In Grief

Ramila Mistry conducts today's exercises

Ramila Mistry returned to the Garden yesterday, after three months. She had lost her mother to age-related complications and was busy with the last rites. Today, it was decided that even as she would be in mourning, Ramila should be invited to conduct the free-hand exercises – if that would momentarily divert her mind from the bereavement and help her move on in life. Shekhawat also tried to cheer her up by wishing her “Kem Chho? Bhaloo Toh?” as is his wont. But before he could even complete this peculiar Gujju-Bong greeting, Ramila stepped up and with folded hands rattled off his own lines – thereby prompting others to break into joyful pranks and jokes, simply to humour her.

Left by the wayside...

But Ramila was not her former self. She conducted the exercises in quiet, workmanlike fashion (pic above), deliberately ignoring all the laughter and loose talk around. Earlier, she used to be a terror in the middle, snapping at every wrong move and reprimanding the chatterboxes with her shrill banshee cry, “Out, OUT!” Today, she appeared to have even lost her rhythm while exercising – which is understandable, as she was out of touch for so long. It was a tough act on her part and we all thanked her for the effort.
The action, as always, shifted to the tea shop after the exercises – this time the Badmaash Company finding no place to park their backsides, but on the footpath (pic above). It speaks volumes of the progress they have made in time -- if not of the direction our economy is heading. You need to place a few empty katoras at their feet to complete the picture!
Harish Wadhwa:
* Arora-ji's eyes are glued to a special someone -- on the balcony of Tarapore Towers. Sah'b, hum log bhi toh aapke hee hain, hamein bhi kabhi aisi pyar bhari nigahon se dekh lijiyega!
* Deepest condolences to Ramila-ji on the passing away of her mother.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Coming to terms with the loss of a dear one is the greatest challenge of life. Ramila-ji conducted herself admirably after the loss of her mother. May God bless her!
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "I just need time. Seem to forget the routine... but will get into it soon."
* "Hum hain becharey... madad karo!"