Beat the Heat

Morning Slog

The weather bureau had forecast a ‘bright and sunny’ day. So a dark and cloudy morning came as no surprise. But our joy was shortlived. All hopes of a cool shower evaporated mid-morning when the sun came out of the clouds with a vengeance and in all its blazing fury. Worse, humidity levels reached such oppressive heights that we were left literally pooped and dripping in sweat.

Geeta Sardhana

“I can’t take it any more,” said Sandhya Narang, echoing the desperation of many ladies, who for once, contemplated abandoning the exercises and returning home. Sitaram Hivarkar confessed he was determined to be punctual today for the exercises, but ran out of breath half-way from home because of the heat. “I started feeling faint,” he narrated. “For the first time in my life, I took an autorickshaw to the Garden.”
But the general discomfort had also become a cause for wicked humour all around. Arun Patil made light of everyone perspiring profusely and insisted that we were actually enjoying a natural sauna bath. “There's no need to take a shower when you go home,” added Ved Prakash Grover helpfully. “You have already had a natural bath in the Garden!"

Surati nankhatais from Mallika Kagzi

Razia Khan was however, far from amused. “From tomorrow we should bring a fresh change of clothes from home,” she suggested. “Once we get wet after exercising, we would all change into dry clothes…” “Don’t be silly,” interrupted Harbans Kaur, obviously having bizarre visions of members changing en masse in the open Garden. “Let there be a little breeze and your clothes will dry automatically and give you a cool air conditioned feeling.” Needless to mention, there was no breeze.
One person who could get away from all this was Geeta Sardhana. She has packed her bags for a religious tour of Kerala, where the monsoon has already struck. But there was Mallika Kagzi who had brought us a box of Surati nankhatai, probably in the hope it would provide some relief. But our throats were already parched and the dry biscuits only made matters worse. If anything, this should serve as a reminder to carry bottles of drinking water to the Garden from tomorrow.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The humid weather nowadays saps us of our physical strength and fatigue sets in more quickly than under normal conditions. To avoid uneasiness, drink plenty of water and beat the heat.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Papneja-ji, no one should be complaining of fatigue. Each day you are all feasting on goodies for one reason or the other and getting that extra dose of energy.
* Yes, it is very hot. And yesterday was the third hottest day in May in the last decade.
* Even our folks at home are not treated so well as the Garden friends. The nankhatais are looking (and must also be tasting) yummy.