Cautionary Gesture

Relaxing in the green grove after the exercises

Bijoy Gupta today volunteered explaining his sudden exit midway through the exercises on Saturday (see post of April 28). “I was working out in the Garden from 5:30 that morning,” he narrated. “By 7’o clock when you people started,

Ram Shankar Shukla

I was dreadfully exhausted. Still I joined the exercises. The worst part, I was not carrying drinking water. Due to dehydration I started getting body cramps.
Before the bada pain came, I rushed out of the Garden.”
The “bada pain” or “big pain” was what

Late Teja Singh Bhambra

Shekhawat mistook to be an impending heart attack. Or so was he to inform that morning. Even today, he made an announcement directed at those suffering from a heart condition. “I carry emergency heart pills (Sorbitrate) in my bag all the time,” he said. “By any chance should any of you face a problem in the Garden like chest pain, do inform me immediately.”
It was a well-thought cautionary gesture, considering that most of us are senior citizens. And we aren’t getting any younger. Fortunately, we haven’t faced a serious casualty so far -- barring a few stray incidents involving Ram Shankar Shukla and the late Teja Singh Bhambra in the past. But that cannot be said about the future.
We might also consider having a ‘first aid kit’ handy (from the Club) with basics like Band Aid, Dettol, Iodex, crepe bandage, smelling salts, Electral sachets, etc. just in case. Siba Prasad Maitra could perhaps help putting this together and someone like Kiran Prakash or Arun Patil, who is regular every day for the exercises, be entrusted with carrying the kit. More importantly, whoever can, should carry extra drinking water, especially during these summer months.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
April, this year, has been extraordinarily hot. One must carry water all the time and take frequent sips whether thirsty or not. This is the best first aid for summer. Carrying other emergency medicines, such as Sorbitrate, etc. is also important. In addition, we must know what should be done in an emergency. Someone should teach us these first aid basics.

DAY 2546

Pic(s) of the Week

What story do these two pictures tell you?

COOL-COOL LASSI ON A HOT-HOT DAY! --Bhaswati Bose

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED! --Anonymous

NEWFOUND FRIENDSHIP WITH LASSI MAKES ONE COOL AND RELAXED --Angad Singh

HOW OLD IS THE NEW BABY? --Karun Sharma

INKE TOH PAANCHON UNGLIYAN GHEE MEIN AUR MOONH GLASS MEIN! --Shaherbanoo Khan

Firing Line

Zarina Khan (from l), Khatoon Baig and Nahid Siddiqui accost Shekhawat

After the rollicking birthday celebration yesterday, Shekhawat found himself again in the firing line today (ref post of April 26).
“What kind of a birthday party was that?” questioned Zarina Khan, who led an all-woman attack on him after the exercises. “You think you can get away by giving us just biscuits and chocolates?”
“You think we are school children?” Nahid Siddiqui interjected. “Even in schools, they don’t celebrate birthdays with biscuits and chocolates these days. We demand another party – a proper party with namkeen and sweets and tea or cold drinks... There are so many nice things you can get from the market!”
Shekhawat was apparently enjoying all the female attention and made no effort to defend himself. On the contrary, he tried to provoke the ladies by arguing that it was a very “healthy treat” he had given and that everyone ought to follow his example. “Left to myself, I would have thrown a champagne

Fahmida and Shekhawat get into a scuffle

party yesterday,” he announced, eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Keep the champagne to yourself,” the ladies chorused and a hitherto quiet Khatoon Baig joined in.

Bijoy Gupta (file photo)

“Look at yourself,” she charged. “For days on end, you kept reminding us in advance to be present on your birthday. And this was what you had to offer – biscuits and chocolates? What sort of party was that?”
“We don’t accept it was a party,” said Fahmida Khan, appearing out of nowhere and suddenly taking matters in her own hands. She boxed Shekhawat straight on his chest and before she could land another sock, the two got into a scuffle. “Why didn’t you phone me before you gave the party yesterday? You better organize another party, or else...”
Earlier in the morning, Bijoy Gupta made a hasty exit from the Garden, holding his chest with both hands. He looked breathless. “I told him to keep his heart medicines handy,” informed Shekhawat, with whom Gupta had a quick word before leaving. “He was complaining of chest pain. Let’s hope it is nothing serious.”
Inquiries later revealed that it was not a heart condition, but acute dehydration. Gupta has been advised bed rest.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
* One can see 'woman power' at its best in the Garden. The women in the Club have come of age and have become dauntless. They will bull charge at minimum provocation. Good show!
* During summer, we should be extra-careful. Consume liquids frequently. It may be in small quantities. Aam panna and lemon juice are the best. We are lucky in the Club to have two members who are very well versed in the care and maintenance of the heart. They should educate others on how to take care of heart problems. This will ease the issues and make us all relaxed.

