Goodness Galore

Dilip Babani has to be spoonfed by wifey... even on his birthday!

As a Club, we must have done some good in the past to be suddenly showered with loads of goodness in the New Year. For there has rarely been a morning since January 1 without a treat from someone or the other – on one pretext or the other. A couple of parties were also thrown in for no reason at all. In fact, we have become so spoilt by these sumptuous treats that the moment Dilip Babani entered the Garden this morning, casserole in hand, Shekhawat’s voice rang out in the middle of the exercises: “Naashta aa gaya!” Yes indeed, today's breakfast had arrived.
If that was not being brazen, Arora wanted to confirm that there were eats for us before we raise a special laugh for the birthday boy. And

Monthi Serrao

while we clapped and danced, wishing Dilip many happy returns of the day, some hungry members shamelessly sniffed around checking for the warm aroma of gaajar halwa wafting through the wintry air.
It originated from the casserole and Dilip appropriately had the privilege of the first spoonful from his wife and after reciprocating in like measure, he distributed the gaajar halwa among the rest of us. And then there were packets of biscuits to offset its sweetness.
But the best part was that instead of standing in ceremony with plates and napkins, Dilip personally fed everyone the delectable confection with a large tablespoon in what was regarded as a wonderful expression of community feeling and closeness. Truly, that’s what birthday celebrations are all about.
Pity Monthi Serrao could not be part of this celebration. Obviously, severe cold and flu had got the better of her, preventing her from dropping into the Garden since yesterday. But even as she was running high fever, she enquired on phone about Dilip’s birthday as she wanted to wish him personally. We pray for her speedy recovery and as always, wish her good health and happiness.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Dilip Babu ko toh Kajal Bhabhi-ji ne ghar par bhi kadai bhar halwa diya hoga, toh phir yahan kyon doosron ka hissa kha rahe ho bhai? Kuchh toh hum doston ke liye bhi rakh diya karo!
* I will wish Dilip only and if only I get my share of the gaajar ka halwa. Somebody listening... or reading?
* Kajal-ji, dil ki bahut achchi hain. Sabka khayaal karti hain. Aur bhi bahut sara halwa sab ke liye layengi. Hai na ?
* Monthi Serrao ko halwa na milne par gussa kyon aa raha hai? Humein bhi toh nahin mila, par hum gussa to nahin, sirf intezaar kar rahe hain. Aap bhi kijiye.
Jagmohan Papneja:
I hope all your birthday dreams and wishes come true, my dear Dilip.

Rupee Signs

Shekhawat has bagged 38 out of 44 for Kerala 

Hari Singh Shekhawat has stopped seeing people as human. Man or woman has also ceased to matter to him. So caught up is he with collecting money for the Kerala trip (February 10 to 17) that he now sees rupee signs on everybody’s face. With barely a day left to pay the tour operator (see yesterday’s post) for the 44-member troupe, you could be Mr 8,200 or Mrs 6,500 or Mr 400 (or whatever) to him. Only he knows the exact figure because that is the amount the person owes him. And if you owe him nothing, you simply don’t exist in his eyes!
Today he came in fully fortified with his Statement of Accounts and declared that he will have to recover x amount this morning from four persons. Two were present there and promptly paid up (obviously, fearing the worst). A third was sighted during the exercises on the walking track. Shekhawat kept a hawk’s eye on the lady for a while and when he realized she was deliberately ignoring him, he ambushed her under a tree and extracted Rs8,200 on the spot.

Teja Singh is back!

That left Kiran Makharia. The moment she appeared at the gate, Shekhawat hit a new high. “My 400 rupees has come!” he announced triumphantly. Thereafter, like a child standing first in class, Shekhawat was all over the place, laughing and clapping because he had notched 38 people with confirmed bookings for the trip. Seeing him so excited, some ladies requested him to calm down and behave himself. “After you cross 70, you are entitled to behave like a child,” Shekhawat shot back. “But that does not mean you will come sit on our laps!” Arun Patil interjected to a round of uproarious laughter.
Teja Singh Bhambra provided a fitting finale to this fun-filled morning with a box of supremely sublime milk cakes from Faridabad. The soft-spoken and extremely endearing sardar has kept his promise upon returning to Mumbai yesterday. Weeks back, he had sent word through Ved Prakash Grover that he would show up at the Garden on February 9, 2014. And there he was this morning at 7 ’o clock sharp. Welcome back, Sardarji!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Make My Trip, Yatra, Clear Trip and Travel Guru are some well known names of tour operators today. Shekhawat Travels is the new entry in this arena. It operates exclusively for people in the Lokhandwala area of Andheri, Mumbai on a no-loss no-profit basis... just to serve the community. Long live Shekhawat-ji!
Harish Wadhwa:
It is amazing to see how the planning of outstation trips rejuvenates Shekhawat-ji. And the fever spreads soon to Arora-ji and Arun Patil, his well-wishers and dependable help guards. Senior citizens need (and deserve) to have fun and keep visiting tourists spots. Enjoy life!!!

Number Crunching

Scent of money!

