Ambulance Service?

Rukhsana Khan

Kajal Babani

Shekhawat

Shekhawat was in deep distress. His surgery is scheduled exactly a week from today (ref post of September 1) and the pain on his chest had turned acute, almost unbearable. He tried to keep a straight face though, even joking and jumping around initially. But once he detached himself from the exercises, sitting glum and forlorn, we knew he was in agony. “The pain is excruciating,” he gasped, before leaving with Bihari Milwani to be dropped home.
But then Shekhawat was not the only one to be in misery today. Rukhsana Khan came in complaining of “feeling giddy” and also refrained from exercising. Before long, Kajal Babani turned up and similarly, withdrew from the exercises. She too complained of weakness and presumably, a drop in her blood sugar level.

Naheed Siddiqui

She joined Shekhawat in Milwani’s red car to be dropped home.
“At this rate we need to invest in an ambulance service,” remarked Arun Patil, half in jest. “Let the ambulance remain parked at the Garden

Brainstorming over Annual Function on December 8

gate for the time we exercise.”
The remark was uncalled for; but what cannot be overlooked about our members is the rising incidence of medical emergencies that comes with age and infirmity. Why, Naheed Siddiqui is currently down with a severe viral infection, accompanied by high fever and flu-like condition. On doctor’s instructions, she must remain bed-ridden for another ten days before she can stir out of home.
Much as this shall remain a critical area of concern for the Club, an attempt was made to bring some cheer by raising the subject of the Annual Function, scheduled on December 8. At an impromptu meeting inside the China Hut, Bijoy Gupta bounced off ideas on what the subject of his play ought to be this time. He is our in-house playwright, director, actor… all rolled into one. We can be assured that whatever he comes up with shall be an original – and uproariously funny at that.

Karun Sharma:
It is of concern that many members are falling sick. We should not go beyond our physical and emotional limits in order to guard against environmental infections. Let us keep Shekhawat-ji in good spirit so that he goes for the surgery as a strong person. Pray all friends are happy and healthy.

Bihari Milwani:
There is no need for an ambulance as we already have two doctors, popularly known as KP and SP -- Kiran Prakash and S.P. Maitra.

DAY 2664

Pic of the Week

'Smile please!'

Playing lagodi game --Bihari Milwani

"Shekhawat-ji, please remove your shoes before climbing the platform. Or sit at the steps." --Anonymous

Many beautiful moments captured in one picture 👌👌--Geeta Latte

Another Tiny Tot

Getting ready to usher in MANSI BANDIWDAKER'S birthday today

Close on the heels of Yusuf Rassiwala’s two lovely grand-children (ref post of August 31), another tiny tot graced our exercises today.

Mansi cuts her birthday cake

Geeta Latte gets the first bite

Geeta Latte brought her niece to the Garden this morning. It was not without reason. It was Mansi Bandiwdaker’s birthday.
“You should say Bandyu-daker,” the kid corrected us on her tongue twisting surname.
Mansi turned eight today. (Imagine, she was born on 8-9-'10!) And it was to give her a surprise that we had a Belgian chocolate cake ready, replete with candles and a knife for her to do the honors. This was after the exercises – after raising an extra ‘half laughter’ for her (after all, she goes around on a half-ticket!) and after singing and clapping to the birthday song.

Dolling up the birthday girl

Shekhawat and Fahmida present Mansi a small gift

Adding to the merriment was a peppy film number, “Hum bhi agar bachche hote, naam hamara hota…” from Bijoy Gupta, followed by Banoo Apa rendering that timeless favorite, “Tum jiyo hazaaron saal…” with everybody joining in chorus.
Shekhawat and Fahmida Khan presented Mansi with a little gift on behalf of the Club. But what turned out to be the most heartwarming moment of the morning was when the birthday girl gave Geeta the first bite of her cake and the aunt reciprocating in like manner.
There are two ways of viewing today’s celebration: one, it was a wonderful way to wrap up a weekend; and two, the presence of a kid in our midst always makes us feel younger. But more important is the fact, that by drawing in family members – especially grand-kids and nephews and nieces – we are strengthening our bonds within the Club.

Geeta Latte:
I am very grateful to my Big Laaf family members for making my niece's birthday most special till date and for blessing her so abundantly. Thank you everybody 🙏 Love you all 🤗🤗💖💖

Spoilsports

Within the safe confines of the China Hut

The China Hut has traditionally served as a safe refuge whenever rains catch us off-guard. Be it a sudden cloud burst or a protracted wet spell, we have always sought its sanctuary in order to keep the exercises going. Nobody likes it. But then, we have no choice.
Today, for the first time, we were forced into the China Hut by hordes of flying insects (ref post of August 29) playing spoilsport. In the past few days, their numbers have multiplied manifold, driving everybody crazy and literally chasing us out of our regular stomping ground.
Yesterday we had decided

Arun Patil

that should this menace continue, we will perforce have to retreat into the China Hut during the exercises. Every one of us was smarting with raw sores from insect bites. An eternally optimistic Yusuf Rassiwala comforted us with the assurance that the insects would automatically be blown away once there’s some breeze in the Garden. But we saw no such hope this morning.
So before the exercises were to start, we agreed to shift location and trooped into the China Hut. Arun Patil however, put his foot down. According to him, exercising in the confines of a closed space is grossly unhealthy, claustrophobic and counter-productive. “If you all still insist, I am going back home,” he threatened.
Much to our surprise, this is exactly what he did. Since nobody was willing to bear the onslaught of flying insects yet again, Arun found himself isolated. He kick-started his scooter and was gone.

Bihari Milwani:
Arun Patil went to meet the Leader of Mosquitoes and challenge him: "None of your Indian mosquitoes can do anything to BIG LAAF as we are all in the CHINA Hut".

One Size Fits All

Matching our movements with Nahid Khan

What difference does it make whether you hold your hands on your waist or on the hips while performing a neck exercise? Is there any harm to exhale from your nose instead of the mouth? Or vice-versa? How does it matter if you cannot synchronise your movements with others in the group?
The very fact you are trying your utmost to keep pace (without disrupting the exercises) is by itself a big deal.

Tara Chand is back from Delhi

But to Arun Patil that is not enough. With scant regard towards individual limitations, he has been insisting upon a standard (operating) procedure and those who do not fall in line are instantly ticked off. “You should exercise in the proper way,” he maintains.
The problem here is what is “proper” to Arun may not be so to many others. He has even been trying to link our exercises to certain asanas of yoga (never mind we exercise standing on our feet) not realizing that there are over 400 different versions of yoga and as many variations of the same exercise performed worldwide. And all of them are valid, and proper.
But then, why blame Arun Patil alone? Shekhawat has forever been after Bijoy Gupta’s life for not being able to sit on his haunches in a certain manner during the Kissa Kursi Ka round. He points at how some others sit, which, in his opinion, is the “proper” way. Gupta is fed up over this and now treats Shekhawat as a pathological case requiring urgent medical attention!
Not to be left behind, even Dilip Babani has started picking faults. The other day, he pulled up Arun, of all the people, for not rolling his shoulders properly. He was told that the “shoulders had become free from an arm dislocation” and nothing can be done about it.
The point is, there cannot be a standardized, one-size-fits-all regimen -- especially for seniors like us. At our age, we are constrained by multiple factors, including bodily decay. So what works for a younger person or perhaps, an athlete could become suicidal for us. There cannot be anything proper or improper about exercising so long as we listen to our bodies.

Bihari Milwani:
It makes no difference as long as you hold your hands on YOUR waist or on YOUR thighs, and not on someone else's.