Confidence Booster

Nasir Putani Shah conducts laughter exercises

Arun Patil does his "American engineering" on us

Beginning October 9 (Monday), the second round of our laughter exercises would be conducted by a different person every day. Every member of the Club would thus get the opportunity to step in the middle and take charge of the exercises by turn.
Inconsequential as this may seem, it is actually a big deal for all those who are shy and withdrawn by nature. Many of them have never experienced being the centre of attention in a group and even in their autumn years, continue to harbor issues of self-doubt, social anxiety and low self-esteem.
Today, with the express motive of breaking such mental blocks, the most reticent and self-effacing male among us, Nasir Putani Shah was invited to take over the second round of the laughter exercises. His first reaction was one of panic – even pleading to be spared because he just cannot do it. But with some encouragement from all present, he stepped up and redeemed himself rather creditably.
This was however, not the first time such an experiment had been undertaken. Earlier, Khatoon Baig had stepped in on our request, only to appear dreadfully self-conscious and confused. With Santosh Tyagi things turned even worse. So terrified was she by the experience that she threatened to quit the Club if asked to conduct the exercises again!
Meanwhile, Arun Patil is having a ball as the designated ‘permanent teacher’ of the free-hand exercises (ref post of October 4). Nahid Khan and Razia Khan were however unsparing towards him for having lost their position (as teachers) to his domineering attitude. So today, both ladies turned the tables on him with a vengeance, constantly picking faults on the manner he conducted the exercises, much to our amusement. Nahid even called him an “American engineer forcing his engineering" upon us.
Even Arun could not make sense of this. All he could do was call her “Bloody Indian” and walk away gamely, averting eye contact.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The basic idea of coming to the Garden regularly is to be happy and fit. If everyone takes turns to lead the group, everything becomes more enjoyable. There is nothing to feel shy about or confused. Relax, enjoy and keep laughing.