Joke Gone Sour

Shekhawat takes a breather after exercises

One of the long-standing jokes during our exercises is the chest-thumping number performed in the tai-chi round. Nobody likes doing it – least of all Shekhawat. For some (presumably superstitious) reason, it is associated with mourning the dead. But everyone has been intent upon ‘trapping’ Shekhawat into leading this drill, even if it were to mean some people shifting positions or having to rejig the sequence of exercises.
Shekhawat understands this perfectly and has been very sporting about it, much as he’d make a major song and dance over trying to avoid or skip his turn. Such antics only add to the mirth and general bonhomie within the group during the exercises – till Shekhawat threw a fit this morning.
Suddenly, for no particular reason, he declared that there was a ‘calculated conspiracy’ to corner him on the chest thumping number. “Once in a while is fine, but every day how can it be my turn?” he asked incredulously and stomped away to park himself on a bench at a distance.
The situation, by itself, was hilarious beyond words.

Santosh Tyagi and Bijoy Gupta rehearse their parts

For, nobody can deny that there has always been a deliberate move to ‘trap’ him, simply because we felt he enjoyed being made scapegoat. But today, in any case, it was to be his turn -- coincidentally. Dilip Babani explained this was all in good humour and Mallika Kagzi left her place to take Shekhawat’s position, if that would comfort him. But he kept sulking in silence.
It wasn’t for long though. Within minutes, Shekhawat was on his feet, back to his pranks and the moment the rehearsals for the Annual Day function began, he had become irrepressible. There was no stopping him from coming up with bizarre lines (for the skit), butting in when others (like Bijoy Gupta) were in flow, insisting on dancing in his 'style' and even introducing words in the lyrics (eg. “Darling Ho!” instead of “Taliho”) which only he can imagine!
Incidentally, a professional choreographer has been coming in to train our dancers on their steps and moves. To a large extent she has succeeded with everyone – excepting one man. But then, how does it matter so long as he is having a ball?
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
Chest thumping is an important exercise. It expels polluted air stuck in our lungs. We inhale fresh oxygen in its place and get more energy and become healthy. In the Club, the members add jokes to an exercise to make it more fun. And when one person is targeted every day, the oddity is more hilarious and enjoyable.