Card Capers

We had guests over today, and among the usual reminiscing, Dad brought up the topic of playing cards and how theirs was a generation brought up on playing cards. That set me off and to be honest, we (i.e. my generation) - even calling us that makes me feel too damn old, aren't too far behind. Looking at it now, and especially at a few of my younger cousins who haven't played cards yet!, we are, in all likelihood, one of the last generations to extract such a tremendous amount of fun from 52 pieces of cardboard( Jokers not included!)

Whoever invented playing cards must be feted till Kingdom come. Honestly, it's hard to imagine something which costs so little( I still don't know the cost, considering most of the decks have been off planes/gifts/etc.), keeping so many people entertained for so long. I was never a Monopoly guy. Hated the damn thing. And with Carrom, considering my legendary motor skills, the less said the better. And anyone who knows me can account for the fact that I'm a woeful cricket player, and probably worse at Football. So, not really leaving me much choice, cards were my "true calling".
So, whether it was starting out with the basics - "Bhikar-Savkar" and moving on to "Paach-Teen-Don" and "Saat-Aath", cards had me hooked. Mum moved me on to more involving games like " Jhabbu" and " Badaam Saat", and the rest is history!
Rummy was brilliant, and one of the best games for two. Of course, it's also the keyword of a very dirty joke that I told my parents ( of all people) - don't quite remember what happened afterwords, it's still a blur. I'm bad at Rummy and still haven't managed to beat Mum straight. So, I convert best-of 3 into best-of-5 and so on, but still lose every time.
Challenge is a game of lying through your teeth, and not surprisingly, another one I'm bad at. Whatever you do,never sit in the seat after Anuja's. I have, and at best, it's a mauling. I've tried many-a-time, to sneak cards through but get caught. I'm a better poker player, though, which is funny. But then, after countless times of being the "gadhav", I can't figure it out..
"Not at home" remains a game for sleepless nights. An endless game,if there ever was one, one mention and out come the pillows/books/any other items of interest to hide the "jodis" in.Now, I'm a bit biased against it because the sheer mental effort it takes to try and get all the pairs.Most people give up before the end, but it's still worth the effort to see all your relatives put on "game faces" desperately tring to convince you that they have that last "jodi". When it comes to scratching at pillows and shorts and what not, I'm sure you get the picture.
The the eternal crowd favourites - "Laddice(I'm not sure how we spell it) and "Mhendikot". I remember four of us cousins getting together at another Sis' wedding. We must've been 13 at the eldest. 4 straight days cooped up in a room with some 100+ games of Laddice(guess that's what I'm calling it), who knows "kiti laadu chadle". That was the life!
Bridge is something I've never learnt to play. Dad refused to teach me, saying it was way too addictive. And "304" I've forgotten,not having played it since Std.9.
And then, there's "Judgement".If there ever was a game designed to test your skill as a player of cards, it's "Judgement". Deliciously tricky, as the number of cards dealt keeps reducing, its all the tougher to keep your bets. And though winning might be fantastic, there's no pleasure matching that of getting beat, but then screwing up everyone else's game.I recently had the pleasure of 4 straight hours of Judgement at Solapur, and I must say, the rust wore of pretty soon!

So, here's to everyone who's ever played cards and had fun. Lets keep it going,guys. We've got a true tradition to uphold.

P.S. : Anyone who's interested in a massive cards-filled Sunday anytime soon ( hint -July end) please feel free to let me know. I'll make sure it happens. The more the better!