Party Blooper

Yusuf Rassiwala (left) took to the middle after what seemed like ages. He had been keeping indifferent health for the past four months and had stopped coming to the Garden. Now that he is attending regularly, the ladies persuaded him to conduct the exercises – just as in the good old days.
The focus of attention though was Nahid Khan, our regular “teacher”. People haven’t yet got over the way she had come decked up for Saturday’s Diwali lunch (see yesterday’s slide show). Today, she was her usual self in casuals, smiling coyly as compliments kept pouring in. It seems her daughter had done her up for the occasion – turning her into what Dilip Babani described as the “most smartly-dressed member” at the party.
Many other aspects of the party were recounted as everybody wanted to relive the happy moments. But Shekhawat had to drop a clanger by bringing up an unpleasant exchange of words (many were unaware of it) between two ladies over the presence of a certain member at the party. Shekhawat obviously wanted to make his position clear lest there be a repetition of such a fracas in future. But as everybody agreed, all this was plain unnecessary and completely avoidable.
Harish Wadhwa:
The pic of the 'awesome four', posing smartly at the staircase, is also nice. (It is the first pic on the slide show). Even Lord Buddha behind them, had to close his eyes not get distracted (on a lighter note, please, and with all due respect to religious sentiments and the painting on the wall)!

Day 458

Pics of the Week

DIWALI 2011 lunch at Blue Waters restaurant yesterday -- October 29, 2011.

Renu Babani:
Lovely pics! Everyone seems to be having a blast. Yes, the Diwali party was a success with complete attendance. A picture says a thousand words... These pictures say it all. Thanks to everyone who attended and to those who made it possible.

Dilip Babani:
The Diwali party established the unity among club members. Everybody enjoyed the afternoon. All members were saying that the food was delicious. Everyone was looking cheerful and smart. Really, this party shall remain yadgaar to many members. God bless everyone.

Harish Wadhwa:
Very nice pics indeed. Missed the fun due to assignment at office. Maybe, the next time or occasion... Good going Blog Monster, we could see a slide show of all the pictures as a Sunday treat. The group picture has come out really nice. Worth keeping a copy.

PLEASE NOTE: Should the pictures NOT be opening, you might need to correct the time and date of your computer -- appearing at the bottom right-hand corner of the desktop. Or else, it could be a Flash Player issue.

Back Home!

Srichand Arora kept his appointment with the Garden – having arrived from Singapore last evening. He showed up at the dot of seven, jovial as usual, and was greeted with warm hugs, handshakes and high-fives. Short of bugles and drumbeats, everything went as per script – from the customary "extra laugh" in his honour to the distribution of “imported chocolates”, as Dilip Babani had predicted yesterday. A full house embraced one of the most respected and adored members back into its fold.
The only dampener though was the absence of Geeta Sardhana. She is special to Arora. On the last Raksha Bandhan day, he had accepted her as his sister when she tied a rakhi on his wrist. So when she did not turn up in the morning, more than Arora, other members felt let down. Initially they discussed among themselves that she was deliberately delaying her arrival (“Who knows, she may be preparing to perform an arati to welcome her brother?”) but when it turned out to be a no-show, tongues started wagging openly.
Nevertheless, it was like old times when Arora did not miss the opportunity to pull up Sunita Jajodia for engaging Monthi Serrao and Harbans Singh in conversation during the rolling-the-neck exercise. When she retorted that “gardan nahin ghoomti”, Arora hit back saying, “Toh doosron ko kyun ghooma rahi ho?”
Meanwhile, Shekhawat announced for the nth time that everybody was invited to Blue Waters restaurant for the post-Diwali lunch today. It has been a tough two weeks for the man who almost single-handedly, has organized this bash for the Club. Disregarding the fatigue of overseas travel, Arora sportingly agreed to join with his wife. “Whether I pay or not, we will be there,” he joked.
From all indications, looks like we have a fun-filled afternoon in store. Watch out for the party pictures tomorrow.
Harish Wadhwa:
Welcome back, Arora-sa'ab. But you have to keep my share of goodies! Nice to see you in high spirits.
Renu Babani:
Mr Arora must have really felt at home this morning. Isn't it nice to get such a warm welcome from members after such a long time? Thanks to Mr Shekhawat, who has pulled off the lunch at Blue Waters -- as usual. Really, it is because of him that such events take place. He puts in his entire heart and soul in whatever he does. Whether the lunch at Blue Waters was a success of not, well... wait till tomorrow for an update!

Ominous Absence

Silence, they say, often speaks louder than words. Absence, we say, can be more ominous than presence – especially when it concerns our club's 'principal', Srichand Arora. He is not even back from Singapore and the prospect of facing him from tomorrow is already giving many habitually talkative members the jitters.
Or so it would seem, considering that news of Arora’s arrival dominated all discussions this morning. Every few minutes, someone or the other would remind the busybodies that this was the last day for all their fun and games. “Do all your talking today because from tomorrow you will have to be on your guard,” cautioned Nahid Khan while conducting the exercises.
With people like Bapu Rane, Geeta Sardhana, Bhaswati Bose and the Babani brothers adding fuel to fire, the warnings assumed hilarious overtones -- more so, with assurances from some that “Arora-ji is after all Geeta’s bhai-sah’b now”. Yusuf Rassiwala added that there's really nothing to fear since Arora should be a reformed man after the Singapore trip. Still, a visibly panic-stricken Santosh Tyagi could not help remarking, “Kal se curfew lag jayegi.” Ultimately, it took the mischievous mind of Kishor Babani to provide some relief: “When Arora visits the toilet during the exercises, I will bolt the door from outside and run for my life out of the Garden!”
It is only out of true love and a feeling of oneness that people can dare to think of taking such liberties. That Arora is being missed will become evident from the turnout at the Garden tomorrow.
Renu Babani:
I cannot believe how much Mr Arora is being missed considering that he was the topic of discussion this morning. Let's admit that no matter what comments/remarks are made about him, it goes to show what an important member he is to us. We enjoy teasing this gentleman who takes everything good naturedly because he has no choice. I am sure he has had a great trip while with his family and it is now time for him to join us once again -- the Big Laaf family. Welcome back!
Dilip Babani:
Our beloved principal is coming tomorrow. Everybody is happy because we will get nice, imported chocolates to eat. I think Geeta will get a special gift from her brother -- maybe, two chocolates! Chocolates are delicious. Arora-ji is coming. Everybody is feeling like the eldest man of the family is coming. We are excited to meet Arora-ji and listen to stories of his Singapore experience.
Bhaswati Bose:
Welcome back Arora-ji! I hope Kiran-ji comes with you to the Garden. Rest assured, attendance tomorrow will be 100 per cent.

