Situation Comedy

Like many fun-loving people, our members can boast of a natural sense of humour. They can match the very best stand-ups with fresh, breezy jokes, witty one-liners, sharp repartees and generally, a penchant for playing the fool. But when it comes to situation comedy, there are few who can rival us. People need to learn from the likes of Srichand Arora, Geeta Sardhana, Kishor Babani and Nafisa Syed how to raise a laugh out of a commonplace situation every morning – with a similar set of characters sharing the same space and environment… except that there is no camera rolling, no studio audience and certainly, no scripts. The fun never ends.
Thus, when Kishor addresses Yusuf Rassiwala as “Jai Ho Orange Topiwale Pandurang Baba”, it is always funny. He’d have said this several times before, but it is the moment he chooses that makes the greeting so special every time. Likewise anybody can imitate anybody, but when Nafisa decides to mimic somebody, it is always hill-lorious. Or say Razia Khan today: Fed up with the constant chatter around her while conducting the exercises, she just threw up her hands at the talkative ladies and wailed: “This is not too much, three much, four much… this is magar-much!” Or Geeta wondering aloud whether Hari Singh Shekhawat could now be doing the Slow-and-Fast laughter round with the chudail (witch) in his village every morning...
No matter what others might think, moments like these make our day!
Bhaswati Bose:
Don't be surprised if somebody makes a TV serial on our Laughing Club. Maybe, even a film! It will be a super hit.

“Jingle Bell”

Jingle Bell jingled today. The exercises and prayers had just about got over when, much to everybody’s surprise, he launched off on a wordy spiel about self realization, service to fellow beings and spiritual fulfillment. Quoting from the Guru Granth Sahib, he enjoined us to enshrine the Lord’s name in our heart. A much-absorbed Srichand Arora and Ved Prakash Grover (in pic) hailed the Lord, “Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa…” at the end of the sermon.
The name, “Jingle Bell” was given by Nafisa Syed to this wizened, old Sikh who has been visiting us at the Garden for the past fortnight. Dressed in white pajama-kurta with beard left open, he used to sit quietly at a distance on a bench, observing us as we exercised. At times he would chuckle to himself at our jokes, looking every bit a bemused Santa Claus.
Then one day, his appearance changed. He turned up in grey track suit, his beard knotted under his chin and with an orange patka on his head. Grover surmised that he must be the “sardar’s brother”. Only when he joined us in the circle to exercise, did we recognize him to be the same old man. Since that day, he has been showing up in different attire, regularly taking part in the exercises, but largely keeping to himself.
This morning he broke his silence. His sermon comes a couple of days ahead of Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 10). Who knows, there could be a deeper significance to all this... Seriously, why should a holy man want to have anything to do with us?
Renu Babani:
Obviously because we have a magnetic pull on people. Our carefree, happy-go-lucky attitude has a positive effect on everyone. Aren't we lucky to have one another and be able to make others laugh? What an amazing group!

Baqrid Greetings

Early morning, Pratap Bhatt was spotted running at breakneck speed across the bridge overlooking the Garden. Within minutes he appeared at the Gate and straightaway joined us for the exercises, panting heavily. Nobody was chasing him. Later, he was to narrate how a devout Muslim family in his building had, over the past month or so, fattened a goat for sacrifice on Eid-Al-Adha today. Last night, a prankster in the next-door apartment cut its tether and the goat ran for its life at breakneck speed, straight out of the building compound -- not to be sighted again.
Well, Eid Mubarak everybody!
The Garden wore a deserted look because of the festival. Many of the regulars had stayed away because of their early morning namaaz. From six members to eight, to nine… and with Bhatt joining in, we eventually reached a double figure count during the exercises. Razia Khan (right) is having an Eid get-together at her place this evening and has graciously invited everybody for dinner. Owing to the low turnout this morning, it is not clear how many will actually attend. Those who cannot, may please inform Razia on phone (26329662/ 9819090296) – just out of courtesy.
Meanwhile, we have another invite pending – to visit a gaushala (cow shelter) somewhere beyond Kalyan. Those eager to spend time away from home and be with the cows for free chai-nashta, may kindly pay Rs200 to Jagmohan in the Garden at the earliest. He will take care of the transport... and the rest!
Harish Wadhwa:
Eid Mubarak to all my 'brotheren' and 'sisteren'!

Day 465

Pic of the Week

Wah! What superb coordination!! Perfect synchronization of movement!!!

Renu Babani:
* "I shall show you how the exercise is done. No one can compete or do it better than me!"
* "We need some cool breeze so desparately that we are willing to move in any direction for a breath of fresh air!"

Harish Wadhwa:
Sequence the ladies in ascending order of the breathing exercise. Treat Razia-ji as No.1 and Nahid Khan-ji as No.6, going clockwise. The correct answer would be 1, 3, 2, 5, 4 and 6. Wah!

Childhood Reclaimed

If a consensus were to be taken on the most errant, talkative and distracting member of our Club, the choice would inevitably fall between Bhaswati Bose, Kajal Babani and Geeta Sardhana. Together they are known to make dhamaal during the exercises. The men are relatively restrained and peaceful. No matter how hard they might try, all of them put together can never match these three noisy petrels of the fairer sex.
Razia Khan has often tried to separate them and put an end to their non-stop jabber – to the extent of threatening to make the most talkative one stand in the middle. Of course, there are a few indulgent souls who feel that it is not fair to pick on the three because the Club gives them the only opportunity and license to relive their childhood. Besides, others are also ‘guilty’ of taking liberties in various degrees. In fact, many would concede that even in their childhood, they had not played the fool as much as they do these days at the Garden.
Thus it came as no surprise today that Nahid Khan should refuse to share space with Razia in the middle because “two swords cannot occupy the same sheath”. And that Srichand Arora would argue that there can always be “two plaits while braiding the hair” and Razia agreeing, just as there are two eyes and two ears to a face, but one nose, one mouth and one heart... “But it takes two hearts to be in love,” countered Arora.
Surely the most scatterbrained among kids would know better than be drawn into such senseless banter. But we like it this way. It is great fun!
Renu Babani:
Honestly, the main culprit who feels that without talking there is no fun is our dear Bathuni Mrs Bose (left). She can have an entire conversation till the completion of the whole exercise and still have more to say. Her sidekicks are invariably Geeta (below), Monthi and whoever is beside her. Yes, it is all in fun despite constant criticism and gentle chiding. No one bothers to abide by the words, "Quiet, please!" because it doesn't exist in our dictionary. We have our fun and at least, return home light-hearted and happy, not forgeting the silly grins on our faces for no reason!
Bhaswati Bose:
"Kuch toh log kahenge,
Logon ka kaam hai kehna..."
Dilip Babani:
Don't blame my sweet and innocent wife, Kajal (left). In Bhaswati's company, she gets spoiled. But there should be some entertaining people also. Otherwise life would become dull. Kajal is hazir-jawaab. When Bhaswati, Kajal and Renu-bhabi want to talk and do some masti, they should do it and make themselves happy. Nobody should object to it.
Bhaswati Bose:
"Jinke ghar sheeshey ke bane ho, Woh doosron ke gharo pe patthar nahi martey!"
Kajal Babani: Depends upon the size of the patthar!