Gone Underground!

"When will the rain stop?"

It did not even rain properly in the morning. Just a steady pitter-patter and puddles forming here and there. Yet, the entire Club had virtually gone underground. Only Bijoy Gupta turned up to give his good friend, Shekhawat company in the China Hut.
Before long, the exercises had to be called off. Effectively, history was made today as this was the first time in 15 years that the exercises were suspended for want of participants. “It would be odd if only we were to be seen exercising,” reasoned Shekhawat.
And so, for a change, we spent a whole morning twiddling our thumbs and marveling at the lush green landscape ahead, the massing of dark clouds overhead, the relentless drubbing of rain, an occasional gust of cool breeze…
“This is not the

Banoo Apa (file photo)

weather to exercise,” Gupta declared. “This is just the weather to stuff our bellies with hot-hot pakoras and bhajiyas. And if we could also have a swig of daaru to wash them down, aahaa... what more can you ask for in life!”
Shekhawat fished out a tiny plastic bottle of transparent liquid from his bag and handed it over. Gupta took a quick gulp and spat out instantly. “I just filled this bottle from the toilet,” confirmed Shekhawat. “What else do you expect to get from there?”
Gupta fell silent after that. Shekhawat tried to make small talk, but did not get any response. Only before leaving, Gupta muttered to himself: “These TV wallahs ought to be shot dead. They have spread panic everywhere – that there will be floods, everything will come to a halt, that full Bombay will drown. Out of fear nobody has come to the Garden today.”
Meanwhile, Banoo Apa informs us of her mother taking ill and being hospitalized. She is at present in ICU. Seems like age-related issues – diabetes, high BP, weak heart. Let us together pray for her quick recovery and good health.

Lt Col A|ngad Singh (rtd):
It is really surprising that for the first time in the annals of the Club we did not have even a minimum number to-do exercises. Why are we so afraid of the weather!