Mumbai Diary: Saturday Scene

Rock ‘n' Rolls
As Mumbai gears up for the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) Annual Vintage Car Fiesta to be held next weekend, i.e.

Sevanti Parekh with his Rolls Royce, international entry to the rally

Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, we hear that Cricket Club of India (CCI) president Sevanti Parekh's 1984 Rolls Royce is going to make its debut amongst the 100 vintage and classic cars and bikes in the rally. Cars from Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad and other cities are also participating, yet it is Parekh's Rolls that is the first international entry into this event.

International because the car has come in from Dubai where it was being used, and is already in Mumbai ready to rally. We hear that shipping magnate Parekh is an enthusiast and is going to give keen competition to others and try and win this rally. Will this Rolls rock the route? Let's wait and see.

Incidentally, for those of vintage speed, who believe in the slow, laidback good life, entries are still open till March 4, so if you want to participate, and for more details, call the WIAA office at: 2266 4773 or 6635 1111. Meanwhile, we can only wish that petrol today was available at vintage prices... Rs 12 for a litre. Hey, a person can dream, can't they?

Help, it's guys!
Tightly packed into a train compartment, one cannot help but overhear snatches of conversation. One young man was heard telling his companions in jest (or maybe not…), "There is a helpline number, 103, for women. Why no helpline for us guys?"

Kindness - too much!
Stories are legendary by now about how Mumbaikars are (almost) always ready to help someone in need. Long train journeys can prove tiring for many, and commuters often share water and food with one another.

Recently a man who was standing near the door on a train to Dombivili felt faint, and could have even fallen off. His fellow passengers not only held him securely, they also managed to get him into the compartment (not easy in a crowded train) and onto a seat.

Then came the shower of kindness people gave him enough water to bathe in, as well as fruit, crisps and chocolate, urging him to eat so that he would not feel faint again. Finally he had to ask them to stop, as he could not ingest any more food or water!

Eat beat
A long-time Taj Mahal employee tells us that Ratan Tata is a very simple man and this simplicity extends to his culinary tastes too. We hear that Tata brings his soup from home to office, though, true to his Parsi roots, he still loves his mutton cutlets and mutton dhansak. Can we hear single Parsi ladies saying: aapro Ratan, loves mutton.

Bark with your bite
The trouble with going out to eat is that you can't spend time at home with your beloved pets. But now there's good news for dog-lovers who want to brunch. Under the Banyan Tree, an eatery on Peddar Road, has organised "Mutt Hutt", where dogs can enjoy a meal along with their human companions, on Sunday.

Ratan Tata

And the doggie customers will have a choice of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, while two-legged diners will be presented with a pre-set vegetarian menu. The humans will also get to talk to a canine behaviourist, and training experts, and there will be contests for those who want an edge to the event.

Reservations for the March 2 event are already over, but interested pet owners can keep an eye on the venue for more such fun outings. Who knows, your dog may end up teaching you a trick or two!

Movie ke side effects
In the middle of the afternoon on a Friday, it was an unusual sight to see a raggedly-dressed little boy buying a movie ticket at Eros cinema in the city.

Suraj, the kattar Farhan Akhtar fan

Ten-year-old Suraj, who lives on the street near the Gateway of India, has been waiting for the release of Shaadi Ke Side Effects as he is a diehard Farhan Akhtar fan. So much so that he did not want a cheaper ticket he was insistent on spending his (very) hard-earned moolah on a Rs 100 ticket, for the 1pm show.

Contributed by: Khushboo Ratda, Ayan Roy, Varun Singh, Hemal Ashar, Vidya Heble