Killer Round?

Siba Prasad Maitra

Razia Khan

Remember that 1998 rap number, Breathless? It runs on and on like an unending torrent, without a single break in line, verse, stanza or even pause for breath. Now, transpose that into a physical workout and what do you get? Something equivalent to a runaway train – an absolutely mindless rapid-fire series of seemingly endless exercises without a single break or pause in between. You are left breathless.
“You feel at least 10 years younger,” chorused Razia Khan and Jagmohan Papneja at the end of the second laughter round today. Unlike the relaxed, unhurried pace we have been used to, it was decided this morning to accelerate the last five exercises and 108 claps at the end. “You will all die,” warned Mallika Kagzi refusing to be part of the madness. Khatoon Baig also demurred. But once we stepped on the gas, they too joined the frenzy and the exercises that normally take 12 minutes (by the clock) were wrapped up in three minutes flat.
“Tomorrow, we will do it even faster,” said Razia excitedly. “You feel so refreshed!”
But Siba Prasad Maitra sounded a note of caution: “Let us not subject everybody to extra strain. We come here to exercise in a relaxed manner and also have some fun. Some people may not be able to take it on a regular basis.

Santosh Tyagi says her goodbyes before leaving for Delhi

Once in a while is okay…” He also suggested reserving a day in the week, maybe Wednesdays, for this killer round.
It was not the first time we had conducted this experiment. Twice earlier we tried it out – the last time being yesterday when Sitaram Hivarkar became so charged that he even conducted the prayers in full clip. But more than that, what became evident was that not only were we saving time, any possibility of idle chatter or distraction was eliminated. Every single person in the circle was completely focused on exercising and those who could not keep pace, were still doing their best anyway. Most importantly, it was fun.
Srichand Arora demonstrated how rejuvenated he felt by prancing about like a jack in the box and leaping up to score high fives. Watching him, others developed springs on their feet till some like Ved Prakash Grover and Bijoy Gupta were left looking wild eyed, not knowing from which direction the next ‘prancing monkey’ would leap upon them and say, “Jai Sri Krishna!” Pity no photograph could be taken. It happened so fast.
Siba Prasad Maitra:
I also enjoyed the fast, faster and fastest way of doing the exercise. In fact, today we could complete the session by 7:40 a.m. But I observed some of our senior members were finding it difficult to keep pace with the speed and they were not taking part in it. Now it is left with the instructor of the day to decide how to go.
Bihari Milwani from Los Angeles:
Great to know that the BIG LAAF BULLET TRAIN (BLBT) has made a start. Wishia great success.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The josh and spirit with which grown-ups (NOT 'oldies') are conducting themselves in the morning is commendable. It only shows that the exercises have kept them fit as a fiddle. Keep it up.