Samvat 2068

Yusuf Rassiwala walked in to a rousing welcome this morning. As one who enjoys immense popularity among members and is counted among the founders of the Club, he had become a cause for speculation and much concern since his disappearance a couple of months back. Today, looking bright and cheerful in a scarlet T-shirt and matching baseball cap, he did not miss the significance of the Nazia Hassan number playing on Kishor Babani’s mobile: “Aap jaisa koi, meri zindagi mein aaye…”
Grinning sheepishly, he shook hands with everyone and resolved to be “more regular” at the Garden from today onwards. It was indeed a happy start to Year-2068 (by the Vikram Samvat calendar), what with Vandana adding a dash of sweetness by distributing kaju katlis soon after the exercises.
In a couple of days, we shall be witnessing another ‘homecoming’ of a Club veteran. Shekhawat today announced that Srichand Arora is expected from Singapore tomorrow afternoon (see comments of October 25) and in all likelihood, he will be present at the Garden on Saturday morning. He also conveyed Mr and Mrs Arora’s good wishes to members on the occasion of Diwali and the New Year.
Dilip Babani:
Good to see Yusuf-bhai in the blog. Also nice to know that Arora is coming. Now the Laughing Club will get its extra charm. Yusuf-bhai and Arora are both indispensable people for our Club.
Happy New Year to all the Club members. Saturday will be a special day. I think everybody will enjoy the Diwali party at Blue Waters. Delicious food will be served. Hope all members will come. We will play antakshari or danteras. Harish is likely to also come and it will be a yadgar party. Really, I am excited. More the members, more the fun!

Diwali Greetings

After all the song-and- dance over vanquishing Ravan, we renew our resolve to banish the other forces of darkness today. We will scare away the demons and evil spirits by bursting fire crackers and bombs. We will light oil lamps to welcome Goddess Lakshmi in our midst. Or is this to celebrate the return of Lord Rama after killing Ravan 20 days back? Or is it to welcome another avatar of Ravan – Ra-One? Before this gets more confusing,
HAPPY DIWALI anyway!
At the Garden, the festive spirit was very much in evidence as many members had turned up freshly bathed, with tikas on their forehead, mainly to wish one another on the occasion. Others like the Mittal couple, Vijay Bhai and Mrs Baswani dropped into the exercise circle to exchange greetings. Bapu Rane invited everybody to have chaklis he had prepared at home. But ultimately, it was Sunita Jajodia who hogged all the attention for being extra gregarious today. She wanted to leave before the exercises began, but with Shekhawat needling her for being overweight and neglecting her health, she relented – only to commit one hilarious faux pas after another. At one point, she even chided a lady member for bloating “from the front and behind”! It took two low-flying aircraft to repeatedly wheel over the Garden to provide a welcome diversion. And Sunita went away.
Some members did not come today. Since we could not wish them personally, this is wishing all of them, as well as the followers of this blog, a safe and fun-filled celebration tonight. Do take care.
Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
Hi, you all there! We both wish you all a very happy Diwalee and prosperous New Year. May this bring all happinesss in you and your family life. God bless you!
Dilip Babani:
Happy Diwali and Happy New Year to all Club members. God bless everyone with sound health and wealth. Lord Rama will give pots and pots of wealth. Be happy and make others happy.

Festive Air

With Diwali round the corner, a distinct air of festivity has settled over the Garden – even as several members did not turn up this morning. Many have gone out of town. Some had started celebrating last night itself (Dhanteras) and could not wake up in time today. Others were obviously conserving their energies for the big blast tomorrow. Still, the mood was upbeat with everybody shaking hands and wishing one another Happy Diwali in advance.
Sitaram Hivarkar started the exercises with a new line: “Chalo, susti bhagaao!” Instantly Nafisa Syed countered “Chalo, machchar bhagaao” and Razia Khan retorted “Kachchua jalaao”, thus setting the tone for the morning’s proceedings. Nahid Khan insisted on laughing in her off-key sing-song style while Bapu Rane was faced with a peculiar problem: ‘Diwali sweets’ dropping from crows perched just above him on a tree. He had to change position.
Significantly, like many of the quieter members, Sitaram has become increasingly talkative of late, not letting go the opportunity to pull a fast one. Santosh Tyagi attributed this to “catching the infection” – an expression she used today when asked to separate two talkative ladies by standing in between them. Santosh refused to oblige, lest she too got “infected” by the talking bug!
In all this, one person being missed was Srichand Arora (right). Today, three people enquired about his return from Singapore – Shekhawat, Razia and later, Rane. And three different dates emerged each time – October 25 (today), October 26 and October 29. Last year on Diwali, Arora was the one to initiate a small celebration with luddoos, followed by a regular post-Diwali bash in the Chinese Hut. Let’s hope he returns by this Saturday, in time for the lunch at Blue Waters.
Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
Doston, hum aa rahe hain; per 25 ko nahin, 26 ko bhee nahin... aur haan, 29 ko bhee nahin. Per hum aa rahe hain -- 28 ko dopahar 2 baje. Aur koshish rahegi ki 28 shyam ko nahin, toh 29 sawere jaroor milenge. Tub tak ke liye HO-HO HAA-HAA!!!