Bihari Milwani:
Shekhawat’s wedding anniversary party is also overdue. He was at his native place at that time.

Ageless Wonder

Birthday boy HARI SINGH SHEKHAWAT (centre, in white t-shirt)) flanked by well-wishers 

Hari Singh Shekhawat turned a year older today. Till yesterday, he was “ek-kum assi” -- one less of 80 years. Today, he declared he was “assi running” – running 80. That should pin his date of birth to April 27, 1938. But his service record (from Indian Navy) shows him a 1941-born. He explains he had deliberately reduced his age at the time of recruitment (as was the norm then) when it

Shekhawat receives birthday calendar from Rukhsana Khan

Distributing chocolates and biscuits

was common knowledge that he appeared on this planet three years earlier -- at the “time of the Big Drought”. Since that eventful day, there has never been any drought in his village!
Shekhawat may be 80 or whatever, but in heart and mind, is no more than 18 years. This became abundantly clear as he pranced about all morning, dancing and playing the fool like a teenager on steroids. He insisted that his birthday calendar be given to him by nobody but Rukhsana Khan.

Having a ball!  

Bijoy Gupta (r) breaks into a ditty

He went around distributing biscuits and chocolates followed by a lassi treat at the Gate. And when good friend Bijoy Gupta broke into a playful ditty, ‘Dil ko dekho, chehra na dekho...’, he went berserk – beyond control, jumping with joy.
Shekhawat had a blast – as indeed, every birthday boy ought to. The best compliment was to come from Siba Prasad Maitra: “We want such a celebration when you are 100!”
Shekhawat’s reply: “Hundred per cent!!!” He meant it.

Saluting Rukhsana Khan

A warm hug

Relaxing over lassi

Karun Sharma:
8 pictures on 80th birthday. It was a indeed a great day of happiness orchestrated brilliantly by 'Birthday Boy' Shekhawat himself.

Dilip Babani:
Happy Birthday, Shekhawat-ji.

Bihari Milwani:
How come Kadak Singh Jailer is celebrating his birthday in the Garden? He should be in jail with all the ladies over there!!!

Anonymous:
I hope Shekhawat did not understate his age to his in-laws at the time of his marriage.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Happy birthday to Shekhawat. He is evergreen and smiling. I wish him a happy and healthy long life.

Uncalled For

Shekhawat is badly cornered...

A rather embarrassing and wholly unnecessary discussion on Shekhawat’s birthday celebration tomorrow had to be brought to an abrupt halt this morning.
He will be turning 79 (or so he believes) and in typical naivetté, went on to declare that he would be treating us to biscuits and lassi. “The biscuit packets have already arrived at home,” he announced.
True or false, what was even more artless of him was to reveal the pension amount credited to his bank account today. It did not take long for some of us to relate this figure to the amount he would possibly be spending on his treat tomorrow -- as though Big Laaf had an inherent claim over Shekhawat’s monthly income.
“With that money you ought to be treating the Club to a five star lunch or dinner,” demanded Bijoy Gupta. “There should be drinks included with a movie thrown in… Why, you ought to be sponsoring a picnic as well and here you want to be done with a biscuit packet only?”
Promptly others piled on Shekhawat with their own peculiar demands. With discretion thrown to the winds, the demands assumed bizarre overtones in total disregard to his personal compulsions. What began as a ‘joke’ (as many lamely put it) had snowballed into an obscene display of rank opportunism and extortion – not a civilized way to celebrate any birthday.
Surely nobody would starve in the absence of a birthday treat. Nor would Shekhawat be reduced to penury had he succumbed to the coercion. But what would definitely happen is a competitive raising of the bar on birthday treats – something that would have dangerous long-term consequences. It had to stop. And so also the discussion today.

