Cloud of Uncertainty

Meeting point at Juhu Beach for tomorrow's party

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Sunday Beach Party scheduled tomorrow evening at Juhu Chowpatty. According to newspaper reports, “mild to heavy thundershowers” are forecast for Mumbai and its surrounding areas on December 22.
Already it was dark and cloudy all morning today, thus raising doubts about whether tomorrow’s party was on. “If we are unable to have the party tomorrow, we might as well scrap it for good,” declared Yusuf Rassiwala. “Let us take it as jinxed.”
Originally conceived as a Diwali celebration in October, the party has since been postponed multiple times for a variety of reasons. Over the period, its budget has grown considerably with the Club, together with Shekhawat and Yusuf R pitching in, in no small measure. The idea is to have a fun-filled evening with music and games, followed by an open-air dinner by the beach.
Bijoy Gupta is still optimistic that the weather will not get in our way and we should be able to have the party tomorrow as planned. “I don’t think it will rain,” he asserted. “Even if it does, it will be no more than a mild drizzle. We shall find

Vijay-bhai (in white) bids farewell with chocolate bars 

some place to take shelter. But do not cancel the party this time.”
On his part, Yusuf R made the announcement to assemble at the beach by 5:00 p.m. “The meeting point is the statue next to the car park opposite hotel Ramada Plaza,” he informed. “We shall wait there for about 15 minutes after which, you may contact us on cell-phone to get our location on the beach.”
Meanwhile, Vijay Jakhia (better known as “Vijay-bhai”) bid us farewell this morning as he is finally relocating to a new home in Borivli, tomorrow. Today was his last day at the Garden. He was supposed to shift last month and we had even given him a warm send-off from the Club (ref post of November 29). But he got held back due to circumstances, obviously beyond his control.
“I am leaving this place with a heavy heart,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “You people were my family. Who knows when we shall meet next. I cannot come here again from Borivli. But I shall always remember you all. Do try to stay in touch. My phone number shall remain unchanged.”

Karun Sharma:
Yes, let us go for the party. If it rains, let us enjoy the party in the rain.

Juvenile Drama

Representational picture

What would you do when someone you invite turns up at your door? Common sense dictates that you receive the person with utmost courtesy and warmth – more so, when your guest happens to be a lady. You do not ignore her.
Now, what does Shekhawat do, at age 79?
Last evening, he met up with an old acquaintance and invited her to join us for the exercises today.

All eyes on Shekhawat: What is he up to?

We knew nothing about this till the lady showed up in the Garden and began to hover around us. Shekhawat looked through her.
The lady sat on a bench a short distance away and watched us exercise. After some time she stood up, walked past us and Shekhawat still pretended not to recognise her. She took a round of the Garden, walked past us again, casting sidelong glances to ensure Shekhawat

Rakhee Bansi (r) treats us to assorted sweets

noticed her. Thereafter, she was out of the gate.
Nahid Khan commented that maybe she wanted to join our exercises but did not feel welcome. It was then that Bijoy Gupta revealed he had seen Shekhawat in deep conversation with her in the Garden for more than half an hour last evening. So it was not as if she was a stranger to him.
Shekhawat was cornered and had to admit that he had asked her to come to the Garden this morning. Right then, the lady appeared at the gate again and after a round of the Garden, took her seat on the earlier bench. Like a red-faced adolescent caught in an awkward situation, Shekhawat straightaway refused to go up to her and invite her to our exercises.
Kiran Prakash offered to invite her on his behalf and even advised him to present her a white flower to make peace. Ultimately, it was at his bidding that Shekhawat went up to the lady after the exercises and gave her the white flower. Kiran Prakash had whispered some magic words in Shekhawat’s ears (which we shall never know) that did the trick!
Shekhawat returned home a happy man. Obviously, the lady had forgiven him.

