One-minute Rain

Siba Prasad Maitra (r) holds forth on the importance of Vitamin D

After weeks of speculating over the arrival of monsoon and relief from the oppressive heat and humidity, we were today rewarded with rainfall lasting a minute. We promptly suspended our exercises and rushed for shelter under a tree. But before even a single umbrella could be opened, it was all over!
So much for monsoon striking Mumbai.
Now we are told by the met guys that it will not rain before Thursday/ Friday. While this is in conformity with Bihari Milwani’s prediction (see his comments yesterday), Arun Patil is not so hopeful. “The ants have not come out yet,” he pronounced. “Only when you see rows of black ants everywhere can you be sure that monsoon is round the corner.”
Arun’s know-it-all posturing extended to medical science when issues of osteoporosis

Karuna Waghmare

and calcium deficiency in old age came up. While Siba Prasad Maitra stressed hard on the need for Vitamin D and explained why calcium has to be taken with a certain percentage of potassium, Arun dismissed it all: “Aisa kuchh nahin... All

Lion-Lioness Laughter: Shekhawat and Gupta

you need to take is seasonal fruits and plenty of vegetables.”
A startled Maitra was left with no words, but to remark: “Arun, you know so much, we should institute a special degree for you, like Doctorate of Everything or something like that!” It was said in lighter vein and fortunately, Arun took it as a compliment: “I am merely conveying what our mothers and grandmothers have been prescribing.”
Karuna Waghmare added her own brand of humour by abruptly derailing the conversation: “I saw Arbaaz Khan at the passport office. He wants a visa to go abroad with money made from satta…” Karuna was showing up after a month and plans to visit Canada shortly.
Earlier in the morning, Bijoy Gupta dealt a masterstroke on Shekhawat during the Lion-Lioness Laughter round. Meant to just clear the throat, this exercise has now become a grand show of raw machismo and beastly aggression between the two, one trying to out-growl the other. Gupta had conceded defeat recently and labeled Shekhawat as the “Lion without a Tail”. Today also he ran out of breath and seeing Shekhawat still growling non-stop at him, he snapped, “Chup!”
Obediently Shekhawat shut up and withdrew quietly!

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
You see the effect of one minute of rainfall. Everyone is full of gusto and you can hear so many remarks. Prior to rain, everyone was miserable and did not like to talk. Now everyone had found a lot of energy for the exercises and also talk. Hurrah, welcome to the rains!

Bihari Milwani:
Laughter is the best medicine for all ailments. So make BIG LAAF into BIGGER LAAF or BIGGEST LAAF. Come in time for the exercises and be there till the end. Be assured that there will be no deficiency of any vitamin -- from A1 to Z99!!!