New Moniker

The final face-off... but no offence meant!

Today was MAY DAY, better known as International Labour Day. For us in the Garden, it was also Maharashtra Day. It also marked the first day of Shab e-Barat – an important day of prayer and fasting by the Islamic calendar. Yet Rukhsana Khan, Nahid Siddiqui, Khatoon Baig and

Banoo Apa

many others braved the blistering morning sun and reported for the exercises on time.
Among them, the one to leave a

Arun Patil

lasting impact was Banoo Apa -- all for her acerbic tongue. In a sudden rush of inspiration, she decided to christen Arun Patil (of all the people) as “Mohammad Kasim Thaklo”! Where that came from, nobody knows. Nor was the provocation for conferring such a lofty title apparent. But Mohammad Kasim Thaklo sounded nice and dramatic. And to Shekhawat, this was just what the doctor ordered -- a convenient stick to beat Arun Patil with.
Barely a week back, Arun had ticked off Shekhawat for calling him “Tokam Toki”, saying that his parents had lovingly given him a name inspired by the solar deity and we ought to respect that. But today, Arun did not dare challenge Banoo Apa for her Mohammad Thaklo jibe. He knew where this could lead do, given Banoo’s way with words. After all, she’s the one to famously brand free-loaders at our parties as “Muft mein chandan, ghiss mere Nandan!”
Turns out Mohammad Kasim Thaklo is for real – a cook who was in the employ of Banoo Apa’s family in Valsad. “He used to be a big kaam chor”, she added.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The name game adds spice to the proceedings of Big Laaf club. One should take such things sportingly. Enjoy and be happy. Do not mind these small pinpricks.