Spirited Weekend

A fun-filled Saturday morning marked by music and madness, unbridled laughter, mutual leg-pulling, ceaseless exchanges of one-liners and quick repartees… all in a spirit of joie-de vivre. Some may have scoffed at the kind of liberties taken during the exercises today. But what do you do when racy numbers like ‘Hansta hua noorani chehra’ and ‘Gore-gore, baanke-chhore’ play in the background? What can be expected when the most talkative ladies of the Club gang up and are at their wittiest best, one trying to outdo the other? What else can Shekhawat do when he had three ‘sitting ducks’ in Geeta Sardhana, Nahid Khan and Ramila Mistry together (above) for the Slow-and-Fast laughter round? Of course, Bapu Rane and then, Kishor Babani tried to restrain him, but Shekhawat was already out guns blazing, with the three ladies in his direct range!
Sunita Jajodia was also there, having returned from the rigors of organizing her son’s wedding last Sunday. Some members (particularly, those not invited) pretended to be unaware of the event and took friendly digs at her. She silenced them suitably with a boxful of kaju-katlis (above), which were much appreciated. Everybody wished the lady well and blessed her son (in absentia) on beginning a new life with his bride. All told, a very happy morning!
Renu Babani's PIC-SPEAK:
* Control, control... a certain lion retreating his companion from being completely mauled by his counterparts. Here we come! Watch out!! You asked for it!!!
* Hey, please! Just what do you think you are doing? You need to keep for the others.

Winter Torpor

Regular winter hasn’t really set in and already several members have gone into hibernation. Till a few days back, there would be about half-a-dozen of us to start the day’s proceedings and by the end of the exercises, the number would swell to a healthy 25 or so. These days, the same half-a-dozen are there (at times more), but not many besides. Let alone come late, many members have simply stopped coming.
Reasons range from health issues to personal engagements. Sitaram Hivarkar is suffering from a nagging back ache which gets aggravated in the early morning chill. Likewise, Ram Shankar Shukla complains of developing body cramps during winter – especially after exercising. Nafisa Sayed (left) has to come all the way from MHADA colony (beyond Lokandwala Circle) and she finds it unsafe walk the distance alone while it is still dark. Sunita Jajodia hasn’t yet got over with her son’s nuptials while Harbans Singh is in mourning, following the passing away of her brother-in-law in Pune.
There are also the ones erratic in their attendance – such as Harish Wadhwa (who has to travel a lot on work), Razia Khan (who is at the mercy of the limited water supply her building gets in the mornings) and Dilip Babani (who is nursing a sore in his mouth). But the one to take the cake (and eat it too) is Yusuf Rassiwala (right). A running joke in the Club is that if Yusuf-bhai comes to the Garden for three days at a stretch, he is bound to take a break for a week (if not longer) from the fourth day. Many are prepared to wager a bet on this!
Now Srichand Arora threatens to be also erratic from next week owing to his annual family reunion at home. His son is visiting from Singapore. Together, they’d all be leaving for Dubai on December 18. Geeta Sardhana, whose daughter’s wedding is fixed for the same day, will have something to chew on.
PIC-SPEAK
--a new feature beginning today, by Renu Babani, on what the pictures say...
* Shekhawat: "Everybody update your phone numbers on the membership list."
Santosh-ji: "Listen Principal-sa'ab, I am a senior member. I shall give you the information when I remember. So be patient."
* Nafisa's ever smiling face tries to make us overlook the fact that she is not a regular. But we miss her sudden bursts of one-liners mid-exercise.
* Yusuf-bhai's impish face says it all. Like a college boy caught bunking, he knows he will not get away scot free.
Harish Wadhwa:
Yusuf-bhai has a shararati andaaz in the pic -- winking with his left eye and puckering his lips like Vidya Balan! Something brewing?
There are these one-timers, phunti-wale, late latifs, not-feeling-healthy sorts and some busy with their household commitments. Then there are some like Bose-babu, Grover-sahab, Kishor-da, Renu-ji, Bhatt-sahab, Nahid Khan-ji, Monthi-ji, Razia-ji and Santosh-ji who are punctual and regular. Appreciate these regulars and their motivation to keep going and stay fit.
Bhaswati Bose
Harish-bhai ko ab har koi Vidya Balan jaisi dikh rahi hai... even Yusuf-bhai! What will happen to him AFTER he sees The Dirty Picture?

