26/11

Today was the third anniversary of the terror attack on Mumbai. What better occasion could there be for making a special appeal to the Almighty to help channelise our energies into positivity? Our “guest sardar” (below) delivered this ardaas on what we were to realize, was his last day at the Garden.
Tomorrow, Tohba Singh would be back home in Faridabad. But as he was to say, he would continue to pray for us and start a Laughter Club like ours there. He was here briefly, to be with his son and had literally “strayed” into our group in the course of his morning visits to the Garden. And what a change this has brought about in him over the month he has been exercising with us! He used to be so feeble and frail, barely able to move his limbs. Quietly, he would sit on a faraway bench observing us and occasionally, clap on his own.
Then one day, he invited himself into our circle. We soon realized that he was a man of few words, but enjoyed our company and did not mind being corrected by Srichand Arora and Nahid Khan whenever he went wrong on executing an exercise. For his age and physique, he displayed remarkable flexibility and an eagerness to learn such that over time, he could pull off some of the most complex numbers with effortless ease. Most importantly, he did not miss a single day of the exercises. His appearance also changed. From white kurta-pajama and orange patka, he turned out in smart track pants, tees and turbans of varied hues.
We do not know Tohba Singh well. We might never see him again. But we are glad to see off a man, completely recharged and rejuvenated.