Sweet Pain

Parting can be such a sweet pain. Hari Singh Shekhawat and Santosh Tyagi experienced it today as they prepared to leave for their respective hometowns this afternoon. As many as 30-odd members had turned up at the Garden to see off these two Club veterans in the morning.
So overwhelmed was Santosh (left pic) to find herself in the midst of such a large gathering that she couldn’t help remarking: “Don’t worry, I'm not going to the front to fight a war. I'm just going to attend a wedding. I’ll be back by the 18th.” Nevertheless, she meticulously took down the telephone numbers of her well-wishers and promised to call up once she reached Delhi.
Shekhawat (below pic), who is also going to attend a wedding at his village in Rajasthan, was a bit late to arrive at the Garden. Predictably, he became the butt of many jokes – largely because of his superstitious nature and belief in the occult. No matter what anybody tells him, he is convinced that a resident chudail or evil spirit gets the better of him the moment he steps into his village and plays havoc on his body and mind!
While some members advised him not to partake of anything white (sweets, curd, milk etc.) that may be offered, others suggested he keep a few iron nails in his person for self-protection. On his part, he brandished an array of gold amulets and talismans to ward off the evil eye. Harbans Singh quipped that he might as well bring that mischievous chudail home to Mumbai for us to have a look at. Her curiosity is genuine as Shekhawat cannot say whether the chudail is male or female (or both). "Gents bhi hai, ladies bhi hai," he maintains but adds that "it" has been after him only and not his wife. So he does not ever visit the toilet during nighttime when he is at his village.
Jokes apart, we are all concerned about Shekhawat – especially after his last two trips to his village. On the first time, he returned with severe depression that took him months to get out of. The second time around, he ended up in hospital. Many had even counseled him not to visit the village again. But somehow, he insists on keeping his appointment with that mysterious chudail.
Bhaswati Bose:
The chudail is waiting for Shekhawat in a haunted haveli and singing "Aayega...aayega, aane wala... aayega!"
Renu Babani:
Oh my goodness me! Mr Shekhawat, who seemed to be walking on shaky ground already as he was preparing for his trip back home, was the target this morning. Everyone seemed to give him advice on how to protect himself from the chudail. This belief has somehow been transfixed in his mind and being so vulnerable, everyone took a dig at the man. He had worn so many rings as a protection against evil. Hopefully, on a positive note, he will return this time his normal self. After all, those shining stones on his fingers will definitely blind anyone.

Happy Reunion

What a charming picture they made! Like two long-lost brothers meeting, they embraced and shook hands while the exercises were on, disregarding the interruption they were causing. Indeed, this was the first meeting for Srichand Arora and Harish Wadhwa after one had headed towards Singapore on holiday and the other, towards Kazakhstan on work.
Actually both had returned some time back and even made some appearances in the Garden; but somehow, they could not coordinate their movement and connect during the past couple of months. Today was the day when the two could finally catch up and made no secret of their joy on finding each other. It was a spontaneous act of emotional bonding – so unaffected, warm and affectionate, from the depth of the heart – something rarely seen in this time and age. At the end of the exercises, they struck the same "bear-hug pose" (left) for the benefit of the camera -- and posterity.

For Sushma Gupta (right) too, it was reunion time at the Garden this morning. Sadly, she has been nursing a slip-disc problem for the best part of the festive season and had to stay bed-ridden at home. Apart from the daily exercises, she has missed much of the fun in the Club during the past one month. But the good news, she disclosed, is that her son has found his match. To celebrate his engagement, she distributed barfis among those present and everybody conveyed their good wishes for a long and happy life of togetherness to the young couple through her. We wish her also an early and effective relief from her slip disc ordeal.
Renu Babani:
Yes, the festive season may be over but our members still seem to be in high spirits. Everyone was cheerful today and nothing was going to change the mood. The bonus was when Mr Arora and Harish-bhai bonded big time followed by the distribution of sweets by the Guptas. What a lovely way to begin the morning. Honestly, we can make a normal day one of the best by just being together.
Harish Wadhwa:
Rab ne banaa di jodi, pita-ji bete ki! Kya Baat!! Kya Baat!!!
It was really nice to see the "life" of the Club back from Singapore. I just could'nt resist my emotions. May God give him a long and joyous life.

