Different Strokes

Laughter cannot be synchronized. In a group, people come up with different styles of laughing. Some produce a loud guffaw, some a shy chortle, some let out a startled squeak, some emit hot air (hupffff!), some even sing. There can be nothing uniform or synchronized in the way we laugh together.
But what is our excuse for not synchronizing the physical exercises?
Look at Bose. During the Lion and Lioness growl, he would abruptly clasp his neck with both hands as though afraid that his head would fly off his body any moment. In contrast, Dilip Babani lets his tongue hang out and snarls like an animal on and on and on… long after everybody else has run out of breath. Earlier Shekhawat-ji used to take ages to clear his lungs – the exhalation being slower than a tyre gone phooos. Nowadays, he is not as slow.
And what would you say to those who have no sense of direction? Tell Hari-bhai or Nazma Syed to lift their left hand and be sure, their right hand would come up. Tell them to turn right and they would do just the opposite. (Hari-bhai might not even bother to follow the rest if there’s a good song playing in Kishor-bhai’s pocket. He would much rather stand, arms akimbo, singing along.)
Now, this is not to run down anyone who has physical or health issues. Nazma Syed (right), for instance, has an obvious mobility problem and it is immensely brave of her to try match her movements with us, regardless of the pain it causes her. Likewise, when Mrs Harbans Singh or Rane Bapu and Nafisa Syed refrain from rotating their necks, we understand there’s an issue of giddiness. The same applies to other equally demanding exercises like Kissa Kursi Ka where age and physical infirmity may get into one’s way.
What defies understanding though is when someone deliberately goes off-track, breaking the synchrony. Why must Mumtaz Jahan(left) for instance, stay bent double, refusing to even lift her head long after others are done with the Breathing-and-Stretching exercise? It is not only distracting but disturbs everybody’s rhythm and flow.
The other day, Razia Khan (right) tried emulating the Sushma Gupta act of running to and fro with arms flailing around like a windmill. It was a comical sight, but out of politeness, everybody just sniggered. But Nafisa could not hold herself from genuflecting from the side, as though Razia Khan had suddenly transformed into a dancing dervish possessed by a spirit in a shrine. “Mata, mera kaam kab poora hoga!” she cried out to Razia.
Yes, we find humour, whatever be the situation.

Renu Babani says:
No matter what anyone says, our group rocks! We are fun loving and enjoy our time together. Where will you find such different people come together every morning, just for an hour or so, and enjoy each other's company? The constant banter amongst each other during the exercise, snide remarks, sniggers and silly comments are just for the sake of making the exercise a bit more interesting. I guess otherwise it would get really boring if we were to just exercise in silence. I wonder if everyone would then really attend the morning sessions.
--Renu

Harish Wadhwa says:
1. I completely agree with you, Renu-ji. It is the fun and laughter that binds us as a team/family and keeps everyone enthused to be present every morning.
2. I am no different -- as caught in the camera. While everyone is doing the silent laughter, I am spreading my wings, ready to fly! And Kishor-bhai cannot stop laughing at this while Hari-bhai is giving an amused look.
--Harish