Practical Advice

Kiran Prakash tries to cheer Santosh Tyagi with some sage adivice

Santosh Tyagi was visibly upset this morning. Her birthday falls next week on the 10th (Wednesday), but she cannot celebrate on that day (with us) due to certain personal reasons. She will have to choose a convenient date, perhaps towards the week-end. The worst part is that she cannot celebrate the way she wants.
“Is there no way I can distribute samosas and snacks the way we used to earlier?” she asked alluding to the recently-imposed ‘ban’ on food and beverages inside the Garden.
Santosh was actually voicing her resentment on an issue that remains unresolved and concerns all of us. The face she made and her look of helplessness, struck an empathetic chord in Kiran Prakash. A mild-mannered man, he summoned all the reserves of male bravado at his command and proffered a piece of advice unexpected of him. “Celebrate the way you wish to, Santosh-ji,” he said. “We shall relish the samosas and whatever else you give us.

Nahid Khan (c) treats us to gajak from Delhi

By the time the watchman notices and complains against us, we shall be finished with the eating and disappear!”
Somehow, that did not sound convincing enough to Santosh and her lady friends. They toyed with the idea of “smuggling in” pre-packed food boxes by hoodwinking the watchman and deliberated on the modus operandi of the operation.
“Don’t worry,” urged Mallika Kagzi. “Let alone the watchman, his father cannot catch us. Why his father, even his grandfather, great-grandfather and great-grand uncles put together will not be able to catch us. I could have shown you if it were to be my birthday.”
For these seniors to appear so scared of a young, harmless watchman at the Gate and to speak in such grim, conspiratorial tones by itself made for a hilarious scenario.
But Santosh was serious. She has the option of celebrating her birthday the way she pleases (without fear) at the picnic venue on the 13th (Saturday). Alternatively, she can schedule the celebration early next week, but chances are it would collide with Mumtaz Jahan’s birthday do. For obvious reasons, Santosh does not want to have it either way.
In the circumstances, Kiran Prakash’s advice sounds surprisingly sensible and eminently doable.
Bihari Milwani:
Why not celebrate the birthday at Juhu Beach? Santosh-ji will be reminded of the tasty food last time she had at Juhu Beach -- keema pav!
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
A simple affair has been made complicated. The solution offered calling for grandfather and others is not desirable. Let us do some commando action once in while!