Return of ‘Renegades’

Monthi (ext right) spends time with Geeta and Harbans Kaur 

Harbans Kaur and Geeta Sardana have returned to our fold. For the whole of last week, they were seen taking part in a Free Yoga Camp that had sprung up close to where we exercise, thereby attracting impolite comments like “turncoats”, “renegades”, “defectors”... from all and sundry in the Club.
Now that the camp is over, they tried to explain, but nobody was listening. “I agree we should have informed the Club before going there,” conceded Harbans Kaur. “It was a mistake our part.”
“What benefit did you get from all that yoga?” chided Sunita Jajodia, clearly the most possessive of their friends.
“Oh, there are so many benefits you wouldn't know,” Geeta informed.
“Big deal!” exclaimed Shekhawat. “All those exercises you had been doing, I was watching. How different were they from what we do here?”

Shekhawat is gung-ho on the Lonavala picnic

Razia Khan pointed out in all innocence that there was no difference, but for the yoga mats which allowed for the same exercises being executed lying down or in a sitting posture. “Ours has to be more effective because we exercise on our feet,” added Nahid Khan. “Otherwise the exercises are same to same.”
Monthi Serrao was the only one to be completely forgiving. In fact, she looked genuinely delighted on having Geeta and Harbans Kaur back and long after our exercises were over, she spent time with them on a bench under the flowering tree. All of last week, she was heard repeatedly insisting that Harbans Kaur and Geeta should not be deprived of the daily treats and she used to even wait for them to wind up from their yoga session to share a bite. Nobody else cared.
Amid this ‘re-union’, Shekhawat announced that he had firmed up on a particularly large and spacious guesthouse in Lonavala (see post of June 7) and the trip is being scheduled for the next week-end – either June 20 or June 21. “The idea is to spend one night there and enjoy the monsoon,” he declared. “All those interested, please give in your names. Bookings start tomorrow.”