Missing from Action

Holding fort: The show must go on

Today we found ourselves counting the days left in the holy month of Ramzaan and for normalcy to return to the Garden. Right now, we are making do with an average of 10 members – less than 50 per cent of our usual complement for the exercises every morning.
However, two factors have escaped our attention. One, monsoon is bound to strike within the next fortnight and it is unlikely that attendance will improve significantly once it rains cats and dogs.

Naseer Putani Shah

In fact, we could even lose out on many who are turning up these days.
The other issue is the ageing and health concerns of current absentees. For instance, Nahid Khan used to be unfailing in her attendance every day of Ramzaan, even while she observed roza. This year she says that her “health does not permit” keeping to the routine. She comes to the Garden, but does not exercise.
Then there are many like Yusuf Rassiwala, Banoo Apa, Fahmida Khan and Naheed Siddiqui who, we are told, are not observing roza and yet, have chosen to stay away from the Garden. Quite clearly, they are not taking chances exerting themselves in the hostile weather conditions. Only Naseer Putani Shah has been a regular every day come hell or high water.
That said, mystery continues to shroud the absence of those who have nothing to do with roza or Ramzaan. Karun Sharma, Karuna Waghmare, Geeta Latte and a few others have simply stopped coming to the Garden. Nobody seems to know their whereabouts. Nor have they cared to inform.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Physical fitness also depends upon mental fitness. If one has the mental fitness to say he is fit, he will certainly feel agile and be happy to walk to the Garden and enjoy the morning. Age certainly has its toll but mental fitness is paramount. You laugh and everyone laughs with you. So keep coming and enjoy laughing.