New Names

Sharma-ji and Naga in their elements

Shekhawat acquired a new moniker today – ‘Naga’.
And Bijoy Gupta outgrew being called ‘Godhri ka Lal’. He became ‘Sharma-ji’, thanks to Urmila Sinha. Whether she mistook him for Karun Sharma (who is absent these days) or someone else is not very clear. But she kept referring to Gupta as “Sharma-ji”, much to Shekhawat’s amusement. Later, he was to be introduced by Shekhawat to everybody as “Sharma-ji’!
The ‘Naga’ story is even more intriguing. Banoo Apa raised the topic of the group currently on the Andaman tour when Shekhawat butted in saying that the original inhabitants of the islands are still ‘junglis’ and roam around naked.
“Man or woman, they do not wear any clothes,” Shekhawat said with the all-knowing look of one who has interacted with the aborigines. “They have no shame walking around like that on the road. It is their way of life, so what can we say?”
“You mean they don’t even wrap a cloth around the waist?” Razia Khan wanted to know.
“No, nothing,” Shekhawat clarified. “They are called Naga.”
“Just like you!” Gupta snapped in. “You are our Naga. One of these days we shall see you marching in the Garden without any clothes... But I would not be surprised. I know your nature very well.”
That did it. From that moment Shekhawat became 'Naga' in everybody’s eyes – however misplaced the reference was. The ladies cupped their mouths and started giggling. “In Gaya we see many such men on the streets,” remarked Urmila, unable to hold her laughter.