Half-way Mark

The sorry state of Shekhawat Express these days -- after all 'bogies' are on board

Time drags on in the Garden every morning. But with the Rajasthan group (ref post of February 4), time flies. They are already at the half-way mark of their week-long tour (February 5 to 12) and have

Jodhpur clips-on-mobile finds an eager audience today

moved over from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, in time for the ongoing International Golden Sands Desert Festival.
From scraps of information reaching here, it is evident that the 26-member group is having a rollicking time – hectic, but enjoyable. No untoward incident has been reported in spite of all the rigors of road travel, climbing up and down ancient forts and palaces, an unsettling dietary regimen and extreme climatic conditions. Most importantly,

Fahmida Khan

they have been able to maintain their schedule and keep their spirits high for the best part so far.
Apart from the sights and sounds of the erstwhile desert kingdoms, the highlight of the tour, it would seem are the evenings when the group retires to the hotel to cool their heels and recharge for the next day.

Morning cuppa in Gupta's room at Jodhpur hotel

That is when everybody gets into his/ her elements and according to the stories/ video clips reaching here, these are no-holds-sessions, the kind kindergarten kids revel in.
For instance at Jodhpur, where the group was lodged in an ancient haveli converted to a modern hotel, the ambience provided a perfect excuse for recounting ghost stories. With master raconteurs like Siba Prasad Maitra in their midst, it was not even necessary to switch off the lights to spook the lot. The feeble-hearted like Santosh Tyagi had already got the heebie-jeebies and were on the verge of packing their bags – what with an apparition (in the guise of Fahmida Khan) suddenly floating out of the darkness with a lighted candle in hand!
The incident adequately captures the mood and madness of the group on the loose in desert land. There are surely many such side-splitting tales begging to be told... but we will have to wait for them till next Monday.
Bihari Milwani:
Wow! We have a new guide. Shekhawat, as tour guide, should explore foreign countries to keep his flag flying high.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
The guard is controlling the train movement by remote. Just see the distance between the engine and the train bogies!

Dangling the Carrot

Idli-wada treat from Shekhawat (second from rt) at Anna's cycle stall

People exercise for a very selfish reason – to stay fit. You don’t have to bribe them to do so. Or else, the very purpose of exercising is defeated.
But Shekhawat does not think so. He believes that you need to incentivise members to leave the comfort of their homes and land in the Garden to work up a sweat. So now, he is dangling a carrot for all those who report for the exercises on time: idli-vada at Anna’s popular bicycle stall across the road!
“Why don’t you sleep early?” he chided the late-comers today. “Only when you sleep early will you wake up early and reach the Garden in time. Be present for the full exercises and you shall be rewarded with idli-vada.”
The provocation for this announcement was again the desultory showing at the start of the exercises today. Not just that, there was no ‘teacher’ to conduct the exercises. Arun Patil was filling in for Nahid Khan, but he too has disappeared (ref yesterday’s post).

A health worker (rt) dropped by to sell us a medical scheme

According to Shekhawat, the situation is unlikely to improve till the Rajasthan group (ref post of February 4) returns from their tour.
“What to do!” he exclaimed out of sheer helplessness when he discovered that he was one of two to be flagging the exercises this morning. “Everybody knows we are short of numbers because of the Rajasthan trip. And they still do not show up. When I phone them, they do not even take my call.”
Shekhawat tried persuading a young lady (watching from a distance) to join us, but she excused herself saying she has to rush home to pack tiffin for her husband. He tried with two others and similarly drew a blank. Finally, he managed to rope in a short plump woman, but she escaped when he was not looking!
What Shekhawat does not realize is that it has become incredibly cold in the mornings for this time of the year. That itself is a major deterrent for many to be turning up. The papers are reporting the “coldest February” in years with the minimum temperature dipping to record levels. Still, that is no reason for luring members with the promise of idli-vada. Nowhere on earth does this happen – except in Big Laaf.
Bihari Milwani:
Shekhawat-ji, this is corruption. With elections round the corner, you may be pulled up for violating the Election Code of Conduct, particularly because BJP candidates were there yesterday and they had garlanded you with their band.

