We’ve Survived

The world did not come to an end. And we have lived to see another day. Despite all the fear, hoopla, warnings and the prophesy of impending doom, everyone came smiling to the Garden for the exercises as usual... and the Mayan calendar be damned!
Still, not everyone was happy. Bapu Rane (right) cautioned that there was still the rest of the day to go for “the earth to crack open like a rotten baida (egg) and hot water to gush out like giant fountains and drown us” to kingdom come. He was quite disappointed that it did not happen as yet.
Ram Shankar Shukla (above left) had another theory. He insisted there would be a “big tsunami” – a term Sunita Jajodia could hardly fathom. When she was told that giant waves would sweep across to drown us all, she suggested we might as well go to Marine Drive Chowpatty to encounter the waves there and “doob maro”!
Nahid Khan (bottom, left) was equally sanguine that this was her last day on the planet, simply because Nafisa Sayyed had, for the first time, come to the Garden without “hubby” Razia Khan (bottom, right) in tow. This unusual development was good enough reason for the world to end, she said with total conviction.
Little did Nahid know that Razia is seriously ill with a stomach condition that had almost got her hospitalised last evening. She had returned from Pune with high fever and was rushed to Poonam Nursing Home, but she refused to be admitted. So now she is bed-ridden on doctor’s advice and will not be able stir out for one week.
Amid all the speculation on doomsday, there was Hari Singh Shekhawat who just could not be bothered about the world so long as he gets more passengers for the helicopter ride to Vaishno Devi. Like a man possessed, he went around collecting cash to book tickets for the trip which is scheduled on March 31, 2013.
And then there was Srichand Arora who got in the mood of conducting the exercises today in Sindhi – yes, Sindhi. Apart from Jagmohan Papneja, nobody understood a word of what he said – till Ramila Mistry turned her back to him and did her own number, oblivious to all else. Arora commented, “Sab bigad gaye!” only to have Nahid retort, “Bigadne ke liye hi toh hum yahaan aate hain!” Now what can anyone say to that?
Srichand Arora:
Dear Razia-ji, we all wish you the very best and an early recovery. None of us can afford to miss you for seven days. So please recover fast and be with us in the next four to five days.
Jagmohan Papneja:
* The doomsday forecast fizzled out yet again. This topic was discussed for chanting/ socializing.
* Razia-ji's illness is a matter of concern. I wish her speedy recovery. Get well soon, Razia-ji and return to the group.
Kishor Babani:
Get well soon Razia-ji.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Wish you a speedy recovery Razia-ji. I know of one proven cure for stomach ache: A generous helping of tikhat pani-puri and ragda petis (but taken under doctor's supervision only)!
* Women are women. Despite the hovering fear of Doomsday, they can be seen smiling and posing -- more so, Ramila-ji and Geeta-ji striking a filmi model pose!