Devil’s Workshop

Relaxed morning... with low attendance

An idle mind, they say, is a devil’s workshop. And many idle minds make a devil’s factory. So we should be perfectly justified in randomly celebrating birthdays, organising picnics, holding Pehchaan Kaun contests, rehearsing for some cultural evening and so on, if this should keep the devil at bay.
But today was a dull day as not many had turned up for the exercises. The devil predictably came into play, this time at framing new rules for the Club. Siba Prasad Maitra had forgotten to wear his cap to the Garden and promptly Srichand Arora pounced upon him, eager to extract a penalty. Shekhawat merrily clapped “Gandi Baat, Gandi Baat” to shame Maitra. But that was obviously not good enough for Arora, now that everyone had been given a new cap. He needed to make an example of Maitra and gave him the option: “For not wearing the cap, you have to either pay for a new cap (Rs100) or buy everybody tea (for Rs200-odd).” Peculiarly, Maitra opted for the latter.
The devil did not rest there. For minutes later the so-called 'cap rule' was brought to question.

Shekhawat and Maitra take a dig at each other

Banoo Apa, Khatoon Baig and Monthi Serrao (among others) began to complain of the sweltering heat and demanded fans be installed in the Garden for the exercises. During the discussions that followed, a solution was found in the form of giving everyone a battery-operated fan to be strapped individually on the head while exercising. We might effectively look like human helicopters but that was found more acceptable than having to wear caps. “Cap cancelled!” Banoo Apa decreed.
That was not all. Shekhawat pushed for yet another new rule when he realised that almost every second person in the group suffered from some ailment – backache, knee trouble, diabetes, arthritis… “What nonsense is this?” he exclaimed. “In future, we should have a fitness test before making anybody member.” “Yes, make him run five rounds of the Garden,” advised Arora. “If he cannot run, let loose a dog behind him.”
Now imagine someone, in all innocence wanting to join the Club and you subject him to five grueling laps round the Garden with a ferocious, mad dog snapping at his heels! If this is not the devil at work, what is?
Bihari Milwani:
If you are feeling hot, wear shorts. But do not miss the top (cap).
Harish Wadhwa:
Well, we should get some caps made with built-in fans. Good idea, isn't it? All what is happening is no madness but a heart-to-heart talk. After all the suggestion of making anyone run, by a chasing dog, has to come from somewhere deep within -- the devilish thought of making anyone run.