Critical Mass

Our picnic group has gathered the ‘critical mass’ necessary for making a success of the trip to Harshgiri this Sunday. In Shekhawat-ji’s estimate, any number less than 35 in a 52-seater bus could raise the per-head cost for the picnic beyond affordable limits. Now that at least 40 members would be making it, not only would the three-hour journey be comfortable (with a dozen-odd seats to spare about), some money could also be returned out of the Rs600 collected from each member.
Amid the usual excitement that precedes every picnic, demands from members have started piling up. While some would like to have packed breakfast in the bus (as was made available on the Lonavala trip last September), others are content with just tea and biscuits before taking off. A few are suggesting that the option of stopping the bus midway for light refreshments be kept open. In any case, breakfast would be awaiting us at the resort from 9:30 a.m. onwards.
For Khatoon Baig (left) though, food is not so much of a concern as the provision of bottled aerated water. Moreover, because of a nagging back ailment, she has requested for a “comfortable” seat in the bus. Nazma Sayed (below, right) is anxious to know if a front seat can be allotted to her in advance, as she has a mobility issue. Mumtaz Jahan too has made a similar request, preferably next to the window. In fact, the demand for window seats has been coming from several quarters and all Shekhawat-ji can commit himself to, as of now, is reserving the first three rows in the bus for the “special cases”.
Meanwhile, what has gone unnoticed are some key members who would not be able to join us. Among them are seniors like Hari Naraiyani, Pratap Bhatt and Prakash Motwani. Bapu Rane has to leave for his village in Sindhudurg the very next day (March 14) and has excused himself. Sunita Jajodia and Kiran Sajjan are already out-of-station. Most significantly, one of our Club’s founder members, Srichand Arora and his wife, Kiran will be conspicuous by their absence and shall be missed by all.
Renu Babani says:
Yes, the picnic is the main topic on a daily basis. Mr Shekawat is yet aiming for more members/guests and looks like we are going to be great in numbers. As usual, we shall make the most of the picnic like we always do and it will be fun. We haven't been for a day picnic for a while now, so maybe that is the reason everyone is awaiting this day. For those who are unable to attend, they shall be missed. But I guess everyone has their own personal commitments.
So let's go make the most of it!
--Renu

Cricket Fever

As the World Cup fixtures enter the quarter-final stage, cricketing craze among members has reached feverish pitch. Shekhawat-ji’s ongoing collection drive for the Sunday picnic has lost its importance in the face of mounting speculation on the outcome of league matches, various strategies of rival teams and of course, India’s prospects of making it to the final.
From Srichand Arora (right) to Bapu Rane to Bhaswati Bose to Ved Prakash Grover to Nahid Khan to Sitaram Hivarkar… everybody seems to be now on first-name terms with strange entities like Kevin O’Brien, Ross Taylor, Berend Westdijk and Ryan ten Doeschate. India having played or not, is immaterial. Every match is crucial for these cricket fanatics.
So Bapu Rane abruptly interrupts the exercises to enquire who’d be playing in the afternoon. Santosh Tyagi has been wanting to watch Tanu Weds Manu but cannot find anybody who would willingly “sacrifice” a match on TV to give her company. Sitaram-ji (below) had not been coming to the Garden for the past two days (because of water problems and a broken-down lift in his building). Today he showed up after the exercises, just to be able to discuss cricket with Rane and Sadanand Pawar – such is his obsession towards the game.
Meanwhile, members are talking in hushed tones on the following lines:
“Why is he so sullen? Why come to the Laughing Club when you cannot even smile?”
“Let him be. He wants to be left alone. He’ll come around on his own. It has happened earlier also.”
“It's his mood. He's terribly moody. He'd be fine, once the stock market goes up.”
“No, it's his ego. He wants others to bow down to his wishes. Why should we do so?”
“He's basically a good man, clean at heart -- just that he tends to make a big issue out of small things.” No prizes for guessing who the cause of so much puzzlement can be.
Renu Babani says:
What is up with the blog? Why is it getting so personal in regards to people's mannerism, moods, etc. This is not accepted, and should be stopped. Each one should be respected no matter what, and conversations in regards to anyone is not the reason we meet each morning. Criticism or sarcasm about individuals causes rifts and tends to distance the group. So, please, let us stop any finger pointing, or leave each one to their own. Let us enjoy our company when we meet and have fun!
--Renu
Big Laaf clarifies:
This blog is meant to be a daily log of whatever happens in the Garden -- taking the good with the bad. Only what is out in public space is recorded, and always with extreme caution such that no feelings are hurt. To be wearing blinkers when there is a real problem concerning our own kin would be dishonest and defeating the very purpose of this blog. Still, if there is a fear that this could cause a rift, the blog APOLOGISES unconditionally.
Renu Babani says:
Rest assured, no hard feelings, and the opinion written was due to the attachment we have as a family. Life is too short to sit and muse over who said what and why. Time to move on and let's enjoy the moment. Who has seen tomorrow?
--Renu