Bihari Milwani:
I think it will be in the interest of everyone that celebrations -- whether of birthday or anniversary, or of children’s marriage, etc. -- be restricted to chocolates, laddoos or something of the sort but ONE item only. This will keep our members fit and fine.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
It is the prerogative of the birthday boy what treat he wants to give. Let him feel happy and whatever he decides should be enjoyed by everyone. This has been our attitude so far. Relax and enjoy the occasion. No prompting please!

After Exercises…

An impromptu game of pass the ball

There was a time, not so long ago, when the post-exercise session in the Garden was as important as the exercises – if not more. Many, in fact, marked their presence every morning just to be part of the activities after the exercises. Those were days when nobody cared much about things like attendance and punctuality.
Not so, now. And consequently, all the old post-exercise activities have come to a gradual halt. We report for the exercises on time, go through the motions from start-to-finish and after relaxing for a while on the benches, disperse for the day. This has been our routine, of late.
Thus, it came as a major surprise when a few members this morning got into an impromptu game of pass-the-ball after the exercises. It did not last too long. But for the time it lasted, it was exciting to watch Karun Sharma, along with Yusuf Rassiwala, Bhaswati Bose and Kiran Prakash kicking

Banoo Apa treats us all to mango milk shake today 

the hell out of a small yellow ball, just like kids. To be able to do so in the sweltering heat revealed not only their eagerness to return to their childhood, but more importantly, their amazing fitness levels.
This was a marked departure from the post-exercise sessions in the past when narrating stale jokes (usually from the net or read from a slip of paper) was a prime activity.
Once in a while, some kind soul would give a treat/ party and people cropped up from nowhere. Mercifully, this practice was suspended following a ban on eatables and beverages in the Garden.
Then there were those odd occasions when we experimented with some new-fangled workout, or perhaps rehearsed for a stage show, or had a ‘committee meeting’ after the exercises. But by and large, this was the time reserved for shooting the breeze and indulging in some ‘time-pass’ gossip.
Compared to all that, a brief game of football (however small the ball!) is any day welcome after the morning exercises.

Karun Sharma:
* It was refreshing to be playful and energyful. Bhaswati was the first to kick the yellow ball and increase the blood flow in us. Rightly, such small activities must be encouraged to bring back the childlike freshness on our faces. This could work as a good facial too.
* Banoo Apa is like a mother who treats us to a lot of tasty surprises. May God give her lots of happiness and good health.

Solemn Birthday

Bijoy Gupta (c) flanked by well-wishers on his 75th birthday

This was one birthday not celebrated. Let alone a treat/ party to mark the occasion, we did not even raise the perfunctory fourth laugh after our exercises. However, the birthday calendar was presented in keeping with Big Laaf tradition.

Shekhawat (l) presents Gupta the birthday calendar

Banoo Apa (r) comforts the birthday boy

It was Bijoy Gupta’s 75th birthday – a watershed moment in life. By a cruel turn of fate, it had to come up when he was still mourning the passing of his only daughter. Dolly succumbed to a heart attack last month (ref post of March 19). She was only 36.
In a short but emotional homily, Banoo Apa commiserated with Gupta on behalf of the Club and drew upon experience when she had lost her son in equally tragic circumstances. “But we cannot hold on to our past forever,” she reminded Gupta. “We will have to live our life in the assurance that those who have left us are in the good care of the Almighty.”
She reassured Gupta that his daughter is in a better place today and that he had the love and blessings of everyone in the Club as he gets his life together. She also wished him the strength and fortitude to bear his loss as well as good health and everlasting happiness.

Karun Sharma:
Happy Birthday, Bijoy on reaching the 75th. You were born on the date the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar was born. We all at Big Laaf wish you wonderful health and happiness. You are the 'God of Comedy' to us.