Blue Waters

There's been a slight change of plans for the Diwali lunch on October 29. Instead of the Shabari restaurant, the venue will be Blue Waters, opposite Star Bazaar, on the New Link Road. The date and timing remain the same.
Announcing this after the exercises, Hari Singh Shekhawat (right) informed that a nominal advance had been paid yesterday for booking the place. “You are all invited,” he said. “Such an opportunity does not come again and again. The menu is far better and more varied than what Shabari has on offer. You will have a choice of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with multiple options in each. It will be a lavish spread.”
The costs would be marginally higher than that of Shabari, but well within budget. More importantly, it should make everybody (including the non-veggies) happy, which is the whole purpose of hosting this lunch. Razia Khan for one, has for long been pitching for Blue Waters. And the credit for all this should go equally to Kishor Babani and Shekhawat, who have been running around over the past two days to finalise the arrangements.
Khatoon Baig too had some good news to share. Her lovely son and daughter-in-law have completed three years of togetherness and to celebrate their anniversary, she distributed sweets in the Garden (left). The daughter-in-law, who is pursuing her management studies (along with a job and running the house) has scored meritoriously in her second semester. For one who has seen hard times, the children are now doing the lady proud by the day. We rejoice with them and above all, congratulate Khatoon Baig.

Day 451

Pic of the Week Look hard into the picture. Don’t blink. Now take a deep breath and count backwards from 100 to 1. The lady you see will come alive, speaking to you in seven languages. It’s MAGIC!

Renu Babani:
Wah! Kya 2000-watt smile hai!!!

Dilip Babani:
What a lovely smile! Kaun hai, samajh meh nahi aaya. I think this lady comes to listen to the jokes, but always complains that "Garden meh mungi bahut hai". Lekin abhi to news deh rahi hai TV channel pey -- ki Garden meh mungi bahut hai. Smart woman!

Harish Wadhwa:
"Yahaan bhi hoga, wahaan bhi hoga, Ab toh sarey TV monitors par hoga, Kyaa? Mera hi Jalwa... " Great pic Sunita-ji!
I tried following the instructions, Blog Monster. It was scary. She did come alive and "scolded" me in seven languages!

Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
KYA MAIN KISSI JAYLALITHA SE KUM HOON? YEH TOH POLITICS MEIN AANE KA KABHI SOCHA NAHIN THA. NAHIN TOH, KYA JAYLALITHA, KYA MAYAWATI, AUR KYA UMA BHARTI... SUB KI CHHUTTI KAR DI HOTI!

Out-of-Control?

Ramila Mistry showed up this morning from her trip to Somnath Temple, only to have Shekhawat charging at her, guns blazing (metaphorically) during the Laughter Round. As she valiantly ‘returned fire’, Geeta Sardhana, who had so far been in the line of attack in her absence, heaved a sigh of relief. She had all along been complaining that ever since Ramila “left the maidan and had run away”, Shekhawat kept training his guns on her!
But Geeta still has a grouse. She does not understand why she ought to keep quiet during the exercises when it is “necessary to also exercise the mouth along with every body part”. Other chatter boxes share her views wholeheartedly (naturally), thus leading to a situation when all and sundry – including ‘teachers’ who conduct the exercises – are engaged in laughing and jabbering at cross-purposes.
So if Bhaswati Bose takes a playful dig at Nahid Khan, Razia Khan would do a hilarious take-off on a song from Kishor Babani’s mobile and Bapu Rane would suddenly let out bird and baby-crying sounds, while Shekhawat would deliberately mishear mungi (ants) as lungi… And if there is a moment’s respite from all this, Dilip Babani (right) would ask why everybody should be quiet. Even Pratap Bhatt (left) had to be reminded today to concentrate on exercising with a cryptic comment from Nafisa Syed: “Bhatt saa’b bhatak gaye!”
One way to view this is to conclude that there is no sense of discipline left in anybody and that things have spun out of control. The other way is to understand how closely-knit our members have become as to make the most of the limited time they have together while exercising. More importantly, they are there to share the little joys of life – whether it is a lively joke or anecdote, the combined experience of a party or picnic together, reliving memories of times well spent with photographs, an impromptu jig in the Garden…
Unconsciously, we have taken laughter to the next level – happiness. Unlike other laughter clubs, nothing is forced here. Nothing is expected of anybody. There is never a glum or sad face in our group. The idea is to spread joy and be happy. Perhaps it is time we call ourselves "Happiness Club".
Bhaswati Bose:
Nothing has gone out of control. When the cat is away the mice will play! Discipline will come back when our Principal comes back from Singapore.

