Homing Pigeons

Pleasant morning with mellow sunshine. Many have started wearing woollens to counter the cool, wintry breeze in the Garden. But for Mumtaz Jahan, it was unbearably hot. Having just returned from Kashmir (she was away for more than three months), she needed time to adjust to the difference in climatic conditions. Looking thoroughly flushed (left pic), she informed that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir was covered in a sheet of snow the time she left. “From the aircraft, the Valley looked to be shining like silver,” she said. “I could see only barf hi barf!”
Mrs Harbans Singh also marked her return this morning – she being away to Ludhiana for about a month. Before leaving, she had treated us to the most sumptuous and sinfully tasty halwa ever imaginable for her birthday. And now that she is back, she came with another surprise – neatly-wrapped dry-sweet cubes in different flavours and encrusted with nuts (side pic). None of us had ever seen anything like that in Mumbai, far less taste them. In fact, the moment she was done with distributing them, a mad scramble followed for the left-overs. And if that was not enough, she had lovely, crispy Ludhiana biscuits to go along with the sweets – which Monthi Serrao helped distribute (bottom pic) for her.
All we can say is that the lady has style. No wonder Bapu Rane was so overjoyed on seeing Mrs Singh that he had got his Marathi and Hindi mixed up. “Aapko aaj hi yaad nikala!” he blurted out, by way of greeting her.
Now, this leaves Santosh Tyagi only. She should be returning any time now from Delhi.
Post Script: Word has just come in that Razia Khan's condition has worsened over the past 24 hours (see yesterday's post). It is a kidney stone problem. She had been admitted to Kokilaben Hospital and thereafter, shifted to Pooja Nursing Home in Jogeshwari -- under care of a specialist. Her phones have been switched off and it appears that the family is with her in the hospital. Let us all join them in prayer for her early recovery.
Harish Wadhwa:
Thanks so much Mrs Harbans Singh, for the lovely sweets and cookies from 'the' Ludhiana. I still maintain, Mrs Singh de haathon banaye aate-de-halwe da jawaab nahin.
Jagmohan Papneja:
A tale of three women:
Mumtaz-ji, We learnt of your Kashmir stay/ For more than words can say,
Harbans-ji, Nothing was more welcome/ Than those Ludhiana sweets have become.
Razia-ji, A cheerful get-well-soon wish especially to say/ BIG LAAF misses you everyday.
Bhaswati Bose:
So along with an in-house photographer and a singer, we can now also boast of having our own poet! Keep it up, Jagmohan-ji.