Prima Donnas

With the advent of spring, not only do people become more regular in the Garden, their mood is generally upbeat during the exercises. On an average, we are witnessing a daily turnout of around 30 happy early-risers, all dressed in their colourful best (right). Two or three of them would inevitably be strangers who’d stray in out of curiosity -- only to disappear in a couple of days. They count for nothing. We call them ‘nayi chidiya’, or more appropriately, ‘birds of passage’.
The funny thing about regular members is that invariably one of them, male or female, would unwittingly emerge as the attention grabber of the morning. And this is not such a bad thing. Call this person a prima donna, alpha male or alpha female, s/he would provide the cues for all-round amusement and hilarity. One day, it could be Mumtaz Jahan for her long-winded, grammatically correct proclamations. Another day, it might be Yusuf Rassiwala with his sudden outbursts of “Jai Ho Pandurang Baba”. On a third day, Nafisa Sayed could be in her elements with a battery of wisecracks. Srichand Arora, Razia Khan, Santosh Tyagi, Harbans Singh, Geeta Sardhana and Sunita Jajodia are all past masters at this, triggering unending rounds of laughter – intended or otherwise.
Today was Hari Naraiyani’s day (left). He showed up after a week and was back in form, singing along with the music on Kishor-bhai’s mobile – little bothered about sounding off-key and mixing up the lyrics. He just kept singing and singing like a liberated soul. All eyes were riveted on him – many sniggered, some joked. But nothing would stop Hari-bhai being himself – not even Nafisa’s remarks about “Harey-Bharey bhai doing time-pass instead of exercising”. This is one head-strong 80-year-old, who just couldn’t care a damn about anybody.
Another surprising ‘returnee’ was Uday Atroliya (right), better known as Billoo Barber (for his role in that film) to us. Originally a theatre actor from Habib Tanvir’s troupe at Bhopal, he has appeared in seven films so far, Maqbool and Wanted included. Of late, he has switched to script-writing and is doing some research for Aamir Khan’s period film on thuggery in colonial India. He has relocated to Juhu but we could be seeing him soon on the big screen, in Sagar Bellary’s Hum Tum Aur Shabana.

Prithak says:
Quite a wonderful group of dedicated people who make me think that perhaps we youngsters are really missing something out here. Wish I was a part!
--Prithak

Renu Babani answers:
I guess age doesn't really matter. As long as one has the heart, he/she shall sing, no matter in tune or not! All are in their own mood in the mornings, own thoughts, and of course, own element. We all want to be heard above the rest, whether others like it or not. We are individuals and of course, like to be acknowledged and accepted amongst each other. This is what keeps us coming back each morning -- that familiarity, knowing that no matter what we say to each other, despite the grumbling, complaining, muttering under one's breath, we are one big family and do miss each other no matter what anyone says!
--Renu