Two-tier Exercises

ANDAR BAHAR: Exercising in and out of China Hut

Usually, when rain interrupts our exercises, we would instantly gather our umbrellas and make a beeline for the China Hut. Thereafter, we would continue from where we left. This has been our usual practice – our Standard Operating Procedure, so to say.
But what happens when the rain comes and goes? Or threatens to descend, but does not?
This morning, we were caught in such a situation and for once, split into what became a two-tier exercise group. One set (mainly women), dead scared of the rains, insisted on completing the exercises inside the China Hut.

Siba Prasad Maitra

The other set (men mostly) gathered outside, defying the elements – if only to display an exaggerated sense of bravado.
Fact is, exercising

Birthday girl NASEEM KHAN serenaded by Shekhawat and Gupta

in the confines of the China Hut is never comfortable. But in the monsoon, we do not have a choice. We would perforce squeeze into the restricted space, trip over assorted creepies and crawlies on the floor, inadvertently bump and hit one another, inhale foul breath and body odour… Getting out of this hot, dank and stinky situation is always liberating.
One consolation today was that there was a birthday celebration after the exercises. Like Banoo Apa yesterday, Naseem Khan had a small treat for us – a precursor to the mega birthday bash to be hosted by all July-borns jointly (see yesterday’s post) in a restaurant. The highlight of today’s celebration though was Bijoy Gupta and Shekhawat jointly serenading Naseem with a cheesy film number till she turned beetroot red, blushing like a school girl.
Meanwhile, news comes in of Siba Prasad Maitra having hurt himself badly after an idiotic autorickshaw ran over his foot yesterday. He was rushed to Kokilaben Hospital and administered first aid. His X-ray report reveals a fracture on the foot, which Maitra insists on dismissing as a “minor” issue. He has been advised rest for three weeks but he is determined to be up and moving in a week. That’s the spirit!
Still, let us hope and pray he takes good care of himself and recovers soon.

Geeta Latte:
Happy Birthday 🎂🍬🍭🍮 Naseem Aunty 🎂💐🎂

Anonymous:
Bade dukh kii baat hai kii hamare rashtrapati (president of Big Laaf club) zakhmi ho gaye hain.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Happy Birthday, Naseem Khan. Wish you a happy long life. And dear Maitra-ji, please take care of your health. At this age it does not pay to display bravado.