Disappointing Start

Cent per cent 'cap compliance' today

What had all the makings of unbridled mirth and merriment turned a damp squib. We wanted to see who would defy Srichand Arora’s diktat on wearing caps today. Sadly, no one did. To the last woman, Kiran Makharia, everyone wore their caps this morning.
Arora had earlier announced that beginning today, anyone turning up for the exercises without the blue Club cap shall be shamed by the rest with a round of congratulatory applause. “We should stop whatever we are doing and greet the person by clapping and laughing,” he said. “That is the only way to make an errant member realize his/ her folly. Unless you shame them this way, they will never come around.”
Indeed, Arora has been at his wits’ end at reminding members not to forget wearing their caps to the exercises. To a major extent, he has succeeded over the past year or so. But there are still a few ladies who are a law unto themselves and on one pretext or the other, have refused to abide by the rule.

Monthi Serrao leaves for Mangalore today -- Monday to Monday

As many have noted, their stubbornness not only sets a bad example, but progressively vitiates the atmosphere of the Club. Arora’s “Gandhian ploy” today is targeted at those few recalcitrant elements, giving them one more chance to fall in line. And no marks for guessing from which TV ad he has drawn inspiration from.
The unfortunate fallout was Jagmohan Papneja being subjected to some jeering for turning up late. Shekhawat gleefully clapped and danced in front of Papneja, who simply had no inkling of what he had done to deserve such an uproarious welcome. So quite innocently, he too started laughing and clapping till Arora informed that he was the cause for not coming in time. Subsequently, at Papneja’s behest, it was decided to spare late-comers for the present and focus entirely on the non-cap wallahs. “Otherwise, we shall only be clapping and making fun of others, rather than doing any exercise,” Papneja explained.
In all this, Monthi Serrao took leave for a week-long “Monday to Monday” vacation to her home town, Mangalore. Seems like she's got to attend a family wedding there. In her absence, all celebrations, plans and programmes of the Club will be kept on hold. We wish her a safe and enjoyable trip.