Refreshing ‘Sunrizer’

Raising a 'toast' to Srichand and Kiran Arora

A cool, delightful and breezy morning topped by unlimited glasses of refreshing mango drink. This was Srichand Arora’s idea. Yesterday, when some ladies demanded a treat for his 46th wedding anniversary (see post), the option before him was his favorite phapda-jalebi or else, the standard luddoo – both of which was considered ‘too heavy’ on a peak summer morning. The surprise mango drink came as a welcome relief after our rigorous 45-minute workout.
Even earlier, Arora was in high spirits, deliberately forgetting and mixing up exercises with peculiar improvisations, prompting Jagmohan Papneja to joke that it was all the effect of ‘the wedding anniversary rites’ since last Sunday.

Sardar Teja Singh

For instance, during the free-style swimming round, Arora interjected every count with a “Jai Sita Ram” to take Sitaram Hivarkar by surprise. He responded once, twice, thrice… and finally gave up.
Thereafter, turning towards Sardar Teja Singh during the back stroke round, Arora went “One- Sat Sri Akal, Two- Sat Sri Akal- Three- Sat Sri Akal, Four...” to the count of eight. Not quite knowing how to react, the genial Sikh went red in the face much as Jagmohan comforted him by saying that the water (in the pool) was “running deep” today. Others of course, attributed Arora’s “being in the mood” to having one too many last night and the effect was yet to wear off.
Small and otherwise insignificant incidents like these in the morning make our day and add joy to our lives. None of it is rehearsed or planned. If it was Arora today, it had been someone else yesterday and there would be yet another joker in the pack tomorrow. The idea is simply to share and spread happiness for the time we are together. And the exercising is just a damn good excuse!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Although there is no real cure for a hangover, there are ways to ease its symptoms. One way is to detoxify with the help of mango juice. And that is what Arora-ji experimented with in the morning. Somehow, it worked wonders at keeping our body and mind energized.