Women’s Day

Something about the International Women’s Day made the ladies show up in their colourful best (right) this morning. They outnumbered the men 3 to 2 and from their attire and attitude, they all looked in high spirits. For a change, they made the men – Bapu Rane and Yusuf Rassiwala – conduct both the laughter and exercise rounds. Neither of the Khan ladies, Nahid and Razia, even offered to stand in the middle today.
After the exercises, the men got back at the ladies, though on the pretext of wishing them well on the occasion. Yusuf-bhai wished everybody individually, “Happy Women’s Day” and when it was Kajal Babani’s turn, he held himself back. “You are not a woman,” he quipped in jest. “You are just a girl!”
Her husband, Dilip (left) was his usual mischievous self and needed an excuse to rile them with his teasers. He got his opportunity when the ladies protested against the empty wishes of men -- “Iss-sey kaam nahin chalega!” In all seriousness he advised them to go home and persuade their husbands to take them out for a nice lunch or dinner in a fancy restaurant. “It is your special day,” he explained. “So don’t go by bus. Take a taxi instead!”
Only someone sharp enough to think on his feet is capable of producing such spontaneous humour!
Sushma Gupta (right) was back in the Garden today, after a brief break. She had gone to Ujjain to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva at the Mahakaaleshwara Temple. This is one of the 12 jyotirlings across India, the prime pilgrimage spots for devotees of Shiva. It was nice of Sushma-ji to think of us during her trip and distribute the prasad she brought back from the holy shrine among those present.

Status Quo

Status quo has been restored on the picnic front – the only preoccupation of the Club these days, outside the exercise routine. Santosh-ji will have to be homebound till her bahu returns from tour on Saturday evening. Likewise, Razia Khan will be free only on Sunday as her brother (a musician) has a concert lined up on Saturday. That apart, there’s a crucial World Cup cricket match, India vs South Africa, coming up on Saturday. Thus, in majority interest, Shekhawat-ji has reverted to the original plan (see post of March 4) for the picnic on Sunday, March 13, 2011.
“My wife will wake up a couple of hours earlier than usual on Sunday, do her puja and take along some fruits for herself on the picnic,” he said. “She cannot possibly have the food from the resort. But not to worry, she will adjust. The idea is to leave around 7:30 – 8:00 in the morning so that we reach Harshgiri by 10.00, in time for breakfast.”
The response of members has largely been enthusiastic, even as this is the examination season. Almost everybody has enlisted his/her participation in the trip and contributions are continually pouring in. Seeing their excitement, Shekhawat-ji is confident that we will have the numbers to bring down costs. “We have booked a 52-seater bus,” he reasoned. “By having just 35 members on, we will be able to reduce costs (from Rs600) to Rs500 per head.”
Some of the overall excitement spilled into the exercise session this morning as everyone seemed to get on a chattering mode with a vengeance. Sunita Jajodia (above, left) was clearly getting impatient and when she snapped in her usual style, Yusuf-bhai (right: don't miss the red cap) retorted from a distance, “Aunty-ji to gussa aa raha hai!” This got her worked up all the more. “Aunty kaun hai?” she demanded. Before he could reply, Tara Chand-ji interjected: “Nahin, Aunty ki maa hai!” Instantly, she too broke into laughter.
Razia-ji, who conducted the exercises today (along with Nahid Khan), wrapped up the proceedings by distributing toffees (lead pic) she had brought back from Dubai. She was there on a short business trip and as she informed us, she would have to go to the U.S. later this month. Looks like this lady is turning into a major globe-trotter.

PIC OF THE WEEK: 20

Haven't we seen her before?
* MONA LISA SMILING! A rare find no doubt... and priceless too! Is it up for sale?
--Renu Babani
* THIS PICTURE IS OF BHASWATI BOSE!
--Dilip Babani
* Surprising to see Dilip-bhai refusing to recognise his better half and seeing Bhaswati-ji in the pic! Strict penalty should be imposed -- khana peena bandh. And Blog Monster, you need to pull him up too for obvious reasons. Iski saja milegi, jaroor milegi!
--Harish Wadhwa
* LOL... Hilarious!
--Basushree