Monsoon Musings

Nahid Khan rushes in after retrieving her bag from the rains 

Now that the monsoon has kicked in right and proper, we are getting accustomed to the low turn-out every morning, people running in drenched from top to toe, leaking roofs and slippery floors, shifting location to avoid a sudden cloudburst during the exercises, wet crows constantly cawing over our heads, umbrellas getting exchanged… Arun Patil had provided everyone name stickers (with mobile numbers indicated in bold) for umbrellas. And still the umbrellas, once misplaced, do not come back to their owners.
Arun did another thing. He brought out his music box that he had been protecting from the rains. After a long time we were treated to his collection of vintage film hits, playing loud and clear in the enclosed space of the new Garden shed. Arun has identified a dry corner, away from the dripping tarpaulin roof, for placing the box, much to the delight of music lovers like Yusuf Rassiwala and Nahid Khan.

Arun Patil

Yusuf Rassiwala

Against the relentless drub-drub of the morning shower and fierce winds lashing the shed, the songs sounded simply out of this world. As someone pointed out, we could go on exercising for hours in this ambience without ever realizing it.
Yusuf’s presence also made a difference. In fact, his appearance nowadays is an event – so rare has it become. And responses have gone beyond comments like sighting the proverbial moon on Eid. Today, for instance, as he negotiated his way through the raging downpour, Nahid could not help remarking, “Where is this fresh gust of wind coming from? Yusuf-bhai must be around!” Sure enough, he was there behind her.
But that was not why Yusuf had become everyone’s favorite punching bag today. Tomorrow is his birthday. Ved Prakash Grover was the first to remind him of the party he lavished last year. Others were not so discreet. Some said they would skip dinner tonight to be hungry tomorrow morning. A few said they were prepared to fast the whole of today. Some others said they would take purgatives to clear their stomachs for Yusuf-bhai’s birthday tomorrow… Watch this space.
Harish Wadhwa:
Nice picture of Nahid-ji dashing to take shelter in the pouring rain as others watch and measure her speed. A very nice and timely shot!
Yusuf-bhai, aap ko abhi se hardik shubhkamnayen. Well, this is Ramzaan month and I am sure he will be busy with all the rituals in the evening and also fasting in the mornings. It would not be appropriate therefore to expect a treat.