Show Sans Soul

Nahid Khan

Shekhawat

How one or two key absences can make all the difference to our morning session was something we realised today. We assembled in the Garden as usual, did the exercises military-like, there was even a sumptuous treat thrown in by Manisha Kolhe… in effect, the show had gone on as per routine. But it was a show without a soul.
Shekhawat was down with fever this morning. He spoke with difficulty on phone, saying he “felt weak and exhausted” and that the “change of weather” had done him in. However, he did not have a breathing problem and was hopeful that the fever would wear off. “I will be back at the Garden as soon as I am able to stand on my feet,” he assured.
Nahid Khan too explained her absence to being under the weather.

Manisha Kolhe distributes orangy barfi from Nagpur

But unlike Shekhawat, she managed to stir out of home and could reach the Garden, though after the exercises. “The season change has caused all the gad-bad,” she complained. “Apart from severe cough and cold, I’m carrying a splitting headache. The fever has subsided and so I’ve come out for fresh air.”
Nahid Khan’s place in conducting the exercise was taken by Razia Khan. For that matter, Kiran Prakash had to conduct the Chinese round in place of Geeta Latte (who is down with a bout of migraine). But Shekhawat had no substitute and even his 'rail engine' had to be driven, more as an afterthought, by Mumtaz Jahan.
All those who have taken Shekhawat’s jack-in-the-box antics for granted felt suddenly betrayed today, almost like having wasted a morning. “No fun coming today,” quipped Mohar Singh while old bête noir Bijoy Gupta went around requesting someone call Shekhawat quickly at home. “Can’t say about him, he’s just come out of a major operation,” he reasoned. Mallika Kagzi, Banoo Apa, Zarina Khan and other ladies similarly voiced their concern. Sometimes, absence can look bigger than presence.
Bihari Milwani:
* I trust Kiran-ji obeyed the advise of Anonymous and the warning of Swati (confirming the advise of Anonymous) and had put on the helmet (bearing the ISI mark). Kiran-ji’s photo is missing in the blog today.
* Kiran Prakash ki bheegi bheegi si palkon pe rah gaye Blog Monster ne kal mujhe Anamika bana diya!