Little Oasis

Yusuf Rassiwala surveys the new location after the exercises

We have created our own ‘little oasis’ in the shade of a tree where we exercise these days. This is the only patch of green in the whole Garden, baked brown by the scorching sun and a merciless heat wave sweeping across the city.
Today Shekhawat and Qadir Banu went about clearing the patch of dried twigs and sticks which prevent people from walking around bare feet. Earlier, four benches under the tree, which had been in disuse for months, were dusted clean for those who wanted to take a breather any time.
“The place looks more like a picnic spot now,” observed Yusuf Rassiwala, who was feeling the effects of shifting to a new location for the exercises (ref post of April 20) for the first time today. Pressures of work had kept him from the Garden all these days.
The shift of location was initiated on an experimental basis, partly as an alternative to the China Hut. Continuing to exercise at our old spot had become a health hazard due to direct exposure to the sun.
Yet there are some not too happy about exercising under a tree. For one, they feel deprived of Vitamin D from the harsh sun’s rays. Khatoon Baig, for another, is petrified about bird droppings landing on her head. And she does not even want to discuss this!
For these people, there is always the option of positioning themselves beyond the tree shade.

Karun Sharma:
How about a break of five minutes during the exercises? We may continue to exercise for the same duration as before. Otherwise, reverting to that level would become difficult.

DAY 2539

Pic of the Week

Think of a funny caption to go with this picture

PRESENTING THE NEW BARBIE DOLL! --Bhaswati Bose

REALITY AND ILLUSION: What you see cannot always be true. But obviously she is young at heart and still plays with a Barbie doll. Photography at its best! --Kiran Prakash

VERY NICE PHOTO --Dilip Babani

WOW! SUPERB!!! --Geeta Latte

RUKHSANA HAS DONE IT! AND RAZIA IS HAPPY TOO!!! --Karun Sharma

Chilled Out

A friendly dog gives us company after the exercises 

Lifting of restrictions for the exercises (ref post of April 19) brought about a relaxed, chilled-out atmosphere after a long, long time. People walked in and out at will – with or without their caps – and nobody made an issue of it. In the beginning we were barely eight to set the ball rolling. At the end of the exercises, we were double the number – the remaining being habitual late-comers. But that was all very fine, today being a weekend.
The weather had cooled down considerably, especially under the tree where we have shifted for the exercises (ref yesterday’s post). With assorted crows and a footloose dog for company, there were many occasions for entertainment – what with Shekhawat determined to egg on a hopping crow towards his bête noire, Arun Patil… but all in good humour and bonhomie.
Much as this was a perfect way to end the week, there remains a slight cause for worry. All those who had pulled up their socks and were making an effort at being regular and punctual for the exercises have slackened once again. It would be very difficult, particularly for those who are taking a break, to resume their earlier schedule.
Experience proves that we are all creatures of habit and attending the exercises daily, on time, is much like being on auto-pilot. Once this routine gets disrupted, it would be an uphill task to get our bearings back. Let’s hope we are able to tackle this when the time comes.

Big Relief

Location shift: Exercises in the shade of a huge tree

The summertime measures announced yesterday (see post) were unanimously appreciated this morning. By common consensus we curtailed the two laughter rounds to one and in effect, wrapped up the exercises 10 minutes ahead of time. More importantly, there was none of the usual tiredness and haggard look in anybody’s face when it was all over.
“This is the most sensible decision taken by the Club,” said a visibly upbeat Bijoy Gupta. “I did not come yesterday as I was afraid of passing out in the horrible heat. Exercising for a full hour in this weather is extremely strenuous and exhausting for people our age. Youngsters are told that 40 to 50 minutes per day is enough. By that standard, we are doing fine now.”
Zarina Khan, Nahid Siddiqui and others who were also not present yesterday were just as relieved with the easing of norms to beat the summer heat. For their benefit, Shekhawat repeated the new rules put in force from today, only to evoke a witty remark from Nahid Siddiqui:

Bijoy Gupta is relieved by the relaxed rules

“Let’s hope this summer continues for the rest of the year!”
Another cause for relief was to relocate ourselves by a few paces under a massive tree so that we could exercise

Nahid Siddiqui

in its shade, rather than getting baked in the blazing sun. The only risk here is the possibility of being treated to generous droppings from the birds above. Bhaswati Bose today became the first recipient of the so-called “good luck” from an obliging crow overhead.
Meanwhile, we were told that after her distressful experience yesterday (see post), Khatoon Baig has been advised rest for two/ three days. As for the other absentees, here’s a quick round-up: Siba Prasad Maitra is in Calcutta giving his daughter in marriage today; Nasir Putani Shah has gone to his native village in Bihar; Karuna Waghmare is with her daughter in Powai; Nahid Khan’s son is getting married one of these days and she has to also attend to her elder bahu who is hospitalized at Cooper… The list goes on.
So much for those who have been needlessly fretting over a drop in the daily turnout.