Laughter Dance

Today was Kishore Kumar's day on Kishor Babani’s mobile with the 'Hum thhey, woh thhi…’ number (from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi) kicking off the morning exercises. Soon, another classic from the same film came on – ‘Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si’. By then Razia Khan, who was in the middle, had reached the Slow and Fast laughter round.
All of a sudden, taking everybody by surprise, she stopped the exercise and started dancing to the song. Instantly Shekhawat joined her (left pic), keeping pace with the catchy beats in his inimitable style. And before we could even realize what was happening, Nahid Khan, Ved Prakash Grover and Kishor were all clapping and dancing in gay abandon.
Never before had this happened. People on the walking track stopped mid-stride to marvel at our antics. It all happened so abruptly and unexpectedly that everybody just laughed and laughed, egging us to carry on. If ever there can be a spontaneous explosion of joy to be seen, here it was!
Later, after the exercises, Shekhawat discussed the progress made on organising the Diwali party for the next week-end. He distributed some photographs also, which were taken on the Lonavala trip (below, left) last week-end. There was also some talk of the earthquake that hit Bombay last night. Nahid Khan, who appeared to be still shaken up by the tremors, was comforted by Nafisa Syed with these prophetic words: “The only jhatka you should really be scared of is the one your daughter-in-law can give you. Nothing else matters.”
Probably what she meant was, that would be the ultimate zor ka jhatka!

One-up(wo)manship

Harish Wadhwa wishes to be on the top of Google’s Big Laaf page. Today he learnt that two lady members are currently occupying top position on the page because they had roughed up Razia Khan the day-before-yesterday (see post). Finding this a convenient short-cut to fame, Harish declared that he too would get into a scuffle – little expecting the two ladies, Bhaswati Bose and Kajal Babani to be one-up on him. “Why don’t we rather bash you up?” they countered in all seriousness.
Now this is what happens when women infiltrate a male preserve – the club’s Badmaash Company. From Srichand Arora to Ved Prakash Grover to Prakash Motwani to Pratap Bhatt, men have found this a perfect forum to let their hair down and crack jokes over piping hot tea after the exercises. Being the uber-chivalrous Indian male, Harish invited Renu Babani, Bhaswati and Kajal to join him this morning. The regulars, Bose and Kishor were already there.
So even as men and women were evenly balanced, the former could scarcely get a word in edgeways. The discussions veered around the Lonavala picnic initially, then jumped to pesky neighbours, on to Kazakhstan and illegitimate kids, then palm reading and sperm donation and hacking into Internet accounts and… till another round of tea was ordered. Eventually when Kajal had to be dropped, Bose proffered, “Be careful or your husband will kill us.” Pat came her reply: “He will probably thank you!”
How to deal with such women – should they one day decide to join Badmaash Company?
Harish Wadhwa:
Well reported, Blog Monster. Women are always curious to know the Badmaash Company activities. Today they had an opportunity to know that we people are capable of talking about anything under the sun! It was a nice morning and enjoyed a good dose of laughter and chatter-chatter. When do we have the next one like this well-attended chai session?

Picnic Hangover

The Lonavala ‘picnic hangover’ is yet to lift from the Garden. It’s been more than two days since we returned from the picturesque hill-station on Bombay’s outskirts and everybody seems to be still tripping on the trip. Even strangers, who do not know us too well, but merely see us every day at the Garden during their morning walk, have been wanting to know everything about our trip. They want to know where we stayed, how much it had cost us, the places we visited, whether we could go to Khandala and Karla Caves as well… And this is not out of politeness or common courtesy. They genuinely want to know.
For members who could not make it, the questions were predictable and repetitive: How did Shekhawat acquire the name “Daddy”? Where exactly is the Narayani Dham? How clean were the rooms we stayed in? What do they serve for lunch and dinner? Didn’t we all get drenched in the waterfall? Who were the winners of Housie? How did Nafisa Sayed perform her old heroine act? They want all the details. To satisfy their curiosity, Bhaswati Bose did a small presentation on her laptop (pic above) of the photographs clicked during the trip.
You can see some of those pictures in the slideshow at the top of the panel alongside.
Dilip Babani:
Thanks to Bhaswati Bose for making photo arrangements. All the photos are very nice. They have really been well taken, covering the full trip.
Renu Babani:
Until you go to Lonavala personally, it is hard to explain everything in detail. A lovely place for anyone who just wants some peace and quiet. Despite going for the second time, we enjoyed ourselves and just being together was important. We ensured that we made the trip memorable and like it is said, what happened at Lonavala, stays in Lonavala. Guess, I got some people curious... Well, no big deal, whatever anyone wants to think.

Next Big Do

After THE picnic, it’s time to gear up for the next big event – a Diwali bash. Hari Singh Shekhawat today announced (right) that having partaken in the Eid lunch (see post of September 25, 2011) last month, it would be in the fitness of things to host a similar sit-down party in a restaurant on the occasion of the ‘festival of lights’. The day decided for the celebration is the first Saturday following Diwali – which is, October 29.
“I will have to leave for Rajasthan on November 4 and by the time I return, it would be too late for a Diwali party,” he explained. “I suggest we have the party before I leave, immediately after Diwali, which falls on 26th October.”
The Babani brothers, Kishor and Dilip have been requested to check out some of the better known restaurants in the vicinity and accordingly work out a menu. Monthy Serrao volunteered to use her connections with Shabari and Kalinga (should these restaurants be found suitable) as she happened to know their owners.
Meanwhile, a minor scuffle broke out between Razia Khan and the two most talkative ladies of our group – Bhaswati Bose and Kajal Babani. Both were pulled up by Razia for being inattentive during the exercises and at one point, she had to walk up to the two and threatened to spank them in front of everybody.
Like recalcitrant kids they pointed fingers at one another, only to gang up later after the exercises and rough up Razia (the “teacher”) for picking on them (left pic). The latter, laughing her head off, managed to escape, screaming for help – “Dekhiye! Dekhiye! Kya beinsaafi ho rahi hai!” While some men like Sitaram Hivarkar and Ved Prakash Grover sided with Razia, Geeta Sardhana justified the non-stop chatter of the ladies: “If we don’t talk here, when do we talk?” Good question!
Harish Wadhwa:
Could'nt make it to the Garden as I am busy with office conference. It seems the picnic hangover and memories of some nice moments spent together at Lonavala is prompting for more such fun... in the name of Diwali. Good to keep everyone charged up. I will be out during Diwali unfortunately. Jhagda is healthy way of living, for people who care so much for each other. Must have been a nice sight having the women scuffle and then laugh it out. What a sigh of relief for their husbands since the "fighting quota" was over in the morning itself! (On a lighter note please...)