Dilip Babani:
Vidya Balan ka bukhar toh kab ka utar gaya. Ab koyi naya gana banega, tab naya bukhar chadega. Dirty Picture jaise bahut films aaye aur gaye. Pahle ki dancers -- Helen, Jayashree T, Divya Bharti, Rekha... abb budhdhi ho gai hai. Budhdhe aur murjhaye phool pasand nahi sab ko.
Harish Wadhwa:
Bhaswati-ji, yes, I do like Vidya's acting, smile and laugh. But she is not my kind and on whom I can go gaga. To be honest, I have no plans to watch The Dirty Picture -- not in the near future. LOL
Srichand Arora:
Thank you very much for reminding me of my neice -- Geeta's daughter's marriage. In view of this, I have changed the date of my Dubai trip from 18th to 28th December. I go on the 28th and return on 30th night. Thanks, once again!

Double Celebration

The Club gave us two reasons to rejoice this morning. One, Hari Naraiyani celebrated his 48th wedding anniversary by distributing besan-luddoos among members after the exercises (left). And two, Sushma Gupta (accompanied by hubby Pradeep Gupta) celebrated her 33rd wedding anniversary by distributing chocolates among members after the exercises (below, left).
If that was not enough, Tara Chand Seth (below, right) gave us another reason to cheer by showing up at the Garden after three months. He was away at Delhi and had returned to Bombay by a late-night flight yesterday. Unable to hold himself back at home, this energetic octogenarian made it a point to be present for the exercises in the morning. His arrival was marked by a round of applause.
Hari-bhai had announced his anniversary a week back (see post of December 1) and the clever man he is, he brought those besan-luddoos in a cookie jar lest anybody pick out more than one at a time. Some did try though, only to be caught with their hand stuck in the cookie jar!
As for the Guptas, the chocolates on a platter came as more than a welcome surprise. Pradeep is a banker, due to retire soon. He will have to vacate his official residence across the road and was discussing the possibilities of remaining in the neighborhood, when Srichand Arora jokingly advised him to wheedle out some wads of currency notes from the bank before leaving. “I have a better idea,” Pradeep said. "I am setting up a press for printing currency notes.” “Great,” Arora retorted instantly. “You set up the press and I'll supply the paper!”
The blog joins everybody on wishing the Gupta couple and the Naraiyanis all the very best in their married lives – full of love, joy, peace and contentment.
Srichand Arora:
Dear Gupta, we all welcome you to our Laughter Club. We assure you, we will keep you as busy as you were in the Bank because we have so many programmes planned out for future. We need a person like you who can initiate and help us achieve our goals.
Renu Babani:
If pictures could speak a thousand words, here's mine:
1. Hari-bhai distributing besan-luddoos from the jar. Note Mrs Bose's gesture with her two fingers and expression, "Hey Mrs Khan, even I wanted to take two, but did not succeed. So don't even try to take my share!" Kajal is looking on while Sushma is so bored, she is yawning!
2. Mr Arora and Mr Gupta are having an interesting conversation. Geeta is looking on pensively, "Maybe I should get into this piece of action too. Sounds interesting!"
3. "Here I come, ready or not..." says Mr Tara Chand, as he comes back into the fold.
Harish Wadhwa:
Arora-sahab, Gupta-ji se dhande ki kucch baat karo, kucch paise jodo. After all, he is a banker, karodon mein khelte hain roz.
Dilip Babani:
God bless both the couples with wealth and good health!

