Postponed Again

Kiran Prakash excuses himself from the function, if held on December 23

The Annual Day function scheduled for December 23 has hit another roadblock. Our main organizer, Kiran Prakash will not be in town during that time. He will be away at New Jersey, USA visiting his son’s family and celebrating Christmas holidays with them.
Hugely apologetic, Kiran Prakash informed us of this sudden development today morning. “It was decided last night that I must go,” he said. “I am acutely aware of the responsibilities I have taken up for the Annual Function and much as I would like to be present here on the occasion, I see no way I can. My only option is to hand over charge to anybody who is willing to take it up.”
The announcement was met with understandable shock and bewilderment. All the days spent on rehearsals and various preparations now looked wasted. Some like Yusuf Rassiwala and Razia Khan proposed “simplifying” the organizing part rather than holding it on a “big scale”, so long as we are able to have the function by the year end.
But then, as Geeta Latte pointed out, it would be a compromise and rather unfortunate for an “annual function”. In the circumstances it was decided to give 2017 a pass and push the function to the earliest convenient date in 2018 -- after Kiran

Bose Babu takes leave for a month

Shekhawat stomps out in style

Prakash returns from his U.S. trip. The tentative date, as suggested by Karun Sharma, seems to be January 13, 2018.
Effectively, this would mean that there may well be two Annual Day functions next year. On the other hand, there is now ample time for the preparations and nobody will have to rush through the rehearsals. But then again, January-February is peak marriage season with many of our members already committed to attending weddings with friends and family, some located out of Mumbai.
A divergent view is to push the annual function to March, coinciding with the actual ‘annual day’ marking the founding of the Club. Meanwhile, we might as well have a Sports Day instead of the function, thereby abiding by the December 31 deadline. Incidentally, on March 14, 2018, the Club shall be completing 15 years.
If there is anybody amused by all this confusion, it is Shekhawat. He is convinced that the Annual Function is jinxed because he has been kept out of it and not even “given a role” in Bijoy Gupta’s play. “See, this is what happens when you don’t involve me,” he chuckled and staged a walk-out.

Bihari Milwani:
We have tasted the picnic in foreign country and found it very enjoyable. Can we have the Annual Day of Club on 23rd December in New Jersey?

Siba Prasad Maitra:
I feel we will never get all the members on any particular date. In that case, why can we not continue with 16th December as decided earlier. Mr Bose and myself may not be there, but all other members will be available and the Annual Function also will take place within the calendar year. This is just a suggestion.

Geeta Latte:
Congratulations, Bose Uncle👍!

Kiran Prakash:
Message from my son, Kunal Prakash from the U.S.: "Many thanks to members of Big Laaf for agreeing to postpone!"

DAY 2410

Pic of the Week

FIRST DAY, FIRST ACT: PLAY READING IN PROGRESS

This picture is worth an award. Blood Monster, you are really a perfectionist.--Kiran Prakash

Silence please. Private tuition in progress. Final exams are fast approaching! --Bihari Milwani

Saving a Situation

Four sentinels hold fort: Siba Prasad Maitra recites prayers from his mobile

For the first time, Siba Prasad Maitra led the morning prayers today. There was no other option as most of the members had defected to the ‘rehearsals’ (ref post of November 15) midway through the exercises. Shekhawat tried to save the situation and bumbled through the prayers for a while till Maitra whipped out his mobile and began to recite from the text appearing in some religious website. A small but significant ritual of the morning could thus be concluded.
In moments like this we realize how certain things we take for granted in our daily routine can be actually meaningful in the absence of a critical component. So far, not much importance was attached to the prayers because there was always Arun Patil (or earlier, Sitaram Hivarkar) to take care of them. At times Bhaswati Bose, Kiran Prakash and a few others would chip in. But today, in the absence of any of these people, we suddenly found ourselves at a loose end. Were it not for Maitra’s timely intervention, we would have ended up stuttering and stumbling through

Shanti Singh (wrapped in shawl) narrates her tale of woe

the prayers with only Shekhawat to blame!
But then, we were also to recognize Maitra’s importance in a completely unrelated area. Shanti Singh had reported for the exercises today after being indisposed for over a month. She was even hospitalized (ref post of October 14) in a precarious condition, her body all bloated and yet, the cause of her ailment could not be diagnosed. Maitra paid her a visit in hospital and figured that it was an adverse reaction to the medication prescribed for what began as a tiny pimple in her mouth tissue. Clearly, this was a case of sulfa allergy, a life-threatening condition.
Maitra is not a medical practitioner, nor a qualified doctor. But with his lifelong engagement in the pharma industry, he comes to us with the wisdom of his experience that has proved providential (ask Shekhawat). Maitra does not prescribe medicines, but his advisories have saved many in a critical state (ref post of June 26).
Today, while Shanti Singh thanked Maitra profusely for his timely intervention and narrated her tale of woe to us, Shekhawat looked wildly delighted. “Bilkul mere jaise!” he exclaimed gleefully. “Just as I was… Only he could save me.”
Embarrassed, Maitra walked away with a shrug. He is not one to take credit. All part of a day's work.

Nippy Morning

It was a little nippy in the morning

There was a distinct nip in the air this morning. Gone are the days of heat and humidity, relentless rains, of dampness and dripping sweat. Like many others in the Garden, Shekhawat has started wearing a jacket.

Rakhee Bansi (l) distributes chocolates

Geeta Latte (r) treats us to tea and biscuits

Clearly, winter is fast approaching.
In such weather, nothing could have been any more welcome than the cup of hot tea that Geeta Latte got us this morning. She had also brought us oven-fresh biscuits, as did Fehmida Khan separately. On top, there was Rakhee Bansi treating us to chocolate bars to celebrate her new acquisition – an apartment in the same complex where Bijoy Gupta stays.
These days, half the group breaks away for the ‘rehearsals’ (ref previous post) well before the exercises are over. Of the remaining, half would be preparing for their ‘yoga classes’. What we are thus left with is barely half a dozen miserable souls who have nowhere to go, but to dutifully wrap up the exercises and head home quietly.

Those left behind to wrap up the exercises

Bihari Milwani:
Warning: Winter is coming. Do come properly dressed. No sleeveless tops/ shirts and no half pants.

D-e-f-e-r-r-r-r-... e-d

Rehearsals are on in full swing

The Annual Day function of the Club has been postponed by a week. Instead of December 16, it is now being scheduled for the following Saturday, i.e. December 23, 2017. The timing and venue remain unchanged.
Although no formal announcement has yet been made in this regard, the general opinion around is that holding the function on December 16 would deprive us of the active participation of many members who would be out of town or otherwise unavailable on that date. Most of them would be back within a week.
Significantly, December 23 being the Christmas weekend would not make much of a difference. None of our members (at least, so far) has any plans to take advantage of the holiday on Monday and combine it with Saturday and Sunday for an extended vacation out of Mumbai.
Meanwhile, rehearsals for the function have begun with renewed enthusiasm. One group took up a corner of the China Hut and another, occupied the adjoining shed of the Swasthya Kendra for a play reading session. These enthusiasts had to break out of the exercises 15 minutes before time, thereby missing the second laughter and tai-chi rounds. They would meet again in the evening.
From all appearances they are gung-ho, going full throttle for the Big Day.

Bihari Milwani:
Wow! This year my birthday will be celebrated on a grand scale at no cost to me!!!