Punishment!

Nahid Khan (in fuschia, foreground) had a sudden brainwave this morning. Being made to conduct the exercises, she began to crib about having to stand in the middle every day while others stayed away, refusing to leave the comfort of their homes. “Those who come to the Garden should at least make an effort to be in time,” she observed. “Today I will punish all late-comers. I will make them murga!”
Instantly all eyes turned towards the gate. And there, sure enough was Harish Wadhwa walking in without a care in the world. The moment he joined the circle, the ladies pounced upon him. Taken aback, he looked around helplessly. “Late kyun aaye?” Nahid demanded. “Murga bano!” Lest things get any worse, he obediently held his ears and did a sit-up on the spot.
Next to walk in was Ramila Mistry. Being more circumspect by nature, she wasn’t going to do sit-ups easily. She bent forward from her position in the circle, jerked her head left and right repeatedly like a parakeet and concluding that everybody was insistent, she just smiled, caught her ears and bit her tongue apologetically.
Geeta Sardhana was next. Dressed in black from top to bottom, she dismissed the idea saying that she was already a “kali murgi”. However, the best reaction was to come from Monthi Serrao (right). Unable to make sense of “murga bano”, she asked innocently: “Desi murga ya English murga?” Geeta immediately counseled her, “Kuchh bhi chalega!” Monthi was still at sea: “Magar gauti murga boil honei ko time lagta hai!”
Only later, when the laughter subsided, did she figure out what the punishment was about and that Harish had already done his bit of a sit-up. She gamely crossed her arms, held her ears and said: “Harish-bhai ko toh practice hai murga banne ka. His wife is a teacher.” Suddenly Sitaram Hivarkar waddled in, in slomo, and the ladies were back at their best behaviour. Nobody dare accost him.
Amidst all the bonhomie, Pratap Bhatt (left) dropped by to inform that his wife has been discharged (see yesterday’s post) and is back home, recuperating. He had taken a calculated risk in getting the spinal surgery done when the doctors had given him a 10 per cent chance of success. The lady is now able to walk, he says. All’s well that ends well.
Dilip Babani (right):
Murga bano, all late-comers! Arora-ji dar ke maarey aaj nahi aaye. Late ho gaya toh murga ban-na parega. Harish-bhai murga bana kya, ab toh saarey members jaldi aah jayenge darr ke maarey!
Frankly, I am afraid of all the ladies. Today Bhaswati told me to become murga because of late-coming. I did not understand why she was telling me since the exercises had already finished. From tomorrow, I will come before 7.00 a.m.; or else, I will not come at all. I do not want to become murga. I am serious. Dear Arora-ji, please tell all the ladies to cancel this type of punishment. You are the president of the Club. Please save us. Whatever you say, will be done!