Big Relief

Location shift: Exercises in the shade of a huge tree

The summertime measures announced yesterday (see post) were unanimously appreciated this morning. By common consensus we curtailed the two laughter rounds to one and in effect, wrapped up the exercises 10 minutes ahead of time. More importantly, there was none of the usual tiredness and haggard look in anybody’s face when it was all over.
“This is the most sensible decision taken by the Club,” said a visibly upbeat Bijoy Gupta. “I did not come yesterday as I was afraid of passing out in the horrible heat. Exercising for a full hour in this weather is extremely strenuous and exhausting for people our age. Youngsters are told that 40 to 50 minutes per day is enough. By that standard, we are doing fine now.”
Zarina Khan, Nahid Siddiqui and others who were also not present yesterday were just as relieved with the easing of norms to beat the summer heat. For their benefit, Shekhawat repeated the new rules put in force from today, only to evoke a witty remark from Nahid Siddiqui:

Bijoy Gupta is relieved by the relaxed rules

“Let’s hope this summer continues for the rest of the year!”
Another cause for relief was to relocate ourselves by a few paces under a massive tree so that we could exercise

Nahid Siddiqui

in its shade, rather than getting baked in the blazing sun. The only risk here is the possibility of being treated to generous droppings from the birds above. Bhaswati Bose today became the first recipient of the so-called “good luck” from an obliging crow overhead.
Meanwhile, we were told that after her distressful experience yesterday (see post), Khatoon Baig has been advised rest for two/ three days. As for the other absentees, here’s a quick round-up: Siba Prasad Maitra is in Calcutta giving his daughter in marriage today; Nasir Putani Shah has gone to his native village in Bihar; Karuna Waghmare is with her daughter in Powai; Nahid Khan’s son is getting married one of these days and she has to also attend to her elder bahu who is hospitalized at Cooper… The list goes on.
So much for those who have been needlessly fretting over a drop in the daily turnout.