Time to Reconnect

Two days is a long time to be away from the Garden for ‘club addicts’ like Nahid Khan, Ved Prakash Grover, Bose and Kishor Babani. They had taken the trip to Lonavala (post of October 15) for the week-end and could return home only late last evening, minutes before heavy rain and thunderstorm broke over the city. But this morning, they were there in time for the exercises.
Hari Singh Shekhawat arrived a bit late and as expected, was full of stories on the trip. For the benefit of all those who could not make it, he listed the places we visited, the fun and games we had, how everybody enjoyed over two days and for the most amazing part, how all this could be done under Rs1000 with Rs50 to spare. With childish glee, he recounted how his Ex-serviceman I-card worked wonders (in saving money) with toll-tax officials and traffic cops.
For Nahid Khan though, the main purpose for coming to the Garden was to “tease” all those who did not join her for the trip. Nafisa Syed too admitted to deriving vicarious pleasure from telling others of what they missed, but added: “I could not resist the temptation of having one jalebi yesterday and then I got scared. If I did not come for the exercises today, my sugar levels would have shot up.”
It was time for Geeta Sardhana (above) also to reconnect with the rest, having just returned from a trip to Bangkok. So also for Harish Wadhwa, (left) who returned from Kazakhstan yesterday. Both treated us to lots of chocolates and loads of stories on their trip. It is from such 'reunions' that we draw our strength and a lasting sense of bonding.

Day 444

Pic of the Week

What are these three contemplating?

Dilip Babani:
Khandala Ghat is very nice. Lovely place with mountains, waterfalls, monkeys... It is like paradise on earth. Narazey dekhne layak hai. Lekin yeh teen bandariya kya kar rahi hai? Maybe they are also watching lovely nazarey!

Bhaswati Bose:
The most irregular and naughty student is standing in the middle. The two teachers on either side are contemplating how to punish her: 'Murga banaye ya dhakka maarey?'

Renu Babani:
Nothing like the serenity and peace surrounding this beautiful scenic view. Seems like a place from a picture-book story. Wish time would stand still right here!

Lonavala II

After 12 months, two weeks and six days, we were back to the old and familiar – fresh air, undulating hills, lush greenery, well-trodden tracks, waterfalls, monkeys, Tiger Point, the ubiquitous Maganlal Chikkiwalas... and above all, the warmth and hospitality of an ever smiling Kishan Shahani, manager of the same old guesthouse. Not much has changed in Lonavala. Only we had changed. From 29 members last year (see post of September 25, 2010), we were down to a happy 24 this time – six males and 18 females.
The inverse ratio had kept the men on the back foot from the very start while the women called the shots. They took all the decisions on what to do, when to go out, where to go and so on… and the men simply followed like Mary’s little lambs. Of course, problems arose when we were all undecided and with the rains playing havoc, the ultimate scapegoat had to be the bus driver, not knowing when to stop and whom to listen. As a result, we missed a few sights and every time the bus stopped, it was a repeat story of everybody scurrying for cover with the skies opening up at that very moment!
But we had our share of fun. We had our rounds of antakshari, jokes, Housie sessions (with Nahid Khan and the Babani brothers walking away with much of the spoils), the impromptu songs and dances. Ved Prakash Grover got nicknamed “Shakti Kapoor” as his seat in the bus was in the midst of ladies (much like the movie actor being the sole male ‘house member’ in the current edition of Bigg Boss). Swati Punjabi became known as “Lakshmi” for some strange reason. Shekhawat too earned a new name during the trip – “Daddy”. But more important, it was Renu and Kishor Babani’s wedding anniversary. We learnt about this rather late, since the couple (above, left) had wanted to be discreet about it.
Today was also Tara Chand Seth’s birthday. He (above) is well into his eighties and apart from being the senior-most member, is among the fittest in the Club. He was with us on our last trip to Lonavala. This time we missed him as he is away at Delhi. Through this blog, we wish him many happy returns of the day.
Another member we missed sorely was Najma Sayed (left). She had paid up and even packed for the trip, but suffered a last-minute fall at home, resulting in a dislocated shoulder. Still, she remembered to send a casserole filled with the most divine cutlets for us to snack on during the journey. We cannot thank her enough for her kindness and in all sincerity, wish her a speedy recovery.
Dilip Babani:
* Really, the picnic was very nice. All the members enjoyed. Everybody got very good food, big rooms to stay, a comfortable journey with cloudy weather and heavy rain -- Badal garazte rahe, bijli chamak rahe, par sab ko mazaa aaya. Wow, what fun we had! We also had daal-pakwaan for breakfast. The Sindhi saai-bhaji pulav was very nice too. All the food was made with less oil. Tiger Point was very nice
and we had hot tea and garam-garam bhajiya. Lonavala is paradise on earth.
* Wish you a happy wedding anniversary, Kishor-bhai and Bhabi!
* We had lots of fun. We played antakshari (left pic). Many members got special names according to their roles. We enjoyed Housie (below, left) also. Some members took bath in the jharna (below, right) near Bushi Dam, which was
also a nice exprience. Everybody went to climb a little mountain also. One special name a lady got was "Lakshmi". Really, she made everybody laugh by her acting. Even Kishor-bhai took part in that acting. Very few ladies can act. It requires a lot of courage. But this lady could make us laugh continuously. Everybody liked her acting. There was a gentleman who made us laugh by narrating a joke like a long story. Nafisa did a nice Madhubala act. She got the highest marks. I think Madhubala's aatma got inside Nafisa. The
second highest marks went to Swati. She is also a really nice lady and tried to make everybody laugh. Our beloved organiser, Mr Shekhawat also got new name, "Daddy". He is so simple that he kept on laughing, singing, helping and taking advice from everybody. I have no words to explain what a simple and nice man he is. But really we missed Rehana, our group herione. She entertains all the time, endlessly.
I think everybody missed her. But all the ladies enjoyed a lot. They all sang very old songs. They are also very talented. Banu, Kajal, Bhaswati, Kiran, Razia, Nafisa, Swati and all the other ladies are familiar with old and new songs. I think everybody contributed in some way to this picnic. That is why it was such a success. May God bless everybody with good health and wealth so that we can go for picnics again and again!
Renu Babani: What a great picnic! We were one with nature and everyone just enjoyed themselves by letting their hair down. Everyone was helpful by just being there for one another. The atmosphere was positive and best of all was the place we stayed. We couldn't have gotten a better bargain with all the possible conveniences. Despite the rains, the cool climate lifted our spirits. It felt so nice to be away from the everyday routine and just do nothing but enjoy ourselves. Yes the Lonavala Hangover was evident this morning as many members didn't show up. But it was good to see Geeta and Harish-bhai back at the Garden. Surely more members shall return tomorrow morning. Thanks to Mr Shekawat and all those who supported him before and during the trip. These are what memories are made of... Unforgettable!

