Party Bloopers

Bihari Milwani presents Siba Prasad Maitra a birthday memento

Chaklis and cupcakes keep up the festive spirit

Shekhawat’s New Year party this morning has been pushed by a day – owing to what was described as “unavoidable circumstances”. The funny part was that many like Mumtaz Jahan and ex-president Malika Kagzi were specially invited by Shekhawat for this special do and he was the first one to disappear from the Garden after the exercises. Funnier still, Bijoy Gupta – the man instrumental at forcing Shekhawat into hosting the party – has himself gone missing!
Ideally a New Year party should have been held on January 1 – as it was with us last year. But since many pleaded inability to attend due to late night festivities on December 31, the date was shifted to January 2. Shekhawat offered to foot the bill (instead of the Club doing so) partly because Gupta had been needling him for an “undeserved windfall” by way of a major hike in his monthly pension.
The real reason though was that Shekhawat has become the proud owner of a brand new property – a swank three-bedroom apartment worth Rs60 million in Kandivli. Just last week, he was handed its keys and since then, he has wanted to celebrate. He never tires of listing out the state-of-the-art gadgetry and in-built amenities the apartment provides. To Gupta, this new acquisition is also “wholly undeserved”.
Meanwhile, Siba Prasad Maitra made sure that the morning does not go ‘dry’ for us in the absence of Shekhawat’s party. He had brought along packets of cupcakes, chaklis and other tit-bits to keep the festive fervor alive. Bihari Milwani gifted him his signature memento – a beautifully framed photo with a personal message along the border – something that should have been presented to Maitra on his birthday the day before yesterday.
But then, that was a Sunday. Belated as it was, this is one gift Maitra would cherish for a long time.

Siba Prasad Maitra:
Thank you, Mr Milwani for your birthday gift. It is really special to me and I will preserve it. Though we missed you on the 30th, it was nice of you to remember the occasion.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Shekhawat's party has become over-due and over-hyped! He invited everyone and himself quietly deserted the Garden. Hurrah! There is enjoyment in waiting also. Good luck to everyone.