Every month the Kitten Club bemoans the lack of a Community Centre in the Sector. Rabid Tambola lovers dreamily fantasize about having a smart Playroom for our little activities. Too humid and rainy outdoors, and too expensive to hire a Party Room, I suggested we host the Event in someone’s house. “Jo bole, so kunda khole”…. And I found myself the Glamorous Hostess of the Monthly Tambola Event.
In some ancient period of the Past, when my house was being constructed, I had imagined hosting large and vivacious parties, with gay music and dazzling conversation. Little did I know the laziness of post-retirement inertia! So there was plenty of space to accommodate the 25-odd Tambola enthusiasts. Some shuffling of peg tables and centrepieces, and the installation of a foldable table; the latest Acquisition of the Kittens Club, and we were Good to Go.
An interesting side-effect of Tambola is the absolute punctuality with which it imbues its participants. Fashionable Late is quite the no-no. Even the strong shower that fell just as everyone was leaving failed to prove a deterrent. Usha Bhatt and Punam Pant waited patiently in their car while I scrambled around arranging umbrellas for their coiffures and mats for their Cinderella slippers. The adventurous Ira Sharma dashed into the drawing room, while others like good, practical ladies had their own raincoats and brollies.
Just 10 minutes late, and we started. Ira Sharma, who had been promising to conduct the Game forever, but could never quite make it, finally had her chance. Silvery hair and a silvery voice were a magical combination. We quite forgot to mark our numbers and at least a couple of prize winners went for a toss.
It’s always our effort to combine purpose with play at the club Events. This time, HCL sent Neha to make an interesting presentation on Electronic Waste. She had requested for E-Waste donations, and was quite overwhelmed by the 3 boxes of Stuff we gave her as a “return present”. Delicious samosa and chena sandwich, kept the lady’s mouths well occupied, while she gave a short, pithy introduction to this New-Gen form of waste, and how to dispose off it in an ecological fashion.
Brains and tummies well nourished, we dived into our second game of Tambola. This one was hosted by Tambola Veteran Sweety so that Ira could have her chance to play too. Time flew and it was 730, instead of 630. Shrill calls from husbands, children and parents forced the reluctant ladies to bid farewell to their neighbours and friends and return to hearth and home.