Extreme Measures

Discussions over how to beat the heat

The Club today took the unprecedented step of relaxing the rules of attendance for the exercises, beginning tomorrow. Till such time the weather remains oppressively hot and humid, members shall be free to decide whether to report to the Garden or take a ‘summer break’.
Secondly, the exercises would be curtailed considerably in order to minimize stress and fatigue.

Khatoon Baig this morning

And thirdly, members are free to decide for themselves on whether or not to come wearing their caps to the Garden.
The move follows a joint decision taken this morning by all present in view of the extraordinary heat wave sweeping across the city. As news reports indicate, the weather would turn only worse in the coming future. Clearly, extreme situations call for extreme measures.
The trigger for this came from an unlikely quarter. Khatoon Baig, one of the most disciplined and regular of our members, began to show signs of drowsiness during the exercises today. Eyes shut, she was inventing her own moves, oblivious of what others were doing.
At one point, she sat on a bench and mechanically kept tapping her head and tummy by turn. When asked if she was feeling unwell, she stood up abruptly and said she was absolutely fine. Seeing that she was dangerously wobbly on her feet, Arun Patil told her to remain seated.
But she insisted on standing, only to make a startling statement: “Why, I am perfectly okay, but actually I have not been okay!” Saying that, she went back to being seated on the bench. It was apparent she was fast getting disoriented.
Later, Khatoon was to suggest we shift to the China Hut where we could have the benefit of shade and exercising under the fan. The problem there is limitations of space. With a heaving mass of sweaty and stinky bodies around, the place would turn into a furnace within seconds and the overhead fans would be of no help.
Nevertheless, we have kept that option open.

Urban Legend

Banoo Apa pours her magic potion by the glassful

Labouring under the blazing sun

In classical literature, ambrosia is described as the ‘drink of the gods’. It was supposed to have been brought by a dove and anybody lucky enough to take a sip would be blessed with longevity or immortality. Many stories are woven around this myth.
We too have our story on this magical drink. How else would anyone describe the refreshingly divine milkshake Banoo Apa was to treat us to on an unusually muggy morning today? It was so hot and humid that we were left completely exhausted and drained out after the exercises. Worse, there was not a drop of water to drink in anyone's water bottle.
In that condition, Banoo Apa’s offer came like manna from the heavens. Without a moment’s delay, we flocked behind her to the Garden gate where she poured us the cool, energising drink by the glassful. What more can anybody ask for on a parched throat?
Today we got lucky. Tomorrow the weather could get worse and it would be unfair to expect Banoo Apa (or anybody else) to come to our rescue again. After all, we are going through an unprecedented heat wave for the month of April – the temperature and humidity levels being way, way above normal since yesterday.
If attendance has thinned out during the exercises, it is perfectly understandable. Many absentees like Yusuf Rassiwala, Karuna Waghmare and Zarina Khan are obviously not taking chances in this extreme weather. Some like Bijoy Gupta regretted coming today. Shekhawat simply walked away in the middle of the exercises not telling anybody. This is rather unusual of him.
Given this situation, it would be worth considering whether to insist on everybody reporting for the exercises every day? Does it make sense to expose ourselves to such unhealthy weather conditions? Can we not leave it to members to take a break till the weather improves? Surely, we don’t want an accident on our hands.
Post Script: News comes in of Karun Sharma losing his mother-in-law this morning. May her soul rest in peace.

Geriatric Flaw

Qadeer Bano

One of the surest signs of old age is when we lose our sense of empathy. We become self-absorbed, blasé, even insensitive towards the pain of others. Instead of showing concern or compassion, we mentally block out 'negativity', lest it upsets us.
This geriatric flaw came into full play today when Qadeer Bano appeared unusually restless in the morning and removed her sandals midway through the exercises. After some time, she stopped exercising and walked away bare feet, selectively treading upon patches of green in the Garden.
Her peculiar behavior raised a few eyebrows – but nothing beyond.

