Meherbai’s Mandli, comprising the happy-go-lucky boys and girls (all over 80) celebrated the last party of 2024 at their gymkhana after the sattar-sau-ne-saat parties they had throughout the year! Meherbai’s philosophy of life was to be happy and more importantly, to make others happy. She always said, “lf you haven’t been happy, or made others happy, you haven’t lived that day!”

Dolly Ding-dong: Sorry, my hubby Polly Ping-pong can’t come because he’s doing the only yoga aasana he knows. Polly-alsoo-Padero is forever on the sofa doing ‘Sofaasana!

Soon, Chaadan, who stitched designer-cholis, came to say that she came in an empty BEST bus.

The Mandli: How come? We always travel dabai-chabai-ne in an overcrowded bus!

Chamakti Chaadan: l don’t know! When l got in, the bus was houseful and when l spoke to my tailor on the phone, everyone ran away and the bus was empty! All l said was, “Tu abhi dono haath kaat de, galaa main khud aake kaatungi.” l was merely giving him instructions on cutting the brocade for a choli!

Psycho Cyrus: l came in a crowded bus after visiting my psychiatrist who insulted me by calling me ‘normal’! l’ve never been so insulted in my life! I’ll have to find another psychiatrist now!

Gooli-gol-gol: Marerey! He’s a real psycho-hypochondriac! Just as well he’s unmarried!!

Meherwanji: Those who don’t marry, sometimes become this way out of loneliness. He needs a wife who can straighten him out!

Dhanji-dhating: Yes! Every man should marry. Punishment should be for all men, no man should escape!!

Meherwanji: This year, l asked Santa Claus for world peace.

Meherbai: lf there’s peace in every human being’s heart, there would be no wars!

Mani-mindhi: l asked Santa for a fat bank balance and a slim body, and not to mix up the two like he does every year.

Jimmy-joker: Next time, write your request to Sorabji-Santa on sandpaper and not on a tissue-like paper. You know where he uses your paper every year!

Shapur-Sharebroker: This year ,the share-bazaar was very thanda! Just like my wife.

Ketayun-khaau: l toh always invest in chocolates – best investment ever. You buy 100 grams and gain 2 kilos immediately!

Freddy-philosopher: Guys, guys! Just think about this – hairdressing saloons have hair on the floor, garages have oil on the floor but banks never have money lying on the floor!

Abbhan Aban: Oh Freddy, you are soooo clever! Mahro Einstein!

Meherwanji: Yes! Clever enough not to marry you Aban, though you line-maro him since years!

Vikaji Vaghmaru: Aban, mahri Jaan, marry me! l’m always available for you. I love your intelligence.

Abbhan Aban: Even If you were the last man on Earth, I wouldn’t!

Meherwanji -moron: lf l’m the second-last man on Earth, will you marry me?

Abbhan Aban: Are you crazy or what? I’ve already said NO to you 100 times, you madhouse-no-mehman!

Freny Fatakri: 2024 went by soooo fast!

The Mandli: We say that every year….tell us something we don’t know!!

Freny Fatakri: I’ll tell you something you all don’t know. Today, l made fish-fingers for breakfast!

Meherwanji-moron: All fekum-fek, dhaapam-dhaap, lapet-sapet and bundle-sundle! As if fish have fingers!

The Mandli: Now we know why Aban doesn’t want to marry you!

Meherwanji moron: Because she doesn’t like fish?

Abbhan Aban: Because l don’t like YOU!

Noshir Nostradamus: l think there will be a world-war in 2025.

Meherbai: Sagan-no-ganthyo bolyo! Noshirbawa, shubh-shubh bolo!

Noshir Nostradamus: Ok, next year, everything will be cheaper, no inflation, no taxation, no giving away your hard-earned money to Nirmala!

Abbhan Aban: Nirmala who? Kon Nirmala?

Meherwanji: Mrs. Sitaraman

Just then, the obnoxious sisters – Aloo and Jaloo walked in, apologising for being late as both had to ‘paint the roof’!

Soli saliboti: Your house is being painted again?

Aloo: Not the house.

Jaloo: We had to dye our hair (chhapru-rangvanu) to look attractive for the new year!

Abbhan Aban: Which colour hairdye did you use? Kaala kavva (black crow)? Look at my blonde-coloured tresses!

Soli saliboti: No wonder there’s this phrase, ‘dumb-blond’!

Freny Fatakri: What blond? Her hair looks like gorpapri-colour!!

Meherbai: Ladies, it’s rude to pass personal comments.

By now, it was time to say goodbye with kisi-koti, ta-ta-bye-bye.

Meherwanji: See you all next year.

Meherbai: Next year is in 3 days. Today it’s already the 28^th!! So everyone enjoy the last 3 days of 2024 so we can all meet for New year’s lunch on Jan 1^st in the brand-new 2025. May it be the best year collectively for the whole world, and individually, for our Mandli, our community and everyone! May we all be healthy and happy with vibrant health and tons of happiness!

Mandli: Ameen, Ameen! Tamare mohne saaker!