LOUNGE
SESSIONS
( This piece is from SAM Club Day ’73. We found no takers for the
author’s name. We hope that he does come forward after reading this – Eds)
Formal occasions have always been sort of out-of-place in a place like
Gymkhana. We enjoy ourselves most when we are unrestrained and free to do as we
like. Lounge sessions, for one, tax our limits of endurance to the ultimate. They
have been reduced to a façade in which no one could be more bored than the
actors themselves.
The strain begins as the preparations get underway. A more than liberal
helping of deodarants is followed by a mental tussle to choose between a host
of Sunday-suits to match the occasion; preferably not too flashy because there
are always one or two out to have a crack at your expense. If ofcourse, one is
quick on the uptake this consideration can be safely overruled.
Suitably decked, we invariably make an early beeline to the Club rule,
for the ostensible purpose of awaiting the guests and the bell. Having paraded
once or twice around the Billiards table and exchanged a few banalties on the
way we are left with one of two choices. If we are still not satisfied that our
presence has been sufficiently felt we make for the stereo corner and start
tapping out the latest grooviest hits, matching beat for beat and word for
word. This, punctuated with loud commentary of play at the Billiards table is
bound to make any old conscientous bird sit up and take notice. A quick wink
here, a smile there and a superior nod somewhere else and we have driven our
point and presence home.
The other alternative is too simply deposit ourselves in a convenient,
upholstered chair and turn on that all-knowing brainy look which makes people
wilt under your steady gaze.
When the perennial bell finally clangs loud and clear announcing the
arrival of the guests, we file into the Lounge with a virtuosity which would
shake a priest. The firstees as usual are shoved into the front row for
displaying, providing a perfect forum for any aspiring speaker on the look out
for an audience. The back-benchers on the contrary, make effective use of their
"Smoke screen" to have their own bit of fun. After the customary
platitudes have been exchanged, Jamalpur Gymkhana settles down to the process
of trying to entertain the guests. The items on the agenda include songs, songs
and more songs. And not different ones but the same old beaten melodies by the
same old faces over and over again. The ordeal wouldn't be all that trying if
our budding vocalists didn't require the gratification of loads of goading to
get underway. As it is, however they have got to be cranked up before they will
start. Some go to extent of making an ostensible exit with the call for songs
is made and then suffer themselves to be dragged in once again.
All this aside, the most trying part is having to wait well beyond
one's normal dinner time for the Lounge session to finish and the fare to be
served. This induces an uneasiness which craves for expression in the form of
gentle tapping with the foot or drumming with the fingers or general grumbling
about everything at the same time. That’s another reason the back-benches are
the most coveted. They permit a greater degree of freedom of movement and
speech. And so the interminable minutes drag on with the members becoming more
fidgety and uneasy as time passes while the pampered guests remains blissfully
unaware of the tornado of emotions that he is breeding.
When finally dinner is announced one can't help noticing the immense
sigh of relief which emanates in unison from our heroes. From that moment, all
is forgotten and they may even share in a last minute boisterous joke to show
that they harbour no hard feelings. After such a wait the dinner is bound to be
regal whatever be the nature of the preparations, and so it is.
With stomachs full and every third persons belching forth sighs of
supreme contentment spirits are bound to be high and so the epilogue of the
Lounge session goes through with flying colours. Its short and punctuated
normally by brief speeches of thanks by the guests. After we have suffered so
much we can hardly begrudge them the privilege of making a short speech. In fact,
come to think of it we all expect it. It sort of rounds off the day on an
optimistic note and a feeling that well perhaps the time wasn't ill spent after
all.