Arun Patil's sermon on diabetes before a captive audience

Arun Patil once summoned her back in the exercise circle, but she ignored him. Clearly, she was in agony. After pacing up and down for a while, she settled on a bench and raised both feet as though to air them.
Turned out that she is an acute diabetic with a sugar count of 370 mg/dl-plus. It was obvious that the sugar level shot up abnormally this morning, causing a wrenching pain around her toes and soles. Upon learning of her plight, Razia Khan, Shekhawat and a few others assured her that the pain was “natural” and well, nothing can be done about it.
“This is called diabetic foot,” pronounced Arun Patil, who has endured the worst of diabetes and turned into a self-professed expert after amputating a leg. “Don’t worry, the pain will come and go. If it gets worse, you will experience numbness and then maybe, have to chop the foot off.”
Arun went on to speak at length from experience, holding forth on several worst case scenarios (including ‘phantom foot’) before a captive audience. When and how Qadeer Bano slipped away, nobody noticed. So much for the comforting words she so desperately wanted to hear!

Ghost Membership

Shekhawat pitches for being lenient towards indisciplined members 

The issue of 'ghost members' raised its head this morning with Shekhawat advocating that we must not be rigid about attendance and punctuality during the exercises. “We are losing members this way,” he explained. “Everybody has problems at home, particularly the ladies. That is why they cannot come in time. We must try to understand this rather than penalize them for coming late or being irregular.”
“How can you solve anybody’s domestic problems?” countered Arun Patil. “This is nothing but bogus talk. Nobody is forcing anybody to come to the Garden. But if you can come, you should be here in time. Or else, you would be setting a bad example for the rest of the Club and this cannot be tolerated.”
“There are many who would rather not show up than be ticked off for coming late,” informed Banoo Apa, who, like Shekhawat, apprehended a shrinking of membership were we to be too rigid about discipline and punctuality.
Yusuf Rassiwala promptly made an assessment of all those who have paid their annual

Shekhawat  with Rakhee Bansi and Vandana Kankanwar

subscription and concluded that the Club, as of now, has a healthy membership strength. “What is the purpose of having people who are not interested in exercising and habitually turn up just before we wind up?” he asked. He also had a word of praise for Arun for enforcing discipline and illustrated how attendance and punctuality have only improved after he turned firm and authoritarian.
“Some members often argue that they come here only to meet their friends and socialize,” Arun said. “We don’t want such people. This is not a social club.”
Yusuf R did not mention it, but Banoo Apa pointed out that many are known to turn up only for the parties and retain their membership primarily for this purpose. Kiran Prakash had counted more than 200 treats/ parties last year, which is not a bad bargain for the nominal fee charged for retaining membership.
Undeterred, Shekhawat argued for inflating membership numbers regardless of who comes when and why, so long as they pay the annual subscription. And then it became crystal clear why he was so persistent about the ghost membership. Minutes later, he was hobnobbing under a tree with Rakhee Bansi and Vandana Kankanwar -- two members never seen to exercise with us!

DAY 2532

Pic of the Week

Can you think of a suitable caption for this picture?

ECSTATIC! --Kiran Prakash

AAH! TODAY I HAVE FULFILLED MY FULL QUOTA OF EXERCISES. I AM VERY MUCH RELIEVED, THANKS TO BIG LAAF --Yusuf Rassiwala

TEACHER CHECKING SPEEDOMETER OF LAUGHING --Bihari Milwani

Resignations

Braving the vernal equinox

An incredibly sultry morning with the sun actually transiting the equator from south to north – vernal equinox, as they say. The event is celebrated with an array of harvest festivals across communities -- Vaisakhi by the Punjabis, Poila Baisakh by the Bengalis, Rongali Bihu by the Assamese, Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telengana, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu by the Malayalees and so on.
On this auspicious day, Kiran Prakash tendered his resignation from the post of secretary citing expiry of the tenure of the managing committee as the reason.

Kajal Babani

“I shall urge all the members to elect/ nominate a new managing committee who will come up with new ideas, new plans and new activities to strengthen the club,” he added in his letter.
Kiran Prakash’s resignation follows a similar move by Kajal Babani who has been holding the post of treasurer of the Club.

