Runaway Comedy

Uproarious laughter shatters the early morning air

Monthi Serrao distributes special halwa cubes

Like every morning, rip-roaring laughter rang through the Garden -- but with a difference. This time the laughter was genuine, not forced. It went out in waves, one after another, punctuated by clapping and singing till everyone went red in the face, doubling up in tears. It was sheer madness.
From where Santosh Tyagi had dug out those jokes, she alone knows. They were scribbled on paper and in a way it was good she did not have her spectacles today. Arun Patil offered to help, but instead of reading, he chose to sing them out aloud. For, they were the opening lines of popular Hindi film songs which we knew and were only too eager to lend our voices to. What we did not know was that hidden in the lyrics was a clue to an ailment, mostly unmentionable, which was revealed at the end of each chorus. And this hidden meaning was what sent everyone in splits.
So here was a situation where Arun, paper in hand, was leading each number with all others singing with him lustily, only to be told the meaning of the song when it was over. Just five examples:
• ‘Aaj kal paon zameen par nahin padte mere…’ (CORN ON FEET)
• ‘Bidi jalaile, jigar se piya / Jigar ma badi aag hai...’ (ACIDITY)
• ‘Chhupana bhi nahi aata / Jatana bhi nahi aata…’ (PILES)
• ‘Suhani raat dhal chuki / Na jaane tum kab aayoge…’ (CONSTIPATION)
• ‘Tip-tip barsa pani / Pani mein aag laga de…’ (URINARY INFECTION)
Arun could have gone on and on, but by the 12th number we were all exhausted laughing our guts out. Some actually pleaded with him to stop and yet, were not leaving the place. Ultimately, Monthi Serrao had to intervene with a box of colorful halwa cubes, a special Mangalore delicacy, which she had saved for us. It was a fitting finale to a very enjoyable and memorable morning.
Srichand Arora (from Singapore):
Yaar, Arun lagte toh nahin, par ho Chhupe Rustom. Badmashon de naal rehkar erhi badmashiyan hi sikhoge!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Bimari aur gaano ka rishta aapne jora hai, usse Mogambo khush hua!!! Very good diagnosis.