Duty before Self

The 'early birds' wait for others to show up

It rained relentlessly all of yesterday. It rained all of last night. And at 6:30 this morning, just as we were leaving for the Garden, it rained with renewed vengeance. The streets were flooded, devoid of all life, but for a few half-empty school buses, newspaper boys on bicycles and some isolated milk vendors. Who would have expected anybody to turn up for the exercises in this scenario?
But wonder of wonders, half a dozen members were already there before time – Nahid Khan, Santosh Tyagi, Srichand Arora, Shekhawat, Sunita Jajodia and Ved Prakash Grover. Soon Geeta Sardana joined them. And then came Jagmohan Papneja and Bihari Milwani and Monthi Serrao… All of them had braved the blinding rain, waded through water-logged streets and negotiated treacherous potholes, only to keep their appointment in the Garden. Like bravehearts who put duty before self, they ensured that the exercises were not abandoned even for a day.
If anything, this only shows what a committed group we are. Whatever we might appear to be as a cranky, carefree, fun-loving and food-loving lot, on the question of exercises there can be no compromise. Come hell or high water, we shall always be there – at 7:00 a.m. sharp!
Srichand Arora:
EID MUBARAK BIG LAAF, ESPECIALLY OUR DEAR MUMTAJ JAHAN, KHATOON BAIG, MALLIKA KAGJI, NAZMA SAIYAD, RUKSANA KHAN, NAHID KHAN, YUSUF-BHAI, RAZIA KHAN AND ALSO THOSE MEMBERS WHOSE NAMES I MIGHT HAVE MISSED OUT.