Royal Feast

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARUN PATIL!

Receiving calendar from Nahid Khan

Cutting the birthday cake

Just when we thought we were done with the avalanche of July-birthday celebrations, we had another one coming. It was Arun Patil’s birthday today. And he bombarded us with yet another volley of eats – samosas, sheera, upma, salties and fries, sabu-dana vada… and of course, the birthday cake, followed by hot nagori chai!
The only saving grace was that much of the food was home-cooked – straight out of Vandana Kankanwar’s kitchen. So it was not surprising that after all the feasting, many carried home their left-overs, neatly packed in carry bags. It was impossible to consume everything in one go.

Birthday Boy turns 65

Ladies check the birthday calendar

But before this, we went through the ritual of singing and dancing to the birthday song and raising a fourth laugh for Arun. Nahid Khan presented him the birthday calendar on behalf of the Club and Bijoy Gupta did his little number by singing for him a vintage film song.
A striking feature of today’s celebration was the unexpectedly high attendance – hitting 30. Among non-members, ex-president Mallika Kagzi was there. In fact, it was hard to name anybody who hadn’t turned up. As Yusuf Rassiwala pointed out, “never before had the Club witnessed such a large gathering on any member’s birthday”.
This was rather ironical. Arun is not very popular because of his rough tongue and being a stickler for discipline. Many have even threatened to quit the Club because of his ‘dictatorial’ nature. Yet they were all there today to wish him well and join the chorus: “Long Live Arun Patil”! Such is life in Big Laaf.

Yusuf Rassiwala delivers a short speech

Singing and clapping to the birthday song

Bihari Milwani:
Today’s date is 2nd August, i.e. 2-8. We were 28 members present. 28 multiplied by 2 get 56. And Arun turn 56 years old. What a coincidence! This happens once in a lifetime!!!

Geeta Latte:
Many, many happy returns of the day💐🎂🎂!!!