My First Crush 

My uncle Ramesh Saigal, a tall handsome guy himself was an established Film Producer-Director. He had built a bungalow in Union Park, Chembur. A stone’s throw away from R.K. Studios, it boasted of filmdom’s big names as its residents. These included Ashok Kumar, Nalini Jaywant, Om Prakash, Trilok Kapoor. It shared border with The Bombay Presidency Golf Club. 

We used to live in Vile-Parle. During our school vacations our aunt would invite us to spend a few days with our cousins at the bungalow. I was in fourth or fifth class and enjoyed those interludes. Front of the bungalow had a beautiful garden with spacious lawns. We would play cricket there. At times, uncle would join us in playing cricket. 

Back-yard of the house shared boundary with the only Golf Course in Mumbai those days. It afforded us a glimpse of the ‘videshi’ game being played mostly by ‘gora’ firangis.  

Uncle had just launched his new movie ‘Shikast’. It was an ambitious project with top actors Dilip Kumar and Nalini Jaywant in the lead. Popular duo of Shankar-Jaikishan composed the music.  

Film’s heroin, Nalini Jaywant had her bungalow 100 yards from uncle’s. She would, when free, loiter into the garden. Fond of dogs, she carried a pair of Pomeranians with her. 

On Sundays when uncle played cricket with us, she would come and cheer us. I clearly remember the day I first saw her. A typical Maharashtrian beauty with big eyes, delicate features, and sweet voice, she cast a spell on me.   

That was my first Crush, albeit a childhood one.  

 

  

 

 

 

FLIP FLOP FLAPS

For 65 long years, my day would begin with a cup of tea and a crisp copy of TOI. A hard copy. No digital edition for me.

 

Being leading newspaper, TOI grew both in stature as well as flab. Fine, because it fetched better returns even as ‘raddi’.

 

Years passed and I got a job in downtown Mumbai. It entailed travelling in crowded Mumbai locals. That is where I picked up the art of folding, double folding and triple folding my copy of TOI. It shrunk the paper to quarter its size. I could read it at peace without bothering my fellow-travelers. How convenient?

 

With time, TOI became obese. So be it. But then, they started adding appendages in the form flaps to the fatso. Even these grew from single column width to four columns.

 

Believe me, these flaps seriously disturb the equilibrium of holding the newspaper in your two hands.

 

Dear Editors, this is one irritant that needs to done away with immediately. Please!