Damaged Piece

We had a new ‘damage piece’ today. Bhaswati Bose (left pic) joins the ranks of the distressed multitudes thronging the Health Care Centre opened in the Garden last month. She has been suffering from severe back pain caused by wear-and-tear of the lumbar region. The therapist at the Centre put the fear of God in her and advised her not to exercise at all (preferably, not even walk) and instead, start on an elaborate ten-day physiotherapy course – failing which her legs would soon be affected and she’d end up being a cripple. Terrified, she went through the first session last evening and to the credit of the therapist, came out hugely relieved.
Most members however, refused to believe her and argued that it was all a rip-off when the problem could as well be cured free-of-cost at Millat Nagar, Mahim, Malad, Marol… coincidentally, all places starting with ‘M’. Ram Shankar Shukla suggested not going anywhere but to sleep it off on a hard surface at home. "Don't use a pillow," interjected Sitaram Hivarkar. “Imagine you are sleeping on a footpath,” added Arun Patil and went on to explain some yogic postures. “Get a cold gel pack from any medical store and you’d be cured,” advised a lady. As it usually happens, there were as many pieces of advice as there were people, each trying to be helpful, but only adding to the overall confusion. And that’s a very nice thing about our Club.
Meanwhile, Shekhawat threw a monkey in the works by posing a riddle (right pic): What are the two things that once you let out, cannot be called back? “Socho, Socho!” he urged everyone. Arora cut him short, saying we must not utter “bad words” in the morning. But Shekhawat was insistent and had got us all guessing… till one by one, we gave up. Sunita Jajodia had the last word though, when she declared “Bhaad mein gaya!” and stomped off without waiting for an answer to life's big riddle.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "I'm fine. Can't you see me smiling?"
* "As usual, we shall have some fun and laughs."