Cap Capers

Ever since they were brought in, the blue ‘club caps’ have become a cause for much mirth and merriment among us. Invariably, someone or the other would turn up bare-headed, having forgotten his/her cap back home. Today it was Geeta Sardana’s turn, just that she had not left it behind at home but forgot to take it out of her bag. When Srichand Arora questioned her, she slowly extricated it out of its sealed polythene packing in her bag, as though it was something precious. Seeing how careful she was, Arora quipped that rather than carry the cap and risk losing it, she should keep it secure in a bank locker. Instantly Bapu Rane intervened: “Instead of a bank locker, why don’t you deposit all your caps with me? I’ll carry them home and back every morning and each of you may pay me ten rupees a day!”
Significantly, Rane is the one who has been pressing for a penalty for not wearing caps. From asking the defaulters to pay a fine to making them stand on a bench, even barring them from exercising, he comes up with a new ‘punishment’ every day. Some members take his threats so seriously that they have returned home midway when they discovered their caps were not on their heads. Santosh Tyagi keeps her shoes and cap together at home, lest she forgets. Others say that if there was a way, they would rather nail their caps to their shoes! This fixation about the caps prompted Nafisa Sayyad to come up with a wisecrack (as only she can): “Today we have blue caps. Tomorrow, we’ll have blue T-shirts and same-colour uniforms. Then we'll have water bottles. What fun, we'll get our childhood back!”
The only dampener in all this merriment was Sunita Jajodia’s illness. She has contracted some kind of infection, leaving her bedridden with high fever for the past few days. Still, she briefly managed to come to the Garden this morning, just to see us. It was kind of her to do so. Like Arora comforting her (bottom pic), we can only wish and pray for her early recovery.
Harish Wadhwa:
Wishing Sunita-ji an early recovery from her illness. Let's grow up, no caps or dress or attire should be compulsory. Let people wear what they like, in which they feel comfortable. Those who like to wear it can certainly do so. The decision should be left to individuals.
Bhaswati Bose:
But who wants to grow up? We come to the Garden to be children. Or else how can you laugh?
Harish Wadhwa:
Bhaswati-ji, yes, it is wonderful to retain the child in us. As for laafs, it can be done regardless of age and for sure, even without caps too! Join the BC Chai often.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "See, I am responsible... wearing my cap and proving I am the right choice for Treasurer."
* "Don't worry, you will be fine soon. We all wish you a speedy recovery!"