Party Time

Banoo Apa lays out the goodies this morning

Mallika Kagzi serves hot-hot tea

When Banoo Apa called Shekhawat this morning, we were already 15 minutes into the exercises. She wanted to know how many people had turned up as she was arranging for breakfast and tea for everyone. Shekhawat truthfully reported that “only seven members have turned up so far” and because of the rains, in all likelihood, the number would not exceed a dozen by the end of the exercises. “At the very maximum, you may make arrangements for 15 people,” he said.
More than 30 turned up. Apart from three of Shekhawat’s saalis, we had Sitaram Hivarkar, Teja Singh Bhambra, Mohar Singh, Naseem Khan, Nahid Siddiqui, Rakhi Bansi and several others least expected to stir out of their homes during the rains. Today they had all come, braving the intermittent showers and risking life and limb, wading through filthy puddles, potholes and overflowing gutters… to be in the Garden before the exercises ended.
Banoo Apa came riding in an autorickshaw. Stopping outside the China Hut, she lugged out large containers of steaming hot upma, sizzling pakoras and bhajiya, ketchup, flasks of tea, bottles of cold drinks, paper cups, plates, spoons, napkins… the whole works. Given our circumstances, this was nothing short of a royal feast. And to top it all, we had Mallika Kagzi with another flask full of tea. “I had said I’d be bringing tea every morning through the monsoon,” she quipped.
This was completely unscheduled and unplanned. And to imagine these ladies, especially Banoo Apa, waking up in darkness, sacrificing sleep and preparing the goodies for us… This is not easy. Beyond gratitude, we can never repay these noble souls for giving us so much of love and kindness. We don’t deserve it.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
Our lady members are keen to ensure that all members maintain not only good humour but good health also. Laughter followed by exercises keeps one fit and the supply of goodies meets appetite. Well done. Three cheers to the ladies.
Kiran Prakash:
Thank you, Banoo. Any amount of admiration will not be enough for your kind gesture. Such unscheduled and unplanned party is certainly going to take attendance to a new high, but of course, after 7:30 a.m.
Bihari Milwani:
Celebrations are in full swing because the president is missing.
Bhaswati Bose:
Well, the mice will play when the CAT is away!