convened on Saturday (August 17) morning to explore all possibilities and draw up a course of action for the future. Secretary Srichand Arora added that the idea was to lift the current suspension effective May 16, 2013 (see post) and requested everyone to come up with “constructive suggestions” for infusing more vitality and dynamism in taking the Club forward.
Yusuf Rassiwala had another announcement to make. He invited everyone to his home for a “tea party” this Sunday evening (August 18) as part of the ongoing Eid celebrations. The address is 1/63 Akash Ganga, Oshiwara Park, New Link Road, Jogeshwari (West), Mumbai 400053 (Tel: 99872 25916).
The third announcement was in respect of Independence Day celebrations, the day after tomorrow. As in previous years, we would assemble after the exercises and sing the national anthem, before breaking up for light snacks and refreshments. Should the weather permit, we would also set out of the Garden for a short march, holding the national tri-colour and raise patriotic slogans all the way. Arora has consented to lead this group on August 15.
Amid these announcements, Tara Chand Seth produced another surprise -- a big box of biscuits for a 'personal' celebration details of which he chose not to divulge. All he said was that his bahu (daughter-in-law) had brought the biscuits from Delhi and it was NOT for us to question why, but to eat and enjaai. And if these were not enough, we had Zarina Khan, a former member distributing fresh yellow pedas to celebrate the birth of a grandson. Indeed, it did not rain, but poured mouth-watering eats today!
Harish Wadhwa:
* Everyone did enjaai the biscuits from Tara Chand-ji today. Thanks!
* I am sure Tara Chand-ji is blessed with grandsons, granddaughters... as he looked so pleased and happy to distribute such nice cookies. Ab toh raaz-ki-baat batayye na.

Surprise, Surprise

Club is getting popular by the day

Ram Shankar Shukla did not expect Yusuf Rassiwala to show up for the third consecutive day. “You have come today also!” he said in a tone that made Yusuf visibly guilty, as though he had committed a grave error by coming to the Garden. “Am I not supposed to come?” he countered, only to realize that with a reputation of being a serial absentee, many would indeed be surprised to see him coming everyday for the exercises. “I shall be regular from now on, Inshallah,” he promised Shukla.
Yusuf was not the only one to pull off a surprise this morning. Mumtaz Jahan, who is just as unpredictable and prone to disappearing acts, turned up before-time. Chronic late-comers like Arun Patil and Harish Wadhwa were also there before-time,

Hari Singh Shekhawat

prompting Tara Chand to remark that the “sun had risen from a wrong direction” today. But the biggest surprise was to come from Bihari Milwani, (better known as 'Happy Sunday') who not only showed up at the dot of 7:00, but for the first time in years, stayed on till the end of the exercises. In effect, the Club wore a ‘new look’ with full attendance from start to finish.
The best news though, was to come from Hari Singh Shekhawat. Tired to presenting a sorry spectacle of himself (because of his recent heart surgery), he announced jubilantly that he was back to his daily drinking routine. “On May 9 the doctors instructed me to stay away from alcohol for three months,” he informed. “That period got over on August 8. I waited for three more days and started drinking openly from yesterday.”
“That means you were drinking stealthily earlier?” teased Yusuf. “Weren’t you afraid of getting caught?”
“What to do? There'd be fights at home when I got caught, but I couldn't help it. Without drinks I can't sleep… Now I don’t care. I have got full licence to drink!” Shekhawat said, chortling uncontrollably.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Never knew daru could make such a difference to living happily. His big smile says it all. Have a good time Shekhawat-ji, but with a little control.
* We were early today because our watches were not working (LOL)!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Yusuf Rassiwala's funda: If someone does not appreciate your presence, make him appreciate your absence.

Day 1089

Pic of the Week

Community Bonding: Where 'Taiyyab' Arora meets 'Munni' Khan

* They greet each other to convey how they are bonded beyond colour, caste and creed. Here's wishing you all the treasured moments of happiness. --Jagmohan Papneja

* Eid Mubarak, Mohtarma! Sheer-Khurma kab khane aiyen, HUM-SAB log? A great pic on Eid. --Harish Wadhwa

Congratulations… and Celebration

The event had all the makings of a school Annual Day function. At least four ladies came in neatly decked for the occasion. Members of Badmaash Company were in regulation black and white.

