Super Saturday

The week-long revelry of daily food, fun and laughter reached its climax this morning with a clash of two birthday celebrations. While Pratap Bhatt (bottom right) moved closer to a ripe and respectable age of 80, Bose Babu (bottom left) entered his adolescence. Being the week-end, everyone was prepared for a major blast and had turned up at the Garden in full strength (lead pic). They were not disappointed.
The mood of the morning was set during the exercises with Ramila Mistry holding centre stage and Yusuf Rassiwala intent on putting a spanner in the works. Soon others went berserk with wisecracks, leg-pulling and tomfoolery. The ladies became a law unto themselves, constantly laughing and joking despite strict orders from the centre: “No talking business!” But Nafisa Sayed, who had returned after a long gap, made it her mission to distract the teacher by repeatedly calling out, “Ramila Beinnnn”!
Meanwhile Kishor Babani took out his tablet PC and started filming the proceedings, only to make Nahid Khan suspicious whether he would be sending the clip to “Boss” in Singapore. Mrs Harbans Singh just shook her head, remarking that when the cat is away, the mice will play – words to that effect. And then, Ramila suddenly let out a banshee cry, “Eiyyyeeeee, Eiyyyeeeee…” which startled an otherwise composed Kishor to involuntarily bark aloud – “Out, Get Out!”
It was fun, great fun. All those watching from the walking track must have given up on us as a pack of lunatics on the loose. So nobody was surprised when the bag containing the food packets disappeared mysteriously. Someone had hidden it behind the hedges. But when Bose was caught prancing about with white flowers tucked behind his ears, even Yusuf started having doubts. “He needs urgent medical attention,” he advised gravely.
There were some touching moments too – like when Ramila presented the birthday boys with a red rose while conducting the exercises. Or when Shekhawat sprinted across the Garden like an excited school boy, just to wish them. Or the many times they were seen hugging someone or the other, shaking hands, backslapping, hitting high fives… Suddenly the world had become a beautiful place.
Renu Babani:
Celebrations galore! Everyone seems to have just gotten out of their cages. Memories no doubt.
Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
Dear Bose-ji and Bhatt -- Happy Birthday to you.
Dilip Babani:
Happy birthday, dear Bose Babu and Bhatt-ji! Bose Babu, you are looking 100% Kishore Kumar, the singer-cum-comedian. Our club has some very talented members. That is why people in the Garden are attracted towards us.
Bhaswati Bose:
* Dilip-bhai, you mean as mad as Kishore Kumar?
* A very Happy Birthday to Mr Bhatt and Mr Bose -- one of the founders of Badmaash Company. May it prosper and expand under your able badmaashi!
Harish Wadhwa:
Old habits die hard. A badmaash cannot live without badmaashi -- with special reference to Bose's pic. But a nice pic. While Bhatt-sa'ab is a the sober, cool and humble kind, Bose complements by being a fun-loving prankster and true badmaash. Happy Birthday once again to the two musketeers and thank you for the yummy goodies. BTW can you not celebrate your birthdays twice or thrice in a year? Who cares for the dates anyway. Hamein toh sirf badmaashi se matlab hai!
* Both the birthday boys(?) have their heads tilted at 10 degrees in the opposite direction. Kya similarity hai!