Happy Return(ing)s

Today was the birthday of one of our younger and more lively members, Neelam Garg (left). Only someone as imaginative as her could think of celebrating with one flower, giving it to friends (by turn) and then claiming it back. She actually brought this leafy stalk with a single white flower on top, presented it to Nahid Khan with a flourish and before anybody could say, “Many Happy Returns of the Day”, got her to return it apologetically!
This amusing ritual of 'return and re-return' went on for a while till a baffled Srichand Arora advised her not to bother giving the flower to anybody: “Just give the flower to yourself with one hand and take it back with the other.” He simply could not make sense of anybody having to receive the same flower from the birthday girl, only to be returned to her the next moment.
But it was fun – in keeping with the spirit of laughter and good cheer that accompanies birthdays. Beaming with happiness, Neelam-ji enjoyed the attention as Shekhawat-ji led the ‘Happy Birthday’ chorus, followed by blessings from the seniors and playful digs by other well-wishers. She treated everybody to kaju-barfi… though a more elaborate celebration awaits us this week-end in the Chinese Hut.
Shekhawat-ji (right) updated us on the picnic front (see yesterday’s post), the most likely date being April 23 (Saturday). He and Kishor-bhai have worked out a good deal for a Volvo bus and better still, a massive discount of Rs150 on entrance to the resort. Ordinarily, the entry charges are Rs450, but “since we are poor eaters” (the explanation Shekhawat had given!), we will have to pay only Rs300 per head. In effect, the Royal Garden picnic will cost us Rs500 individually all-told.