Many congratulations, Mr Arora

Hearty felicitations, Mr Grover

Ram Shankar Shukla came wearing a Muslim skull cap which was soon to hop between the heads of Srichand Arora and Hari Singh Shekhawat. Arora actually was to take the cake (and the Pehchaan Kaun-8 winner’s award too) when he turned up in a snazzy salwar-kameez suit – if only to relive his childhood days in pre-partition India.
But it was fun all the way. The place was buzzing with activity, even before the trophies

Monthi felicitates Arun Patil

And now, from the shortest to the tallest

(see post of August 8) were given out, thanks mainly to Shekhawat who had rattled the telephone lines beforehand to ensure a full house. Mumtaz Jahan, Khatoon Baig and several others who were away for Ramzaan, responded to his call. So in a sense, it was a joyous Eid celebration too. And adding to the festive air, Yusuf Rassiwala brought along a big box of chocolates to go with the mounds of phapda-jalebi and of course, endless rounds of tea on offer.
Arora received his crystal trophy from Harbans Kaur, the winner of the last Pehchaan Kaun contest. Shekhawat, in his capacity as chairman of the Club, presented Ved Prakash Grover with another trophy on his Platinum Jubilee year while Monthi Serrao, a senior founder member, felicitated Arun Patil on his Diamond Jubilee year.

WINNERS ALL (l to r): Shukla, Grover, Arora and Arun Patil

The biggest applause was however, reserved for the last when Shukla, the tallest member of the Club was presented his trophy (as a token of appreciation for lending his picture for the contest) by the shortest member of the Club – Bhaswati Bose.
In the end, if there is to be one lasting image of today’s event, it would be Arora prancing about in salwar-kameez. Nobody had ever seen him like this and naturally, all the mischievous minds went on an overdrive at putting a name to him. Geeta Sardhana christened him “Baby Pathaan” while Jagmohan Papneja politely alternated between “Haji Mastan” and “Karim Lala”. Yusuf came up with “Mehboob Khan”… and so on. Finally everybody settled for “Taiyyab Ali” with a necessary addendum, “Pyar Ka Dushman”! Wait for tomorrow’s Pic of the Week to get an idea.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Anniversary gift ideas and celebrations reflect the spirit of oneness and togetherness in Big Laaf.

Eid ul-Fitr 2013

Sitaram Hivarkar greets Yusuf Rassiwala

We live in strange times. Just as one community completes a month of rigorous fasting and self-sacrifice, another community takes the plunge into a similar ritual of self-denial and abstinence. The month of Shravan forbids many good things of life, including wholesome food (with garlic and onions) and alcohol. And when these people are done, yet another community would step up and carry the baton forward… and so on, as though spiritual realization would come from all the self-inflicted deprivation and morbidity.
We however, choose to remain happy in the Garden and rejoice at all things positive. Ramzaan is over and we celebrated Eid ul-Fitr with the sighting of Yusuf Rassiwala early morning.

EID GREETINGS TO ALL!

Being jumme-ka-din (Friday), his appearance was all the more ‘auspicious’ – a fact not missed by anyone. So while we put him in the middle today, the exercises had to be interrupted repeatedly with several well-wishers greeting and exchanging bear hugs with him. Sitaram Hivarkar looked unusually pleased as he came grinning the moment he saw Yusuf-bhai from the Gate. Only Srichand Arora appeared disappointed.

Happy Birthday, Hari-bhai

He looked heavenwards, praying that his friend be blessed with the good sense of bringing shir sewain (a traditional Eid delicacy of vermicelli) for us in the Garden. Still, he did join us all, clapping and singing in chorus: “Eid Mubarak-Eid Mubarak, Waah!”
This festive spirit spilled into the post-exercise session with Ved Prakash Grover, for once, posing a ‘hair-splittling’ riddle in the form of a joke and Harbans Kaur getting it bang on. Bhaswati Bose chipped in with a typical Arun Patil-joke on altruism while Arora brought up the rear with a subtle dash of double entendre. Much of this was lost on Kiran Makhria and when she tried to slip away, Monthi Serrao called out, little realizing the humour behind her summons: “Why are you running away like Chennai Express?” A film by that name is this year’s Eid release.
Today happened to be Hari Naraiyani’s birthday also. We haven’t been seeing him in a while as he has stopped coming for the exercises in the Garden – presumably, due to domestic and age-related issues. Wherever he is and in whatever state he might be, this is to say that we do care and are concerned about his welfare. And as always, we all wish him many happy returns of the day!
Jagmohan Papneja:
India is known as a 'country of festivals'. Every region and religion has a festival to celebrate. The festivals reflect the culture and life-style of people and make the country come alive throughout the year. Eid Mubarak to all readers!
Srichand Arora:
Eid Mubarak to all Big Laaf members and our other friends.