Come to Stay

SURYA NAMASKAR IN THE RAINS

The rains have come to stay. After forcing us to remain cloistered in the China Hut for days, the weather improved a bit this morning and we were able to break loose for a breath of fresh air in the open. It was a brief reprieve though, just long enough to wrap up our exercises.

Busy eating and relishing Swati Punjabi's dal dokli

Kiran Prakash

And as the sky opened, we performed the exceptional act of paying obeisance to the cloud-capped sun god, umbrellas held high, lest we get drenched.
In this dark and uncertain atmosphere, Karuna Waghmare provided the sparks, particularly after spotting Kiran Prakash seated on a bench during the exercises. Fact is, he hasn’t quite recovered from a virulent tummy attack that had kept him away from the Garden for almost a week. Rather than sympathise with him, she took a dig for his being seated: “What, you had to come to the Garden because your wife turned you out of the house?”
Shekhawat was his usual frisky self, trying restlessly to evade the breast-beating number during the tai-chi round, only to get trapped with it. But the high point of the morning was Swati Punjabi’s sumptuous treat of dal-dokli – a popular dish in Marwari/ Gujarati homes. Swati need not have bothered though – more so, as there was no occasion to celebrate – and we had told her so. But she insisted and in true Pavlovian style, we succumbed to the temptation.
The oddest part is that Swati needs to be coaxed to partake in the eats she serves us so generously every other day. Says something about people who enjoy pleasing others while depriving themselves.
Tripti Punjabi:
My mother is always generous and loves cooking for everyone. It is so delightful to see everyone loving her food. She needs no reasons to cook for anyone. I am so happy to see her enjoying with her friends!
Bihari Milwani:
In the absence of our president Ms Mallika, we had Mr Kiran Prakash as chairman and that is why he was sitting on the chair.