Habit That Grows

Whatever may be said of the Club and its members, one fact cannot be ignored: their spirit of joie de vivre is simply infectious. Being there with them is a habit that grows. Ask Yusuf Rassiwala: It has been a week today since he resumed his Garden routine. Apart from health issues, an inexplicable “feeling of listlessness and lethargy” had kept him away for about four months. Now, having broken out of that state of ennui, he cannot but show up every morning.
There are of course, many who join out of curiosity, leave and rejoin – again and again. Then there are the hardcore addicts like Nahid Khan, Shekhawat, Santosh Tyagi and Ved Prakash Grover who cannot start the day without paying a visit to the Garden. Some like Harish Wadhwa and Monthi Serrao are inveterate late-comers, but come they must. Bapu Rane too needs to touch base, even if it is for a few minutes. Today he showed up moments before we were winding up. And what would you say of Kajal and Dilip Babani? They dropped in during the closing prayers!
Obviously, there is something intensely compelling and irresistible as to draw all these people to the Garden every morning. The following banter, triggered by Srichand Arora is indicative enough:
Instead of saying, “Turn to your Left, Turn to your Right”, Arora (who was conducting the neck exercises) orders: “Idhar-Udhar dekhna.”
Yusuf Rassiwala retorts: “Old habits die hard.”
Kishor Babani reiterates: “Even at this age, he wants to look around here and there.”
Pratap Bhatt informs: “He went to Singapore to look around…”
And so it went on and on. This is just one passing example of the countless crackpot comments that get tossed about – invariably spilling into the tea session (pic above) with a volley of jokes and uproarious laughter outside the Garden. How can anybody miss such fun?
Harish Wadhwa:
Hey, what's the point being at the Garden before 7:00a.m.? After all, aaraam bhi koi cheez hai! That's all we need. Coming a little late gets you lots of good wishes, good mornings, namastes, Sat-sri-akal, Salaam-alai-kums... With so many compliments what fun to start the day!

Lull Sets In

After all the buzz and build-up over the Lonavala Picnic of October 15-16, followed by the Diwali Lunch on October 29, November began on a dull note. No more than six members were present this morning to start the exercises. Slowly the late-comers trickled in to take the number to a respectable 22. But none of the excitement and enthusiasm of last month was visible on anybody’s face today.
This is something peculiar to our Club. Ahead of any event, be it a picnic or party, the involvement of members reaches feverish pitch and attendance shoots up to well beyond 90 per cent at times. The moment it is all over and there is nothing to look forward, attendance slips drastically. Like a deflated balloon, the josh for participating in the routine, day-to-day activities of the Club is also gone.
Things could get worse from now on. On November 4, Hari Singh Shekhawat leaves for Rajasthan to attend a wedding in his village. Santosh Tyagi is leaving for Delhi on the same day. Two days later, on November 6, Sunita Jajodia would be going also to Delhi. In mid-November the Boses would go, again to Delhi, to attend a family function… The exodus would continue in like manner, well into December.
Meanwhile, here’s a little advisory for those unable to view the slideshow posted on October 30 (Day 458): Please correct the date and time of your computer – appearing at the bottom right-hand corner on your desktop. In the unlikely event of the pictures still not opening, you could be having a Flash Player problem.
Renu Babani:
I guess we are so used to having some activity in our lives constantly. This could be the reason for members not attending the morning exercises. Besides, the Diwali festivities have taken a toll on many of us, including me. So, let's give it some time and once December arrives, and everyone returns from their November break, things should be back to normal. Despite the low turnout, the chatter was the same and that kept the atmosphere light and pleasant. Thanks to Mrs Bose for bringing her laptop and showing the Diwali party pictures to members. These are what memories are made up of!
Pradeep Gupta:
I like the blog. It gives a graphic account of all activities of the Club. I request members to regularly read my blog also. Link: http://indianmusiccritic.blogspot.com. Happy reading!

Party Blooper

Yusuf Rassiwala (left) took to the middle after what seemed like ages. He had been keeping indifferent health for the past four months and had stopped coming to the Garden. Now that he is attending regularly, the ladies persuaded him to conduct the exercises – just as in the good old days.
The focus of attention though was Nahid Khan, our regular “teacher”. People haven’t yet got over the way she had come decked up for Saturday’s Diwali lunch (see yesterday’s slide show). Today, she was her usual self in casuals, smiling coyly as compliments kept pouring in. It seems her daughter had done her up for the occasion – turning her into what Dilip Babani described as the “most smartly-dressed member” at the party.
Many other aspects of the party were recounted as everybody wanted to relive the happy moments. But Shekhawat had to drop a clanger by bringing up an unpleasant exchange of words (many were unaware of it) between two ladies over the presence of a certain member at the party. Shekhawat obviously wanted to make his position clear lest there be a repetition of such a fracas in future. But as everybody agreed, all this was plain unnecessary and completely avoidable.
Harish Wadhwa:
The pic of the 'awesome four', posing smartly at the staircase, is also nice. (It is the first pic on the slide show). Even Lord Buddha behind them, had to close his eyes not get distracted (on a lighter note, please, and with all due respect to religious sentiments and the painting on the wall)!