Kiran Prakash delivers a pep talk

Her letter of March 29, 2018 had offered to “hand over all the documents and register and accounts to the chairman or secretary” and specified that “from 30th March I am not the treasurer”. Reason: “My health is not ok”.
Both resignations are redundant. According to club rules, the managing committee stands automatically dissolved at the end of its tenure of two years but will “continue to be in office till the succeeding committee takes over”. Kiran Prakash was to therefore take Bihari Milwani aside (along with Dilip Babani who has been handling the accounts by proxy for his wife) and request him to expedite the auditing of the Club’s accounts. Only after his report is ready can the AGM be convened.
Meanwhile, nominations will have to be sought for elections to the new managing committee. Kiran Prakash impressed upon all members to take a judicious call on the Club’s future plans and programmes and ensure greater dynamism with the infusion of fresh blood. “It is high time we initiated some more activity in the Club,” he said in the course of a pep talk.

Kiran Prakash:
The resignation was submitted to expedite the process of constituting the new committee which was not moving at all.

Fun 'n' Games

Shekhawat issues receipts for the cash collected

Now that cash has been collected (yesterday’s post) and receipts issued, it’s time for fun and games. At the outset, Bijoy Gupta questioned Shekhawat why he had abruptly put a halt to collecting subscriptions. “You should have continued indefinitely,” he chided. “You should have collected money even from your friends who have left the Club. Why, you should be paying on their behalf… The more the merrier!”
On the other hand, there was Arun Patil forever cribbing over collecting money from people who are irregular and have nothing to do with the Club.

Fahmida Khan

He singled out Fahmida Khan – questioning why her membership should not be terminated… when in walked the lady carrying a bottle of chilled water. “I believe in drinking cold water to stay fit.” Fahmida declared. “I do not exercise. If you have a problem with that, please return my money.”
At the core of such goofy banter lies an unspoken question: What constitutes the ideal membership strength for a Club of our nature? One section of the Club believes in numbers and maintains that more the members we have on record, the better it is. As such, it does not matter how much dead wood we hold, the kind of people who join the Club or whether anybody is regular for the exercises.
At the other extreme are those who believe that there is nothing like “ideal membership strength” so long as everyone is dedicated, disciplined and serious about the exercises. All others should be immediately weeded out. For this group, making a show of strength is utterly stupid and even if we were to be reduced to a dozen, the exercises would still go on.
There are pros and cons to both arguments. And till it is resolved, let the fun and games continue.
Karun Sharma:
Today's Think About It has huge value. Let us also relate it to small misunderstandings that stop communications. Now with a more composed group, we are expecting a picnic soon as this would bind us more.

Odds and Ends

Shekhawat (in green t-shirt) distributes the membership list

Yusuf Rassiwala today reported to the Garden (ref yesterday’s post) and straightaway took to the middle to conduct the exercises. As

Rukhsana Khan

everyone pointed out, it felt like old times when he used to be our ‘teacher’ by default every other day.
However, he was to explain later that it will not be possible to be as regular since work pressure is forcing him to keep late nights these days.

Siba Prasad Maitra (ext rt) takes leave before heading to Calcutta

Meanwhile, the annual ritual of collecting subscriptions for membership

Yusuf Rassiwala towers over the exercises

renewal has been largely completed with Shekhawat today distributing the updated List of Members soon after the exercises. He said that the moneys collected had been deposited in the bank yesterday and all that remains now is issuing cash receipts to the members. Effectively, the list formalizes the members entitled to participate in the election for a new managing committee during the forthcoming AGM. This will have to be convened soon after obtaining the Auditor’s Report on the club’s accounts for 2017-18.
Rukhsana Khan came up with a bit of distressful news while explaining her absence in the past few days. A hot water bottle she was using at home for a persistent back pain accidentally burst open, leaving her with huge blisters on the skin. She is still in agony and utterly confused as to how this could happen to her. Coming to the Garden was the only way she could divert her mind from the raw sore on her back.
And now for the best news of the day: Siba Prasad Maitra is all set to get his daughter, Shaonie married. The wedding is in Calcutta on April 20. Since we will not be able to join him there, he is lining up a reception for us in Mumbai when he comes back. We wish him the best and most importantly, congratulate the bride and groom in advance for finding each other. Our blessings go to both of them.

How Time Flies!

