Locking Horns

Arun Patil

Conventional wisdom holds that you must never show off in a group when a woman is present. If she is a newcomer, you need to be doubly careful. For nobody can say when another ‘alpha male’ would rise and suddenly challenge your bragging rights – just to impress the female!
This was precisely what happened this morning when Arun Patil and Shekhawat, in a surprising display of machismo, got into competitive chest-thumping in the presence of a new lady who had joined us for the exercises.

Bijoy Gupta blames Shekhawat (in green) for offending Arun 

It was totally unnecessary. But both are hot-headed primates eager to prove who is the boss of the group.
The rest of us were reduced to mute spectators while Arun pulled up Shekhawat for his playful antics (nothing new), waywardness (nothing new) and frisky behavior (again, nothing new) while

EID MUBARAK!
Yusuf Rassiwala

the exercises were on. Not one to pay heed, Shekhawat did the unexpected today by standing up to Arun and insisting that he would do as he pleases. ‘You are no one to stop me,’ he growled. ‘And you better stop your tokam-toki.’
This amounted to showing a red rag to the bull. Arun raised himself to his full height and the inevitable followed – Arun asserting that his writ shall prevail in the Club and Shekhawat defying him point blank, Arun threatening to leave the Club if Shekhawat persisted… and even walking out of the exercises and funnily, Shekhawat running after him and calling him back.
It was a hilarious tamasha. All this while, the lady in question watched with amusement the two seemingly mature and elderly men locking horns and trying in vain to assert their non-existent authority. Eventually, she was the first to walk out of the exercises, midway, smiling to herself.
Only thereafter, did sanity return.

Bihari Milwani:
I am sure these two stalwarts were playing games in order to bring a smile on the new member and justify their being members of BIG LAAF.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Both Arun and Shekhwat are old hands, well aware of the etiquette to be observed. But they should be polite, especially when a new face is present. If we indulge in antagonizing one another, it gives a bad impression. Please exercise restraint and do keep laughing. All said and done, laughter is still the best medicine.