Queer Quirks

Yusuf Rassiwala has a beautiful simile to describe how inseparable Razia Khan and Nafisa Syed are. He calls them “Doh hanson ki jodi”, thereby suggesting that when one comes to the Garden, the other would automatically follow. As long as both ladies stayed in the same apartment complex, it was usually Razia who led and Nafisa who followed. As a result, both showed up quite regularly every morning. Now that Nafisa has shifted to another neighborhood, both are irregular in their attendance. Their jodi is broken.
This is just one of the many quirks members betray about themselves in the course of our daily morning encounters. Yusuf-bhai (below, left) himself cannot do without interrupting the flow of exercises and greeting people around him at the oddest of moments. His favourite is “Jai Ho Pandurang Baba”, which only Kishor Babani (below, right) can reciprocate in true spirit: “Jai Ho Kaley Topiwale Pandurang Baba!” Otherwise, Yusuf-bhai is very methodical and regarded a perfectionist at conducting the exercises.
Then there is Bose who must perforce light a cigarette and have a cup of tea the moment he steps out of the gate. Nahid Khan cannot do without the music playing in her earplugs the moment she steps into the Garden. Renu Babani is always punctual, but joins the exercises only after the laughter round is over. Till then, like Mrs Harbans Singh and a few other ladies, she must continue walking round and round… and round the Garden.
And what can be said about Shekhawat-ji? He is the one who needs to perform the Ho Ho-Ha Ha dance with Bapu Rane after the exercises. He is the one who has to “empty his cartridges” during the Slow and Fast laughter round. He is also the one to “sound the siren” or let out a “Eeeee… haw haw haw” shout the moment he catches sight of a member entering the gate. There can be no rational explanation for such behaviour. But like all other quirks and kinks, it is all in good fun.
The latest is the practice adopted by Bose, Kishor-bhai and Shekhawat-ji, whereby they must necessarily stand side by side (in that order) during the exercises. They constitute a trinity of sorts and the space between them is sacred and inviolable. Anybody trying to edge in between, is promptly but discreetly evicted – the reason being, both Bose and Shekhawat have to be closest to the music playing in Kishor-bhai’s pocket.
Where else would you find such madcaps ganging up religiously every morning?
Harish Wadhwa says:
Leg-pulling between the exercises, subtle remarks, non-offensive satire, Santa-Banta jokes and the Masters' comments exchanged so spontaneously make the Big Laaf club interesting. Keep it up and going.
--Harish
Renu Babani says:
I have always said, each one of us is unique in our own special way and that is the reason we make a special group. Where would you find such wonderful people who turn up every morning, just to be in each other's company even for that one hour and forget about everything else? So many new faces may come and go, but the regulars stick by their routine and when they are not to be seen for a few days, they are missed. Here, age is no bar and every individual has the freedom to voice his or her opinion, regardless of being heard or not. The main thing in the group is respect for each other and also no one ever invades the other's privacy. We meet at the Garden daily and whatever is discussed is left at the Garden, amongst ourselves and we go home, continue with our routine as if nothing happened. We are so lucky and should be grateful to have one another. So let's keep it going guys!
--Renu