Winter Torpor

Regular winter hasn’t really set in and already several members have gone into hibernation. Till a few days back, there would be about half-a-dozen of us to start the day’s proceedings and by the end of the exercises, the number would swell to a healthy 25 or so. These days, the same half-a-dozen are there (at times more), but not many besides. Let alone come late, many members have simply stopped coming.
Reasons range from health issues to personal engagements. Sitaram Hivarkar is suffering from a nagging back ache which gets aggravated in the early morning chill. Likewise, Ram Shankar Shukla complains of developing body cramps during winter – especially after exercising. Nafisa Sayed (left) has to come all the way from MHADA colony (beyond Lokandwala Circle) and she finds it unsafe walk the distance alone while it is still dark. Sunita Jajodia hasn’t yet got over with her son’s nuptials while Harbans Singh is in mourning, following the passing away of her brother-in-law in Pune.
There are also the ones erratic in their attendance – such as Harish Wadhwa (who has to travel a lot on work), Razia Khan (who is at the mercy of the limited water supply her building gets in the mornings) and Dilip Babani (who is nursing a sore in his mouth). But the one to take the cake (and eat it too) is Yusuf Rassiwala (right). A running joke in the Club is that if Yusuf-bhai comes to the Garden for three days at a stretch, he is bound to take a break for a week (if not longer) from the fourth day. Many are prepared to wager a bet on this!
Now Srichand Arora threatens to be also erratic from next week owing to his annual family reunion at home. His son is visiting from Singapore. Together, they’d all be leaving for Dubai on December 18. Geeta Sardhana, whose daughter’s wedding is fixed for the same day, will have something to chew on.
PIC-SPEAK
--a new feature beginning today, by Renu Babani, on what the pictures say...
* Shekhawat: "Everybody update your phone numbers on the membership list."
Santosh-ji: "Listen Principal-sa'ab, I am a senior member. I shall give you the information when I remember. So be patient."
* Nafisa's ever smiling face tries to make us overlook the fact that she is not a regular. But we miss her sudden bursts of one-liners mid-exercise.
* Yusuf-bhai's impish face says it all. Like a college boy caught bunking, he knows he will not get away scot free.
Harish Wadhwa:
Yusuf-bhai has a shararati andaaz in the pic -- winking with his left eye and puckering his lips like Vidya Balan! Something brewing?
There are these one-timers, phunti-wale, late latifs, not-feeling-healthy sorts and some busy with their household commitments. Then there are some like Bose-babu, Grover-sahab, Kishor-da, Renu-ji, Bhatt-sahab, Nahid Khan-ji, Monthi-ji, Razia-ji and Santosh-ji who are punctual and regular. Appreciate these regulars and their motivation to keep going and stay fit.
Bhaswati Bose
Harish-bhai ko ab har koi Vidya Balan jaisi dikh rahi hai... even Yusuf-bhai! What will happen to him AFTER he sees The Dirty Picture?

Dilip Babani:
Vidya Balan ka bukhar toh kab ka utar gaya. Ab koyi naya gana banega, tab naya bukhar chadega. Dirty Picture jaise bahut films aaye aur gaye. Pahle ki dancers -- Helen, Jayashree T, Divya Bharti, Rekha... abb budhdhi ho gai hai. Budhdhe aur murjhaye phool pasand nahi sab ko.
Harish Wadhwa:
Bhaswati-ji, yes, I do like Vidya's acting, smile and laugh. But she is not my kind and on whom I can go gaga. To be honest, I have no plans to watch The Dirty Picture -- not in the near future. LOL
Srichand Arora:
Thank you very much for reminding me of my neice -- Geeta's daughter's marriage. In view of this, I have changed the date of my Dubai trip from 18th to 28th December. I go on the 28th and return on 30th night. Thanks, once again!