'Terror' Strikes

Mallika Kagzi

Mallika Kagzi is turning out to be a terror. In fact, where Srichand Arora, Nahid Khan, Harbans Kaur, Ved Prakash Grover and other 'disciplinarians' have failed, this otherwise mild-mannered lady has managed to rein in the recalcitrant elements of the Club quite effectively.
Yesterday, Shekhawat was fooling around with Jagmohan Papneja, Mumtaz Jahan and Fehmida Khan when Mallika stepped in to reveal her true colors. She started off by saying, “Buss bhi karo” and politely urged the four to concentrate on the exercises. Moments later, a shrill “Choooop!” rang through the group. Everybody froze, but the four continued their tomfoolery, giggling like delinquent kids.
That was when Mallika lost her cool.

Shekhawat reads out the final 'seating plan' 

She halted the exercises and told Shekhawat, “Now talk, talk for as long as you like and after that we shall exercise!”
Everybody sniggered watching the fun, leaving Shekhawat and his pals red-faced with embarrassment. The exercises were resumed, but Mallika was unrelenting. She launched on a diatribe accusing the chatterboxes of repeating the same old stale jokes and pranks every day, little bothered about the disturbance they caused. After she was finished, the four were at their best behavior, not uttering a single word for the rest of the morning.
Bijoy Gupta had obviously forgotten about that incident when he started taking pot shots at Shekhawat today.

Monthi distributes Filipino mango leather

Shekhawat was unusually quiet, aware that Mallika had a hawk’s eye on him. An emboldened Gupta became even more provocative and then Mallika swung into action. “What did you say?” she challenged Gupta and that was it. She did not have to say another word and Gupta instantly clammed up as though he had met his nemesis. From a distance, Shekhawat kept laughing silently and peace was restored.
After the exercises, Shekhawat gathered everyone around and read out the ‘seating plan’ he had devised for the bus (see yesterday’s post) going on tomorrow’s picnic. Surprisingly, no one had a problem with the plan today. He also instructed everyone to report to the Garden by 7:30 a.m. as the bus would leave for Royal Hills Resort at 7:45 a.m. sharp. “We will not hold up the bus for any late-comer,” he warned repeatedly.
The happiest part of the morning though was the mango leather Monthi Serrao’s daughter had brought for us from the Philippines. Even as it was suspiciously close to the Indian aam papad (but less juicy and more elastic) for most of us, this was a first. Thank you, Ravina for yet another wonderful treat!
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
It is high time our worthy members recognise 'woman power'. Chatterboxes, be careful the next time you open your mouth during the exercises.