‘Where Is Others?’

A sudden cloudburst minutes before the exercises brought the attendance down to barely 13 today. Only four ladies turned up – Santosh Tyagi, Nahid Khan, Renu Babani and Bhaswati Bose. All other regulars, including Monthi Serrao, Harbans Singh, Sushma Gupta and Kiran Sajjan were conspicuous by their absence. Among the men, Srichand Arora, Harish Wadhwa and Pratap Bhatt were not to be seen.
In situations such as this, flagging off the morning proceedings becomes a problem. Nahid can be relied upon to be present daily and ideally, taking charge of the free-hand exercises. It is the initial laughter exercises, though relatively easier to conduct, that usually gets neglected and in a sense, exposes the vulnerability of the Club.
Today Bose (in the absence of a better option) had to step into the circle and conduct the laughter round. The peculiar thing about this man is that he has no sense of time and tends to go on and on and on… with every number, till someone from the side interrupts and puts the brakes. Many feel that a better way to keep him in check is to start counting aloud and cut him short at an appropriate point. Yet, so infinitely talented is this man at messing things up that he could stop an exercise as abruptly as he had started it – thereby turning the session into a maddening start-stop stop-start routine.
Unfortunately, we have to suffer such people while the regulars play hooky. People got so fed up with Bose today that towards the end of the exercises, when he asked everyone to “press” (massage) their necks, the ladies, led by his wife Bhaswati (bottom pic) threatened to throttle him instead.
Shocked at the aggression, Nahid decided to name the ring-leader, 'Gaddaar Biwi'!
Harish Wadhwa:
* What Bhaswati-ji, you should have taken your act to its logical conclusion... Hee... Hee... (LOL). But this man who conducted the laughter session today is one of the most lovable, regular, big-hearted, time conscious and a wonderful human being! His erratic counting during exercises (as reported) does not have any significance. People just enjoy going with the flow. Who's bothered for perfect counts, more so when you are a part of the Badmaash Company?
* I got a great and refreshing morning sleep today and didn't feel like waking up to get wet in the rain showers outside. Cosy bed with nice kadak adrakh ki chai is heaven-like in such weather!