Ready to Leave

Faces lit up as Razia Khan distributed chits of paper, indicating seat allotments in the bus for Lonavala tomorrow. For many, this finally lifts the suspense over whether or not we would be able to make it to the hill station -- a mere three-hour drive from Mumbai.
Khatoon Baig looked particularly relieved. “I must say, you gents log have worked very hard in making this trip possible,” she remarked, meaning to thank Hari Singh Shekhawat. “If it were not for you, I don’t think I would have wanted to go on the trip.”
Mrs Harbans Singh regretted she cannot join this time because of domestic compulsions. Monthy Serrao cannot take any chances on the road trip after her recent malarial attack and consequent hospitalization. Sunita Jajodia of course, has been harping upon Karwa Chauth tomorrow coinciding with the trip. For many others, the upcoming Diwali festival demands more attention…
Nevertheless, they were all there at the Garden to wish those going a “happy journey”. Shekhawat announced that the bus will be leaving at 6:30 sharp (which should become 7:00 actually, if we are lucky) in the morning and that we would have breakfast direct at the guest house. There will be no stoppages in between.

Morning Melody

After last night’s torrential downpour, the song, ‘Vo kagaz ki kashti, Vo baarish ka pani” playing on Kishor Babani’s mobile (right) could not have sounded better. But more than that, Jagjit Singh’s sonorous voice, wafting through the still morning air, harkening back memories of lost childhood and of days gone by, had a profound and spellbinding effect while we exercised quietly.
This was Kishor’s tribute to Jagjit Singh who passed away in Mumbai two days ago. For once, all the songs he played today were those of the ghazal maestro. Yesterday, when he was accosted by some ladies for playing some racy dance numbers instead of mourning the singer’s death, his reply was typical: “Jagjit Singh hasn’t reached heaven yet. He is on the way. Tomorrow when he reaches, I’ll play his songs.” So Kishor kept his promise – with a special compilation of the most melodious ghazals and geets ever rendered by the singer.
Funnily though, barely a week back, Kishor was pulled up by the same ladies for playing Jagjit Singh’s ‘Tum itna kyun muskura rahe ho’ (from Arth) and had to quickly switch to a more acceptable but forgettable la-re-lappa ditty. On another day, the latter could become poison to the ears and he would be seen frantically scrolling for ‘golden oldies’ – never too sure what would appeal to whom and when. In that sense, he has got himself an unenviable job – that of a DJ, who always tries to please everybody, but cannot ever succeed.
Meanwhile, Hari Singh Shekhawat (above) is in the last stages of preparation for day-after-tomorrow’s Lonavala trip. This morning, he received two more confirmations. He'd be paying an advance for the bus later in the day. Some more loose ends still need to be tied up. A clearer picture should emerge tomorrow.
Renu Babani:
The melodious, sweet and spiritual voice of Jagjit Singh resonated the Garden today, as people continued with their regular walk and we attended our routine exercise. Strange, how life goes on, whether the person is around or not. Jagjit Singh, a maestro, his voice so mesmerising, and the words of his ghazals... so meaningful. He has gone to his Heavenly Abode, but his music shall remain with us forever.
Regarding the Lonavala trip, our positive attitude has paid off. We are enough people at this point, considering the number of rooms alloted. So come Saturday early morning, we shall be boarding that bus and on our way to cool weather and scenic beauty. Away from the chaos and bustle of our everyday lives and definitely rejuvenating for everyone.

