Home Turf

Back to our old stomping ground

From rock hard concrete, we stepped into the lush greens today, the grass freshly cropped, soft and shining in the early morning sun. The monsoon had abated a bit and we were back on home turf – our old stomping ground where we exercise. The sky was a clear blue and with a gentle breeze blowing across, the morning had turned truly divine.
The shift in location created some confusion among the late comers who had expected to find us outside the China Hut. Had they not been suitably guided at the gate, many would have probably gone home without exercising. Monthi Serrao in particular, caused a minor flutter after she was sighted at the gate and yet, did not turn up for the exercises. Initially, nobody spoke about it believing that was not Monthi, but a momentary illusion. Before long, a debate broke out on how she could have vanished into thin air -- whether we had mistaken someone else for her or if she had come and not finding us, gone away. “Don’t worry, she must have forgotten something back home and gone to fetch it,” Harbans Kaur comforted us.

Monthi Serrao

Nafisa Sayyad

Sure enough, Monthi showed up after some time, smiling widely as usual. Apparently, she was confabulating with Sunita Jajodia inside the China Hut, hidden from our visual range. Sunita had undergone a gall bladder operation last week and today she decided to check us out in the Garden – just that she could not venture as far to where were exercising. So she waylaid Monthi and engaged her in conversation.
Another person who had returned after an extended hiatus was Nafisa Sayyad. She was back from Pune for 3-4 days and spoke highly of her new neighborhood, the climate and why it was healthier there than in Mumbai. Jagmohan Papneja suggested she start a Pune chapter of Big Laaf and we would all happily go there for its inauguration. Quick on the uptake, Nafisa muttered matter-of-factly: “All that is fine. But how do I wake up in the morning? I get absolute sound sleep in Pune!”
Jagmohan Papneja:
The site of exercises looks amazing! Hard to believe it is the same old place in Garden No 4. This is because the photography is so fantastic. I wonder if this is the work of a professional or an amateur.