'Twenty on Thirty'

Mammoth turnout for the exercises today

History was created this morning in the Garden with a record turnout of 20-plus on a non-party day. Also of significance was the spectacle of 100 per cent compliance on wearing the club cap – a glorious show of harmony that called for an extra congratulatory laugh at the end of the exercises.
But to many, more significant than the caps was that no party had been lined up today. Still, one after another, they pretended to be unbelieving

Shekhawat reads out
govt notification

and asked cheekily, “Is there a party today?”
Bihari Milwani also asked the same question when he arrived and quickly corrected himself by doing a head count. “Twenty on thirty,” he declared. “There are 20 of us on the 30th of July!”
“I knew this,” exulted Arun Patil, back from a self-imposed exile of two days. “I have always maintained that if you people want to be regular you can make it and that too, on time. The trouble is you have been far too casual.

Dilip Babani (r) exchanges pleasantries with Arun

You don’t take the exercises seriously.”
Arun’s return (ref post of July 27) was deliberately underplayed and treated as a non-event. Dilip Babani had reportedly called him during the week-end and persuaded him to resume his Garden routine. “I shall henceforth be coming on time,” Razia Khan quoted Dilip as saying.
However, what Dilip and perhaps others do not know was that Arun had already decided to show up on Monday, i.e. today and conveyed this on phone on Saturday morning itself. So all talk of Arun Patil quitting Big Laaf and going to another Garden to exercise, is baseless.
Meanwhile, Shekhawat broke the news of he being eligible for a JCO’s pension (with arrears), as per a recent government notification. What this entails, he knows best. But in his excitement at the sudden windfall, he has promised to treat the full Club to breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
This is the result of the July get-together when everyone had his/ her fill. They are trying to digest the wholesome food and preparing for the next bash. Good strategy. Keep coming regularly and you will see the result. Laughing, coupled with exercises, make you fit!

Bihari Milwani:
With today's phenomenal attendance, seats were in short supply. Those tired out were looking for seats to rest. What will be the situation when Shekhawat-ji hosts his grand party of breakfast-lunch-dinner?