Dragonfly Swarm

Dark morning again. But it did not rain. Just a light drizzle that scarcely caused any disruption to our routine. The strange thing though was the swarm of dragonflies that suddenly descended on the Garden and hovered around the area where we exercise. They glided about, noiselessly dodging us and zig-zagging through the air, causing much curiosity among members. “What do you call them?” somebody asked.
“Helicopter,” replied Razia Khan.
“Tol,” Bapu Rane mumbled in Marathi.
“Locust,” said Bose Babu.
“Tidda,” said Ved Prakash Grover.
Kishor Babani heard that as “chadda”. Promptly, he interjected: “Chadda is the male gender, females are called chaddis!”
“That’s it,” Mrs Harbans Singh declared. “They are called tiddi in Hindi.”
In all this, the big news of the day almost got sidetracked: Hari Singh Shekhawat has finally firmed up the Lonavala trip by booking the bus yesterday. He's got it at an unbelievably reduced price. For that price, he already has the critical mass of 20-plus members for the trip. Also, adding to our unprecedented run of luck, the guest house manager at Lonavala today telephoned to confirm the availability of rooms for October 15 and 16.
So Lonavala, here we come!
Renu Babani:
Yes, things sre finally falling into place regarding the Lonavala trip. Mr Shekhawat's hard work has paid off and not the one to relent, he doesn't care on the number of people. He is as determined as ever that we are going.
Yes, the locusts did dominate the discussions today. Some members said they are referred to as 'helicopters' but of course, until the actual classification was decided, nobody gave up. Despite the dull day, we definitely knew how to make the most of the weather and didn't let anything dampen our spirits.
Dilip Babani:
Lonavala will be a very nice picnic -- nice food, nice hotel, very nice group... Everbody will enjoy. There we will play housie, visit nice spots. There will be a lot of fog and rain. Arora-ji is in Singapore. He is enjoying there and we all will be enjoying here in Lonavala with lot of daru. In Khandala garden, there will be lots of monkeys... Every moment we will enjoy!

Hopes Soar

Hopes for the week-end picnic at Lonavala were rekindled this morning as Hari Singh Shekhawat (right) walked into the Garden grinning from ear to ear. He made light of his hospital visit yesterday, dismissing all speculation about his health. He downplayed the “skin reaction” his wife had mentioned yesterday, but said that he would have to pay another visit to the hospital tomorrow for some more tests and scans.
Quite clearly, Shekhawat does not want anything to get in the way of the Lonavala picnic – not even his health condition. The numbers don’t look too encouraging but having put his mind in organizing the trip, he is determined to go ahead with it. In a way this is a good thing as it keeps him mentally and physically charged, instead of being bogged down by health concerns. He has to fix the bus, line up some more members/guests and most importantly, confirm the room bookings at Lonavala – all of which shall keep him busy for the next few days.
Meanwhile, this one is for Mrs Harbans Singh who was enquiring about Harish Wadhwa today also. Well, here he is (left) like we’ve never seen before – all suited-booted, tied-up and looking a propah gentleman in Almaty. Along with the photograph, he has sent us the following message: “Hope you guys are keeping fine and in good health, laafing and jovial as before. The weather here is great with clear visibility – no dirt, no filth, no open manholes, no encroachments and rediwalas on the roads. The city is surrounded by snow-clad mountains on the east. Kazakhstan was part of erstwhile Soviet Union, but is now an independent country. People here are good. I am fine and enjoying the place – with of course, my hectic work schedule.”
Renu Babani:
Yes, looks like our 'principal' is in full swing and determined as ever to ensure that we make it for the picnic. A lot of hard work is being put in by Mr Shekhawat and he is leaving no stone unturned.
Mr Harish, glad you are having fun. But admit it -- you miss home, family and friends. Despite the downside that you have mentioned, there is no place like home. Wherever anyone goes, eventually home is where the heart belongs.
Bhaswati Bose:
Harish-bhai is not away for a long period. So I don't think he's missing home, family or friends. I am sure he's enjoying himself thoroughly. Harish-bhai, jee bhar ke dekhiye - the snow-clad mountains, the beautiful dust-free place...and the lovely locals.

Question Mark

A huge question mark hangs over the Lonavala picnic this week-end with Hari Singh Shekhawat, the chief organizer of the trip, suddenly becoming scarce. Enquiries with his household revealed that due to a certain “skin reaction” on the medication he had been prescribed of late, he has had to rush to the Colaba military hospital this morning.
Last seen at the Garden on Saturday, Shekhawat had cut short his exercises because of a prior appointment at the hospital (for a routine check-up) in the morning. He did not show up in the evening and was found to be missing on Sunday as well. So this morning, when he was not to be seen, several eyebrows went up – more so, because he was to go with Kishor Babani this afternoon to book the bus for Lonavala. Calls from the Garden to his residence yielded no response.
As of now, only 22 members have paid up for the Lonavala trip. We need at least 10 more to join, if only to occupy the rooms (tentatively) made available to us. This has however to be confirmed with the guest house management, well in advance. Time is running out. And now, with Shekhawat’s health in question, chances are the trip would have to be deferred – if not cancelled.
In this air of uncertainty, the Club is witnessing a spate of comings-‘n’-goings. Bapu Rane (right) has returned from his ‘mulk’ in Ratnagiri, but Pratap Bhatt has disappeared. Najma Sayed showed up today, but Santosh Tyagi and Nafisa Sayed have gone missing. Ramila Mistry is away on pilgrimage at Somnath Temple while Srichand Arora and Harish Wadhwa are cooling their heels on foreign soil – one at Singapore and the other at Kazakhstan. Not to be left behind, Geeta Sardhana (left) is today taking the flight out of India for a brief vacation with her husband at Thailand…
At this rate, those keyed up for the Lonavala picnic should be finding themselves at a loose end.
Srichand Arora:
Bapu Rane, you must be very happy as MI won the final of CLT-20 today. Congratulations!
Renu Babani:
This solves the mystery regarding Mr Shekhawat's sudden disappearance. I am sure he will recover soon and be back in action. We all know Mr Shekhawat is not the sort to give up easily. His mobile is constantly busy as he makes those calls urging guests/members to pay up due to time constraints. So let us all take a positive note here and support him all the way.