Civic Matters

Yogiraj Dabhadkar (l) interacts with members

It's election time once again. With the municipal polls in Mumbai round the corner, political parties of different hues have begun making a beeline to the Garden. And as always, they are taking keen interest in our Club. Or so it would seem.
Today was the turn of a representative of the local BJP outfit to drop by. A tall, pleasant-looking young man, he introduced himself as Yogiraj Dabhadkar and garlanded Shekhawat with the colors of his party. He also spoke on basic civic issues – from providing 24x7 water supply

Shekhawat in BJP colors

and health care to sanitation, street lighting, garbage disposal, etc. while urging everyone to vote en masse for the lotus symbol on February 21.
On being asked what he could do for the Club, Shekhawat declared he was fed up of dog poop littering the Garden. Before he could also raise the question of ban on food and beverages in the Garden, Geeta Latte took the young politico aside and shared a genuine problem:

Discussions on Kolhapuri mutton

Her passport application has been rejected because the local cops are refusing to clear her papers on ‘residence proof’.
Karuna Waghmare raised the bar still higher. She wants to go on a picnic to Kolhapur (of all the places) where a certain mutton delicacy is available. Arun Patil joined her by elaborating that it is the extra-spicy variety. Ultimately, they managed to extract a commitment to be hosted in a farmhouse (owned by the politico) in Kolhapur free of charge. So much for civic matters…
Meanwhile, Arun announced that he has to leave for Chennai immediately. He would be doing a recce for a film shoot which could take him a week to 10 days. He leaves with his team by an early morning flight tomorrow.
This effectively means that we could be without a proper ‘teacher’ to conduct our free-hand exercises -- at least, till such time Nahid Khan returns from the Rajasthan trip.
Bihari Milwani:
We do not have to sit for some exam. We will do the exercises with a trainee teacher without grumbling.
Anonymous:
Wow! No teachers tomorrow!! We will jump with joy and laugh out loudly!!!

Holding Fort

Old warhorse Hari Singh Shekhawat (l) conducts the exercises today

With that massive exodus to Rajasthan (ref post of February 4) over the weekend, it was only natural that the Club should wear a deserted look this morning.
But to have just two people showing up to start the exercises today was totally unexpected.
Never before had the Club presented such a pathetic sight. It appeared as though we were orphaned.
But, as the saying goes, the show must go on. And after Shekhawat took charge of the freehand exercises, did the numbers trickle in gradually – Qadeer Bano, Manisha Kolhe, Khatoon Baig, Tara Chand Seth, Karuna Waghmare… For the best part though, we were still in single digits. Only towards the end, attendance hit the one dozen mark.
Significantly, the nine-member managing committee is almost entirely out – barring Geeta Latte and Kajal Babani. Of the two Chairmen (Emeritus), Yusuf Rassiwala is also away in Rajasthan. Even our president, Mallika Kagzi has taken a break to visit Surat. Among other regulars, Karun Sharma is at away in Delhi, till February 19. And Arun Patil is caught up in an early morning film shoot (and is likely to move to Chennai soon). That precludes Rukhsana Khan also as she depends on Arun to be ferried to and fro in his car.
Given this scenario, holding fort every morning has become somewhat of a challenge.
Bihari Milwani:
Mallika bulao, fort bachao!!!
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
Karvaan chalta gaya aur humsafar milte gaye... Our Club is functioning on this motto and we are moving successfully on the road of prosperity and happiness. Nevertheless, our daily routine should continue without interruption.

DAY 2157

Pic of the Week

CHAMPAGNE TIME: Partying on... to the last drop

Daru ki bottal main pani bhara hai! --Bihari Milwani