Remembering 1984: A year of trauma, tragedy

Tombola is a fun game. Easy to organise, it caters to birthday parties and other occasions of social conviviality in countless homes, clubs and cantonments across the country.

- Navtej Sarna

Besides the cash prizes attached to various milestones in the game, the fun part comes from the catchy phrases attached to the numbers as they are called out. Number 1 is “Lone Ranger’, number 3 is “Happy Family” and so on. Many of the phrases could potentially be objected to as sexist or body-shamers: 11 is “sexy legs”, 6 is “bottom heavy”, 88 is “two fat ladies”, and 17 is “often been kissed”. Mostly, nobody really minds.

But the other day I heard a new one. To fill the intolerable ennui of a couple of dull days that fell between Karva Chauth and Diwali, a group of well-dressed ladies was meeting up for a kitty party in a popular eatery. Papdi chaat, aloo tikkis and chhach were already on the table. Tombola was in full swing. The next number was called out, the voice all husky and mysterious: 84 eighty-four, Blue Star. “Yes!” said Peroxide Blonde; “Oh no! Just missed!” said Dark Glasses. And the game went on.