Day 437

Pic(s) of the Week

................................................OMG! What are these people up to?

Bhaswati Bose:
Are these tiger cubs for real? If they are real, then Arora-ji is not real!

Kishor Babani:
Arora-ji pehelwaan hai! Tiger usse kya katega, woh tiger ko kaat dalengey!!!

Renu Babani:
Mrs Arora: Wouldn't it be lovely to have one for a pet?
Mr Arora: Mere se panga mat le, yeh tiger kya cheez hai!
(See how gentle can women be... Any one care to comment on that?)

Srichand Arora:
* Yes, my dear. All these cubs are really real, but I think some sedatives must have been given. We just petted them, but the people there enjoyed with all age tigers!

* Kishor-bhai, Chhodo pehelwan ko -- agar yeh tigers ko koi nashe ki dawa nahin dee gai hoti, toh Arora ki saari pehelwani kissi raste se nikal gai hoti. Aur Renu-ji, aapse panga lekar, kya main India aane ki jurrat kar sakta hoon?

Laughing Out Loud

Muggy morning. Overcast skies. Dark and gloomy. Yet, throughout the morning, the Garden rang with laughter as everybody was bent upon pulling Nafisa Sayed’s (right) leg on her birthday. The odd part was she wasn’t even aware of it.
It all began with cordial handshakes and Club elders placing their hand on her head to bless her. Then came the demand for a birthday treat. Nafisa’s truthful reply was that had she known she was born today, she would have brought sweets. “But I can still call up my son to bring some luddoos right away,” she offered.
Then as an afterthought, she revised her decision: “But my son is fast asleep. So is my bahu. They all wake up after 11:30.”
This only gave others a handle to take digs at her, till Santosh Tyagi came to her rescue: “But didn’t you celebrate your birthday in July with Razia (Khan)? Or was it for a premature birth?” The perennially absent-minded Nafisa did not know what to make of it, but being a natural wit, was alert enough to enquire about the “maal pani” Shekhawat (left) was hiding in the bulge of his shirt.
The latter promptly opened his front buttons and fished out a folded newspaper. Then he dug in and displayed his military I-card. Thereafter, he put his hand inside and came out with a bunch of medical papers. Once again, he put his hand in and pulled out a bundle of currency notes, wrapped in a polythene packet. At this point Nafisa stopped him, saying, “Bahut lafda hai andar!”
Everybody just burst out laughing.
Being the week-end, some ladies decided to have an afternoon out and take in the worst movie in town, Rascals (right). It was much like a death wish as everybody had been forewarned. Newspaper reviews had given the film a half-star rating. Monthy Serrao’s son told her it was utter rubbish, but she insisted on going along. Others reported that people were walking out of theatres – so bad was the movie. Our ladies obviously wanted to see how bad is bad and would presumably spread the word on Monday that it was a fantastic film. Talk about sado-masochism…
Renu Babani:
The movie wasn't that bad. The ladies who dared to go, had already prepared themselves for the worst. However, it was funny and entertaining in its own way. The main idea was to have an outing and with that intention, it was good enough.
Yes, Nafisa, who always has her one-liners ready at the drop of a hat, was definitely the target. However, she took it all in the right spirit, thus ensuing a banter of witty remarks and funny comments. It was a lovely way to start the morning and surely a wonderful weekend.
Mr and Mrs Arora:
Nafisa-ji, we wish you a very happy birthday and many, many happy returns of the day.

Open to All

After countless phone calls and personal invites to members, Hari Singh Shekhawat today formally opened the doors for the Lonavala picnic to non-members (left pic). For all his effort, he could just about garner 21 members for the trip. Since they will not fill even half a bus, he has had to fall upon “guests” – who would, in any case, enjoy the same facilities as the members at no extra cost.
For less than Rs1000 all-told, the two-day Lonavala trip, scheduled for 15-16 October, is a steal by any standard. You cannot get it any cheaper. But strangely enough, many of those who had jumped at the idea when Shekhawat announced the dates, have developed cold feet now. A number of them (mainly ladies) had been at the forefront, campaigning for a picnic – till such time it was decided. Apart from the financial aspect, what these members do not realize is that being out together in a group and sharing time with friends away from home is an experience money cannot buy.
The only hitch though is that the group might have to be split during the night as there will not be enough rooms available for everybody in one guest house. As indicated in an earlier post, a second guest house has been identified close-by – which should be fine so long as we are able to coordinate our movements during the day.
Meanwhile, there's news of Ramila Mistry (right) disappearing once again. She has yet to recover from her pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and is already off to Veraval (in Gujarat) where she will once again pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, at Somnath Temple. We wish her a safe and happy trip and look forward to her return on October 17.
Renu Babani:
Congrats to Mr Shekhawat for managing to get so many members for the picnic. Yes, sad that many members have opted out, but they have their own commitments and personal reasons. However, the guests shall certainly appear in good numbers and hopefully, we shall have a full bus. Inspite of the fact that we shall be divided into two different places, it is just one night; it doesn't really matter as we will be together the entire time. At least we are finally going to make the trip!