Lone and Furtive

News of Hari Singh Shekhawat (below, right) quietly slinking away yesterday to catch the morning show of The Dirty Picture was the big joke of this morning. That he was caught emerging red-faced from the theatre all alone – first by Santosh Tyagi and then, Monthi Serrao – added spice to all kinds of wild conjecture over why he should be so furtive and dodgy about wanting to see Vidya Balan on screen. Sadly Shekhawat was not around to clear the air, since he arrived rather late today – just before the exercises were to end. Still, some members managed to needle him: “What was it about the movie that you had to see without informing anyone?” “Fine, you did not want to go with the rest of us, but at least you could have asked your wife to accompany you !” “Did you enjoy watching Vidya Balan?”
Shekhawat just laughed and laughed without commenting.
Later, Yusuf Rassiwala was to compliment Shekhawat for such childish behaviour. “It is a good thing that he still retains a spark of mischief at his age. This way, he is in touch with his youth. Otherwise, like most elderly people, he would lose out on all the fun in life,” observed Yusuf-bhai, who was to briefly join Badmaash Company (left) after the exercises to lend his moral support.
Meanwhile, the guessing game over the ‘mysterious lady’ of last Sunday’s Pic of the Week (see post of December 4) is warming up. Nearly a dozen entries have come in with opinion equally divided between Nahid Khan and Santosh Tyagi – just that neither of them is giving anything away. Either they are terrific actors, or else, there is a third possibility lurking somewhere – someone, nobody has identified as yet!
Renu Babani:
Tsk tsk tsk... The Badmaash Company succeeded in luring Yusuf-bhai to join them for tea. How on earth did they manage this feat? Congratulations, no doubt! I guess when they want someone to join their group, they are determined to do so no matter what and eventually succeed! Regarding Mr Shekawat watching Vidya Balan on his own, at least he took it in his stride as usual and enjoyed the movie for sure. He too must have realised that if he were to wait for the rest, he will never see it. So why not strike while the iron is hot? Waiting for the 15th to know who is the 'mystery lady'.
Harish Wadhwa:
Nice to see Yusuf-bhai at the chai ka adda. Bhai chara salamat rahe in badmashon ka! Badmaash Company zindabad!!!

Why This…

The picture alongside is of no ordinary duel. Kishor Babani is seen risking life and limb, trying to ward off a man (in spectacles) notorious for inflicting vicious finger jabs in the stomach of unsuspecting men. People call him “Subbu”. A Tamilian, he is otherwise a pleasant-looking guy with a deceptively shy smile and does not mess about with women. But with men, he can be quite a terror. The very presence of this 'smiling assailant' at the Garden sends even robust gents running helter-skelter lest they get into his line of attack. And here, of all the people, our Kishor had to engage him in a combat!
Earlier in the morning, Kishor had played the trending Tamil-English song, ‘Why this Kolaveri Di?’ – which translates as ‘Why this vicious rage?’ Despite the nonsensical lyrics and substandard rendition, it holds an addictive charm on listeners and in a strange way, sounded apt today -- especially with Moharram being observed amid appeals from community leaders for maintaining peace and calm. But the message was clearly lost on the Tamilian "Subbu" who continued his kolaveri act with anybody and everybody who got within striking distance.
Today was also the day when five ladies from the Club went to watch The Dirty Picture (right) at Cinemax. Renu Babani, Santosh Tyagi, Monthi Serrao, Bhaswati Bose and Kajal Babani constituted the second group from the Club after Srichand Arora and Kishor checked out the movie last Saturday. Yet another group comprising Yusuf Rassiwala, Grover, Bhatt and others is planning to go for what has already become a hugely over-hyped and much-flogged biopic on the yesteryear southern sex siren, Silk Smitha – Vidya Balan's oomph notwithstanding.
Bhaswati Bose:
The Dirty Picture turned out to be a good picture. Dialogues and music were good. Vidya Balan was too good. We enjoyed watching the film. Strangely, there were more women than men in the hall.
P.S.: Monthi bumped into Shekhawat-ji who had come out from the 10.45 show -- ALONE!
Renu Babani:
So five ladies ventured out, sans the males, to see The Dirty Picture. Two words: Vidya Balan! Yes, she has definitely kept all her detractors speechless by her performance! All the other actors who are already ahead of her will have to work real hard to beat this performance. Let's not divulge the details as more members are planning to watch the movie.. so leave it at that.
Dilip Babani:
What the three men are doing with Vidya Balan in the poster, I do not understand. If the poster is like this, what will the film be like? Everybody praises Vidya Balan because of her matkas and jhatkas. For a girl to perform like this is amazing. Now the rest of the men will run to see her.