Yusuf Rassiwala

Sitaram Hivarkar

Yusuf Rassiwala did not turn up today also. There were of course, extenuating reasons to explain his absence. But to well-wishers like Qadir Bano, Nahid Khan and Naseer Putani Shah who have been constantly inquiring about him, his erratic attendance of late has become a major cause of concern. After all, the man is known to be a stickler for regular attendance and punctuality.
Yusuf R also happens to be one of the founding fathers of the club – along with Shekhawat, Sitaram Hivarkar, Tara Chand Seth -- the latter two being honorary members now. Fifteen years ago, they were all in their fifties and sixties – lively, spirited, full of energy. Today, they have moved into their seventies, some nudging 80. Many so-called ‘second generation’ seniors like Santosh Tyagi, Khatoon Baig and Shanti Singh are also betraying signs of age catching up, slowly but relentlessly.
This applies to us all, without exception.
Significantly, we do not notice the physical changes over time as we keep meeting so often, almost daily.

The exercises have become exhausting

But there are certain giveaways. As Bijoy Gupta pointed out this morning, we have lost the enthusiasm to even go on a picnic. “Every time a proposal comes up, we insist on going to a nearby resort so that travel time is reduced and soon everybody wants to back out,” he commented.
This never happened earlier -- when we were younger and raring to go. Those were times when nobody broke out of the exercise circle to remain seated on a bench. Nobody complained of fatigue or the need to take frequent toilet breaks. Nobody got mixed up on dates or the day of the week. Shekhawat boasted of a razor sharp memory and his way with numbers.
Apart from picnics, we used to go on movie outings, hobnob regularly outside the Garden over roadside chai, have seminars and talks on a variety of subjects, we would gather at exotic restaurants to celebrate Diwali and Eid… we even had a Sports Day at Borivli National Park. There was a life for us outside the Garden also. Alas, those were the days.

Karun Sharma:
It is so good to know what we have done in the past to keep ourselves energized. We shall do it again. There is no doubt about it. We shall live and let the Big Laaf family grow with us.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Time has wings. So has your energy. The most important aspect is your attitude. A positive attitude enhances your energy. Be cheerful. You all are very lucky to be able to meet in the Garden for exercises. To meet old colleagues is a morale booster. Those who do not come miss a lot. If a person has not laughed in a day, he has not lived that day. Keep laughing and it will give you a lot of energy to face the world. Count your blessings and enjoy. After all man is ashraf-ul-makhluqat -- the best of all creations.

Taking Liberties

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd)

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) should have been with us at the Garden today. He shares his birthday with Shanti Singh and we could well have had the rare experience of a double-barreled celebration in the morning. More than that, he could have the opportunity to witness a bizarre exchange between Shekhawat and Shanti Singh that comes only out of easy familiarity and affection – something special about Big Laaf.

Shekhawat (r) presents Shanti Singh her birthday calendar

But first for the back story…
After her recent hospitalization, Shanti Singh has not been in the best of health and is in fact, quite irregular for the exercises these days. As a result, Shekhawat is unable to collect the annual subscription from her for renewal of club membership. This clearly has been rankling him no end since all others (well, almost) have paid up already.
Today he got his chance to claim the cash. While presenting Shanti Singh her birthday calendar,

It's party time...

he thought nothing of suddenly blurting, “Now pay me the money!” before parting with the gift. It was a situation reminiscent of the “Paanch rupaiyya barah anna” song from a yesteryear Kishore Kumar hit.

Flipping through the birthday calendar

And thankfully, it was taken in the same spirit. For everyone within hearing distance, including Shanti Singh, burst out laughing.
This happens only in Big Laaf. And only Shekhawat is capable of committing such a howler. After years of exercising and hanging out together, the lines of propriety and politesse have blurred irreversibly for him. There is no question of standing on formality with anyone or anything any longer – just as it is in a family. This applies to everyone in the Club as well. We take liberties with one another, play the fool all the time, even poke fun and no offence is taken. What you see is what you get.
Once again, here's wishing both Shanti Singh and Angad Singh (not related, please note) many happy returns of the day.

Dilip Babani:
Happy Birthday Shanti Singh-ji and Angad Singh-ji.

Karun Sharma:
Happy Birthday Shanti-ji and Angad Sir. May you have good health from now onward.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
I am thankful to all my colleagues in Big Laaf. It is a unique club where we celebrate birthdays and various festivals. I missed a great occasion being so far away (in Dubai) due to domestic reasons. Let's see when we can get together. Till then, thanks a lot everybody.