Sweating it Out

Mallika Kagzi

Everybody agrees that it is unusually sultry for this time of the year in Mumbai. And were it not for Mallika Kagzi, attendance for the exercises in the Garden would have dropped to zero by now. Every morning, she comes in carrying two heavy bottles of chilled water which is shared by all of us. Nobody has told her to do so. But this is what keeps us going.

Srichand Arora conducts the exercises in the oppressive heat

Or else, we would be dropping to the ground like nine pins out of sheer dehydration.
“There can be no greater virtue in life than giving the thirsty water to drink,” a grateful Srichand Arora complimented her the other day.
Today was no different – except that attendance had dropped further with Shekhawat whisking away a sizeable number of regulars for the three-day excursion of Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani. They left by chartered bus at 6:15 in the morning and as you read this, they could well be gallivanting in the cooler climes of the hill station. They reached at 12:30 pm after a brief stopover for breakfast at Lonavala.
Meanwhile, lesser mortals like us sweated it out in the Garden, seeking distractions to keep the laughter going. Razia Khan stepped into Shekhawat’s shoes to be the engine driver of the morning while Mallika had a blast egging Arora to keep talking even after he had nothing to speak about.

Karishma Milwani with parents

Maitra narrates a 3-in-one joke

And then came the hilarious rapid fire wrap-up of the exercises – just what Jagmohan Papneja wanted to keep us sweating even more. But ultimately, it was Siba Prasad Maitra who stole the show with a charming three-in-one joke that won many hearts.
Incidentally, today was Arora’s wedding anniversary. And Bihari Milwani, who is away in Los Angeles, sent him a beautiful laminated card to mark the occasion. He had gone to attend the convocation of his younger daughter, Karishma who has earned her masters’ in cyber security from the University of Southern California. In the photograph alongside, she is seen flanked by her proud parents. Our hearty congratulations and good wishes go to her.
Kiran Prakash:
* Congratulations Karishma on your achievement. Congratulations to the proud parents too.
* Happy wedding anniversary to Kiran and Srichand Arora. May God grant His choicest blessings on both of you.
Srichand Arora:
Congratulations dear Karishma and many many thanks, dear Milwani family for such a beautiful and meaningful greeting card. Actually I was 100% sure to receive your wishes. Thanks once again, you all.
Bihari Milwani from Los Angeles:
Dear Mallika, from the bottom of my heart I thank and congratulate you for tirelessly doing such a wonderful job of quenching the thirst of all members of BIG LAAF family.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Heartiest congratulations to Karishma and her proud parents for the big achievement. I wish her more success in times to come. Heartiest congratulations to the Aroras as well on their wedding anniversary. I wish them many healthy and enjoyable years together.