Mega Event

Yusuf Rassiwala (c) reminds everybody to bring their kids on X'mas Day

The Christmas programme planned for December 25 (ref post of December 16) is shaping up to be a mega spectacle. The countdown has already begun and Yusuf Rassiwala is making daily announcements asking members to ensure that their grandchildren are present in the Garden by 8:00 a.m. next Wednesday for the event.
On a rough count, no less than 15 kids are likely to show up. With an equal number of adults (if not more) /regular members present and a live Santa Claus in full festive gear presiding over the gathering, this promises to be one huge Christmas celebration in the Garden the club is yet to see.
Clearly, what was originally conceived as a routine children’s get-together

Banoo Apa (l) treats us to biscuits

has now grown in proportion in our estimate, replete with a lot of chatter, music, games, gifts and eats. Several suggestions have come up for keeping the kids entertained and showcasing their talent in say dance, declamation, even singing. A musical chairs programme is also on the cards.
A proposal to award the winners in various competitive events with trophies was however, vetoed by Bihari Milwani, Kiran Prakash and Bhaswati Bose – their argument being that it would needlessly drive a wedge among the contestants who are at an impressionable age. An extra chocolate would perhaps suffice instead of causing any heartburn.
The argument makes sense since the kids would be of all ages and there will always be a risk of creating ‘unfair competition’ between them. Moreover, pitting girls against boys is just as unfair. It was therefore decided after some deliberation to treat everybody on an equal footing rather than reward or disregard anyone in particular.
That can well be our preserve when we meet on Sports Day, scheduled on February 14, 2020.

Most Obedient Member

Shekhawat registers his protest after being named Most Obedient Member

What started as a joke has now become a prestige issue. Shekhawat simply refuses to beat his chest, hit his head or pull his ears for the tai-chi (warm up) round. He says that these three acts are expressions of remorse and as such, anathema to him.
Yet, every morning without fail, the club religiously conspires to ensure that he performs at least one of these acts and there is nothing he can do about it. He can see through the conspiracy, but in the end, succumbs under pressure just so that we derive pleasure at his expense!
Today, at the instance of Bihari Milwani, all members acknowledged his sporting spirit and named him the ‘Most Obedient Member’ of the club. We also raised a fourth laugh in his honour for attaining this distinction.
Shekhawat is no fool. He knows very well that this so-called honour is a ploy to make him do what he does not want to do and that there will be little defence he can put up for it in future.

Shekhawat does a number while hitting his head

He registered his protest by pointing out that it is no coincidence that every day, only he must have to beat his chest (or hit his head, etc.) to the exclusion of all others.
Otherwise also, he has been protesting

Rukhsana Khan

daily about the unfairness of it all and even threatened to run away to the toilet before his turn comes. His efforts at dodging by say, swapping places in the exercise circle or quietly retiring to a bench on some pretext has scarcely helped him in any way.
But then, it must also be said that Shekhawat is himself the author of this drama and secretly enjoys every moment of it. This is clear from the way he turns extra frisky, prancing and dancing around when eventually, he must beat his chest or hit his head. No wonder, Bijoy Gupta questioned how Shekhawat could be called Most Obedient Member. “He is not even a member,” Gupta observed. “At least, he does not behave like one.”
Meanwhile, Rukhsana Khan reported acquiring a “dumbol” from an accident in her home. She tried to walk through a closed glass door leading to her balcony, only to land on her back with multiple (internal) injuries and a huge swelling, the size of a tennis ball, on her forehead to show for it. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Silly Season

Winter settled upon us today -- nice and proper. The defining indicator was that it was still pitch dark and quiet when we set out for the Garden this morning and it was only upon reaching there, minutes before the exercises were to start, that the lights along

Banoo Apa (in white cap) organises the cake treat

the walking track were switched off .
It was not cold though. Much as the papers had ‘forecast’ the coldest December in 22 years, the mercury hovered around a pleasant 28 degrees Celsius all morning. It will overshoot the 30 degree mark and turn pretty humid during the day. Still, our chairmen, Yusuf Rassiwala and Shekhawat were not taking any chances and came dressed in woollen sweater and muffler.
Banoo Apa brought a huge cake to celebrate her granddaughter’s birthday. We have seen little Inaya literally growing before our eyes (Banoo Apa never fails to update us on her) and yet, were pleasantly surprised when told she has blossomed into a lovely, little five-year-old. All our love and blessings remain with her.
Bijoy Gupta, Razia Khan, Kiran Prakash, Rukhsana Khan and the rest who skipped today’s exercises, missed out on Banoo Apa’s fabulous cake treat. Their loss was our gain. Let’s hope they become regular now, more so, because of the series of activities/ events lined up over the next few days. After all, it is ‘silly season’ for us also.