There was a distinct buzz of urgency in the air at the Garden today. Boring as this may sound, big denomination currency notes changed hands, receipts demanded, names tallied, numbers juggled, totals checked and rechecked… The Club suddenly wore the look of a chaotic open-air bourse, except that there were no securities or commodity being transacted. It was simply the promise of a trip to Kerala next month that had generated so much excitement.
But then, Shekhawat has a deadline to keep. By January 10, he must finalise the members of his contingent so that an advance may be paid to the tour operator for booking hotel accommodation in Kerala. Till date, 31 out of 44 members who had enlisted themselves have paid up full. A big question mark hangs over the Gupta couple, Razia Khan, Nafisa Sayyad and Mr and Mrs Harbans Singh. A few others have made part payment only. Shekhawat announced today that he would have to cancel the bookings of all those who fail to make full payment by January 10 and no further reminders or phone calls would be made by him.
Some clarity on the full complement of the troupe would emerge in the next couple of days.

Beating the Chill

The ‘polar freeze’ seems to have hit Mumbai. But in spite of the dipping mercury, dark skies and dense fog, the mood early morning was unusually upbeat in the Garden. Where pullovers and mufflers had failed, happy music and healthy laughter prevailed, raising our spirits -- such that even Monthi Serrao had to take a dig at Grover, remarking that he had become 'small' in the winter cold.
Red-faced, Grover pretended not to have heard her right. But when she insisted he was shrunk ('sukad gaya'), he gamely put on a smile while others did not know which way to look.
A similar faux pas occurred with Srichand Arora after he had finished conducting the exercises.

Arun displays his music box

Gallantly, he stepped up in front of Qadeer Bano and clapped with his arms outstretched, “Ati Sundar- Ati Sundar” (Very Beautiful)! He was supposed to say “Ati Uttam” (loosely translated from ‘Very Good’) to everyone in general and wrap up the exercises, but what made him turn towards Qadeer in particular and compliment the flabbergasted lady, nobody shall know. Arora realized his folly moments later, but it was already too late. The ladies tittered, the men leaped in glee and Arora was left cutting a sorry figure in the middle, holding his ears in apology.
And then there was the music from Arun Patil’s tiny ‘silver box’ to further enliven the proceedings and as always, be the cause of much mischief. Vintage Mohammad Rafi numbers seem to be flavor of the season with singalongs and comments flying thick and fast during the exercises. Nahid Khan once appealed that should she get “waylaid” by the songs, we should bring her back on track; but now she does not need an excuse to clap and hum to herself like a lost sleepwalker. Arora stays alert on the lyrics and is quick to point out any absurdity on the musical declarations of love. But one person who couldn’t care about these subtleties of music and dances (rather gallops) to his own beat is Hari Singh Shekhawat. With such madness around, who cares if the weather is cold, dark or windy?
Harish Wadhwa:
* You guys need to just chill and enjoy the mornings. As long as this solecism brings smiles, it is fine. Who cares for the rest anyway...
* Nicely written and crafted blog today. Kudos Blog Monster!

Prodigals Resurface

Mawa barfis from Mumtaz Jahan

Mumtaz Jahan surfaced today after six months. She was apparently away shuttling between Delhi and Srinagar in connection with solemnising her daughter’s wedding. She said she returned to Mumbai last evening. And first thing this morning, she arrived at the Garden to break the good news with a boxful of barfis.
Apart from Mumtaz, there was Yusuf Rassiwala also making a reappearance of sorts – though it was more about paying Shekhawat an advance to confirm his booking for the Kerala trip next month. Sitaram Hivarkar and Ram Shankar Shukla also returned to the Garden after a period of absence. Jagmohan Papneja was back from a short trip to Delhi. There was Bijoy Gupta as well, having recovered from a bout of viral fever and flu.
And therein hangs a tale.

Yusuf Rassiwala pays his advance

Ever since Bapu Rane’s demise, Shekhawat has been calling out (as was his habit earlier also) during the exercises, “Rane, ready?” or “Rane, wherever you are, sit down!” except that instead of Rane, he would now direct his call at Gupta, or Razia Khan, or Ramila Mistry.
Coincidentally, in the recent past, all three have been down-and-out for one reason or the other. Gupta was indisposed for more than a week. Razia is said to be preoccupied with some personal commitments and has stopped coming. Likewise, Ramila is unable to come these days because she is either travelling or not keeping well. Or so we are told.
However, so far as our members are concerned, the three have become victims of Shekhawat’s “black tongue” and have been rendered out of commission. Santosh Tyagi and Sunita Jajodia have said so in as many words and warned Shekhawat against making calls which bode ill omen.
But Shekhawat refuses to fall prey to such superstitious claptrap and steadfastly maintains that whatever is fated shall happen, regardless of who says what and when.
This morning he mischievously directed his call at Ruksana Khan, much to the lady’s infinite surprise and trepidation. She of course, tried to laugh it away but the look of concern was visible as it was on the faces of all others. Ruksana has now only to take a break for a couple of days and the others would immediately pounce upon Shekhawat. That's for certain!!!
Jagmohan Papneja:
* Welcome back, Mumtaz-ji. Good to hear about the wedding of your daughter. Greetings, blessings, love and affection to her.
* Superstitions are beliefs that lack scientific proof. They are merely assumptions based on personal opinions which become popular, even as they are not the result of real discoveries. So please Shekhawat-ji, continue to call out anybody's name and make the exercises lively!!!