Winter Recedes

Winter is on the wane. Shawls and sweaters are coming off and attendance at the Garden is beginning to balloon in what appears to be a concerted celebration ahead of spring. It is already warm and sunny by the time we wind up from the exercises.
Srichand Arora took charge of the Laughter Round this morning, even as Nahid Khan was present, but with an eye infection. (Eventually, she had to leave before-time.) For some reason, people get extra talkative in his presence and it is not as though he is not party to all the chatter. But it is always with a humorous twist. On the one hand he could be constantly cracking jokes and delivering one-liners and on the other, he’d suddenly chide someone with a “Baatein shaam koh!” shout, much to everybody’s amusement.
Of late, Arora-sah’b has started a new ploy to restore order during the exercises. Instead of pulling up a talkative member, he would target somebody else close-by – who could actually be a silent spectator, not having opened his/her mouth. The sudden reprimand gets the person startled for a moment, but the chatterbox would have got the message by then. More often than not, this ploy has proved effective with everybody.
An exception would be someone like Kajal Babani (right). Arora-sah’b treats her as a daughter and she knows she can take liberties without being shouted at. Even otherwise, being the youngest in the Club, everybody treats her with immense fondness. (In fact, Monthi Serrao and Yusuf Rassiwala often address her as “Baby”!) So Kajal Babani has a ball every morning – fooling about, chatting, passing comments, exercising or not exercising at will… And nobody minds, her sense of humour being another endearing quality about her.
Sunita Jajodia (left) was however, to trigger the biggest joke of the morning. As usual, she was in a tearing hurry to go home and made her impatience felt every time there was an interruption or delay. Exasperated, Arora-sah’b snapped at her just before she had to leave midway through the proceedings: “Just leave your address behind, we’ll go to your house and do the exercises there!”

Renu Babani says:
Strange, isn't it? Before everyone would be so serious when Mr Arora would do the laughter/exercise routine. However, guess Mr Arora must have realised, 'If you can't beat them, join them'! So he has ended up being part of the chatter and joins in the fun too. Yes, I guess no one is really spared, and somehow, everyone's turn does come in the end. It maybe in just a passing comment or just a jovial remark, but every individual gets his/her turn. However, as long as it is not offensive or just aimed at one individual, it is fine. We are here for fun, so let's make sure it stays that way!
--Renu