Editorial
Summer hasn’t shown its fangs just yet. It has been tolerable thus far, with intermittent showers and clouds offering welcome relief just as the sun was threatening to lay siege.
It is a welcome relief to the families whose children go to school to see the back of the annual exams. However, for those whose wards are in Class XII , the trauma does not end there. There is a spate of entrance exams to appear for to get the desired course of study in college. Before that, the finger nails have a harrowing time as they get chewed to the bone in anticipation of the Board exam results. Competition for seats being so intense, even a fraction of a percent can mean the difference between securing an admission to the desired course and college or being in limbo. No wonder the nerves of the parents, more than the children get frayed and they add in these few days, more years to their visage than their biological age would suggest.
A drama unfolded before and during the screening of a movie in the park on the 6th of the month. No two people could agree on the movie to be screened. While names of several movies got bandied about, after much deliberation, it was decided to screen “Rocket Singh”. Within minutes of the screening there was a clamour to change the movie to “Andaaz Apna Apna”. After a run of thirty minutes of the movie, half the assembled crowd melted into the night. In order to bring back the audience, somebody suggested that we screen the old time classic, “Chupke Chupke”. No sooner this change was made than those amongst the crowd who had warmed up to “Triple A“, protested. No amount of reasoning by the people in the know about the movies, like Kunal and Seema Savarkar, could mollify those offended by the change. But this time we were determined to run the movie till the end. At the intermission, we decided to partake in the pot luck dinner. The elaborate spread included cholle, parathas, pulao, channa, dhokla, lemon rice and laddoos amongst other things. Everybody enjoyed the repast under the stars. The ones who had made themselves scarce, miffed at the choice of movie, came scrambling back at dinner time. It was such a wonderful experience that residents wanted more such events. We would like to thank Mr. Ramabadhran for loaning the projector, among other things.
The eco and cleanliness drive the following morning had the usual complement of children eager to do their bit to spread awareness of cleanliness and waste disposal. Kiana, Samiksha, Adwita, Tanvi, Sahana, Juilee, Aditi, Poorvaja, Seetha and yours truly donned gloves and went about the task. Seetha rewarded the kids with some goodies that evening. It is a shame that an ecology drive should evoke such a tepid response at a time when environmental issues are taking centre stage the world over.
The tambola, potluck dinner and karaoke singing got off to a tepid start with children constituting the bulk of the audience. It was only by the third round of tambola that chairs got filled up. There is definitely an element of luck or fortuitous stars as a few of them won multiple prizes in each of the three rounds of tambola whereas many others won nothing. The Savarkars, the Aroras and the Kumars were amongst the fortunate ones. The weather was gorgeous, with a cool breeze wafting through the badminton court. After partaking in the variety of eats, the assembled throng settled down to karaoke singing. The children led by Sahana, Radhika and Samiksha took hold of the mike and started singing. Since each one of them wanted to be heard over the other, melody and rhyme were sacrificed at the altar of high decibel crooning. Order was restored when the melodious voice of Bhavani and Seema of ‘the walking tea-cup fame’ took over. Murali filled in for the male voice. Altogether it was a relaxed evening amongst friends.
Members and residents will be pleased to know that Yamuna Apartments has been selected as one of the four best Societies in Delhi by Dabur. In this connection, there will be a felicitation ceremony held in the Community Hall on Sunday, 5th May, 2013. On that day Dabur will have games and refreshments for the residents. This honour comes with a reward of Rs. 10,000, which will come quite handy in making more facilities available for the residents. We would like to thank all the residents for doing the colony proud.
In order to facilitate the payment of Property Tax, MCD will hold a camp in the Society on 6th June, 2013, to enable the Members to pay property tax without any hassle.
We are approaching that time of the year when there is a lull in sports and cultural activities owing to the heat and dust. However, with summer vacation approaching, the impending closure of schools and colleges could very well see children’s boundless energy in evidence. The badminton court and the park will ring out with the cacophony of children playing throughout the day, much to the annoyance of senior citizens who look forward to some peace and quiet for an afternoon siesta.
There was a news item in The Times of India on 27th April, 2013 stating that traffic cops have sent a draft notification to the Delhi Government to impose a fine of Rs. 600 on cars parked on 60 roads in Delhi, which includes Alaknanda. It would be unfortunate if the Delhi Government gives cognisance to this demand of the traffic department. The government has been derelict in providing adequate parking facilities. With the burgeoning population of cars on account of upward mobility of the population of the city; the residents have no option but to park their cars on the main road. There are several cars belonging to residents of Yamuna which are parked on the main road. If this notification were to come about, they may have no option but to sell their cars and find other means of commuting. It is not possible for anybody to pay a fine of Rs. 600 on a daily basis. One only hopes that with the elections to the Delhi Government looming, such draconian measures will not be taken. Nonetheless, the Society will make a representation to the Delhi Government against the proposed move.
