Sound and Fury

It was an unusual meeting, as ‘general bodies’ go. Evenly divided – 11 males, 11 females – we should have ideally formed two teams and gone out playing football, cricket, hockey… or whatever. Instead, the Badmaash Company did the first good deed in its history by sponsoring the tea and biscuits, little expecting that it would inflame passions and lead to wanton fireworks in the meeting.
Suddenly Yusuf Rassiwala (right pic) sprung up from his seat, accusing Hem Chand Jain of playing a “double game” when the motion for registration of the Club was put to vote. Till then, all went well with Monthi Serrao (treasurer) having presented her report on bank accounts peacefully. Neelam Garg though tried to put spokes in the wheel, even questioning the rationale behind generating funds. It was generally overlooked as a weak attempt by an irregular member anxious to make her presence noticed. But Yusuf’s flare-up caught everyone unawares. He charged Jain of being an “unprincipled person” who had no business to be in the meeting when he could “lift his right hand in favour of a motion and soon after, lift his left hand to oppose the motion”.
With cries for “Issko nikaalo yahaan se” drowning the proceedings, Jain went charging at Yusuf, denying all allegations and making some counter-allegations. Razia Khan (joint secretary) appealed for everyone to resume their seats if they were to be taken on record. Even Khatoon Baig tried to raise her voice above the din. Clearly, nobody had seen Yusuf so livid with rage. Shekhawat (president) and Arora (secretary) tried in vain to restore order (bottom pic)while Harish Wadhwa, funnily had to be on his toes performing a little waltz while placing himself strategically between the “warring bulls”, lest they get physical. Ultimately Jain declared that he cannot promise to be regular for the exercises (as he has to travel on business) and it did not matter whether the Club retained or expelled him.
In all the acrimony and pandemonium, one positive outcome was that we have a new member now in Qadeer Bano (top left). On the flip side though, the Sports Day scheduled for December 22 at Borivali National Park (yesterday's post) has been successfully scuttled. Moral of the story: Never accept tea and biscuits from the Badmaash Company.
Jagmohan Papneja:
* The morning incident was unfortunate and unexpected. It should not have happened. Mr Yusuf Rassiwala is a man of integrity, uprightness and principles. It is said: "In the confrontation between the stream and a rock, the stream always wins -- not by strength, but perseverance".
* In the melee, my poetry did not find any mention!