Dilemma of a Do-Gooder

Dilip Babani (l) with Kiran Prakash

Dilip Babani has got himself into a funny bind. Owing to his ever helpful nature, he is the go-to man every time someone wants to host a party in the Club. Dilip accordingly wakes up early morning in the dark, scours the marketplace, picks up the good stuff and materialises at the Garden gate at 8:00 a.m. – the time we normally wrap up our exercises every day.
But this is only on the days a party is on. What happens on other days when Dilip is a little late for the exercises, or perhaps, not to be seen? Strangely, this is good news because it raises hopes all around of he having gone to the market to pick up goodies for a possible party. After all, he is the one to be approached first when somebody gets into a generous mood.
As a natural corollary, when Dilip is on time at the Garden (like everybody else), we are deeply disappointed.

Mallika Kagzi (l) is back, having recovered from dengue attack

In fact, many of us hope and pray every morning that we don’t get to see Dilip before 8:00 a.m. And then there's that delightful sight of him waving from the gate, face lit up in a smile... This is something many are prepared to break a leg for. Instead, if Dilip were to come early and diligently do his exercises, it would be akin to disaster striking us!
Kiran Prakash brought this up today when he politely told Dilip to be punctual for the exercises. What he did not say is that he would much rather have Dilip coming late, lugging heavy bags in both hands. And that his coming early, empty-handed is not a happy situation at all. Or perhaps, he (Kiran) had become mentally so conditioned as to expect Dilip to play Santa Claus every morning!
Whatever be it, Kiran Prakash was only articulating the general sentiments of the Club. And Dilip now enjoys the rare privilege of turning up whenever he pleases – later the better. Till then, we might as well be on a self-induced high.