They Also Serve

Ramzan is over. Eid came and went. And yet, the believers who were expected to rejoin the Club this morning, did not show up. Only Nahid Khan, Khatoon Baig and Yusuf Rassiwala were there. But then, they’ve been coming in any case all these days.
Khatoon (left) deserves special mention. She is one of those low-profile members who appears extra-serious about her exercises and rarely takes a day off. Even during the Ramzan fasts, she had been attending regularly. It seems she had taken ill midway through the holy month and could not continue with her roza. But she has been religiously keeping her appointment with the Club all through.
It is from members like Khatoon that the Club derives its character. There are very few of them – the silent, dedicated sorts who go through their morning routine, workman-like without drawing attention unto themselves. Consequently, we tend to either overlook them, or else take their presence for granted.
Ved Prakash Grover (right) is one such. A relatively recent entrant, he has followed his son to Mumbai after his superannuation from the Central Government and found his way into the Club. You neither hear him nor hear of him, but you know he’s around. Even during the peak monsoon he had been coming (15 minutes before time) doing his rounds of the Garden, before joining in the ‘Ram Ram Bol’ chant. A stickler for energy conservation, you cannot have the fans and lights on for no purpose in his presence. He will promptly switch them off!
Kiran Sajjan (left) is another. Discreet and inconspicuous – to the point of being self-effacing – she comes driving in her car, does her exercises and drives away. The only reason we notice her is that she turns up invariably late. But attend she does and participates in all the activities of the Club, including picnics with her hyper-exuberant husband.
Others who may not be regular, but mean a lot to us include members like Kiran Arora, Sandhya Narang, Ram Shankar Shukla, the Garg couple and Sushma Gupta. Many of them have been with the Club since its inception and it is when they stop coming that their presence is missed. For, in many ways, they also serve.

Renu Babani says:
Every individual is important in their own way and definitely missed when not around. Yes, everyone was expected to return this morning, but hopefully we shall see them tomorrow. The question that arose was how many members will be present for the party on the 15th. Prompt came the reply that Shekwat will start his networking right away, and lo and behold, the members will definitely make their presence felt. So I am certain the party will be a success and fun too.
--Renu