The digging for the gas pipeline may get derailed a bit. The contractors who started digging in Mandakini encountered serious problems digging through the rocks. Since the place is inhabited, blasting as an option is ruled out. They are still trying to figure out how to overcome this problem.
SNIPPETS
Tejasvini and Kapil Raina’s daughter, Mandakini, of H-002, has flown from the nest. Tejasvini will not have to stay up till late in the night to see her daughter return home safe from work. Working for rival newspapers could not quell the romance from blossoming and Mandakini got married to the apple of her eye, the debonair Varun. He now works for Facebook in Hyderabad. He rode to the pandal, fashionably late, on a mare drawn chariot amid high decibel music. After much frenetic dancing by the groom’s entourage in the presence of fire eaters, the barat made its grand entrance at the venue located in the backdrop of Qutab Minar. The setting was gorgeous, the weather pleasant and the spread substantive with Navratra, Punjabi and Continental cuisine. Even the Rainas’ petite pooch, Potli, was not forgotten in the scheme of things. Cocktail samosas got a new moniker, “Potli samosa”. Mandakini looked very fetching and the lovey-dovey couple were the cynosure of all eyes. The wedding was set for a bleary eyed 2.00 am, thus quashing the idea of a honeymoon night! Yamuna, particularly G&H blocks were well represented. The Rainas and Zutshis were great hosts.
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Potli, the cocker spaniel with a sweet disposition, a member of the Raina household, breathed her last on 23rd April. A pet that all the children of the colony adopted as their own, will not sustain their joy any longer. She had very lady like qualities. She was not only choosy about what she ate, she was also very particular how the food was offered to her. Her loss will leave many bereft of emotional capital.
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Mr. Shankar Narayanan of D-202 has moved to Bihar on a promotion. His wife Lakshmi and daughter, Sumyouktha didn’t want to join him in the boondocks and preferred the more salubrious environs of Bangalore. Sumyouktha took part in sports and cultural activities and had quite a large friends circle. They will certainly be missed.
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Akshara, daughter of Prabhu Ram and Namagiri Anand of C-001 clocked one year on 27th April, 2013. To herald the occasion, a grand party was organised on the main lawn. The place was dressed for the occasion with pink balloons strung all over the place. Even the tent had pink streaks. Would the chorus of pink end there? No way. The birthday girl was dressed in a pink frock with a bright pink ribbon tied around her waist. The massive chocolate birthday cake shaped like a little girl was cut by her to the strains of the usual birthday ditty. A strong breeze came as a welcome relief from the oppressive heat. Prabhu’s parents, Namagiri’s parents and grandmother welcomed everybody and played the perfect hosts. The kids hopped on the jumping Jenny and had the magician in attendance to amuse them. As the spirits flowed and the dinner began, Yamuna residents settled into cosy groups for an enjoyable evening.
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Seeta Prabhu of B-104 has retired from UNDP and consequently, has moved to Mumbai where she came from. We wish her the very best.
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MIRTH CORNER
Lawyers should never ask women a question if they aren't prepared for the answer!
Read till the end.........
In a trial, a small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, an elderly woman in the stand.
He approached her and asked; "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"
She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you're a big disappointment to me.. You lie, cheat on your wife, manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.."
The lawyer was stunned ! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defence attorney (the opponent's lawyer)?"
She again replied, "Why, yes, I do, I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster. He's lazy, bigoted and has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. ..Yes I know him."
The defence attorney almost died. The judge asked both lawyers to approach the bench and in a quiet voice said: "If either of you asks her if she knows me, I'll send you to jail for contempt of court!!
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People born before 1946 are called - The Greatest Generation.
People born between 1946 and 1964 are called - The Baby Boomers.
People born between 1965 and 1979 are called - Generation X.
And people born between 1980 and 2010 are called - Generation Y.
Why do we call the last group -Generation Y ?
Y should I study?
Y should I eat what you tell me to eat when you can give me money to eat out?
Y should I get a job?
Y should I leave home and find my own place?
Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?
Y should I clean my room?
Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?
Y should I buy any food? Y should I do anything when I can get it all for FREE?
