Those were the days when I didn't exactly knew what stress meant. Neither did I cared if there is something called insomnia. Thanks to all the laughter I used to have then. Thanks to people around me. Most laughter were sourced from the people who never suspected their action would result in this much of laughter, and for this long. When I am at my logical best, I fail to understand, why was all the laughter about? If Bawa was living in a shared room on a cot basis, and his landlords are a bit weird, what's there to laugh?
Having heard Bawa's cassette for long about how they all laugh for no reason when the buddhi enters their room, and having confirmed this with Amol (Bawa's close accomplice in a crime called 'Laughter'), I had this urge to see her atleast once. Bawa in his classic way used to describe all the incidences and trigger all of us for stomach aching laughters.
One fine day, I went to meet Bawa at his room. Bawa used to live with 3 other friends in the same shared hall. And all of them had this disease of laughing. Upon entering, he introduced me to his mates. Amol being one of them. (I dont remember the names of other two). But, it was kinda 11 am'ish in the morning on a bright summer sunday. Amol was reading newspaper (The Sunday Times), Bawa was talking to me, the guy with black T shirt was checking his new helmet, and another one was still in his bed - awake but lazing off. The hall had 4 beds(cots), and in between 2 beds there was a iron bar at a height, which everyone used to hang their clothes. This iron rod was close to Bawa's bed (AFAIR correctly).
While I was just 5-7 mins in the place, there she was. An old lady in white saree at the door, to which Amol announced - "Aaa gayee re". (She was suffering from some weak ear, and couldn't hear if the sound is low). The bed owned by the guy with black T shirt (playing with helmet) was the one directly infront of the hall door. God is so smart, he gave amazing reflex mechanism to all of us. This guy wore his helmet to hide his laughter behind the dark shades of the flap. But he was laughing so much, his body rhythm had changed indicating he was either laughing hysterically, or sobbing :P
Amol put his newspaper so much close to his eyes, that no normal human eye can read from such a short distance, and trying to hide his laughter. Buddhi came to him asking - "Why are you holding the newspaper so close?" Thereby trying to move the newspaper a bit away from his face, but only to find out that he's laughing. Amol, being a smarty, replied that he's laughing at a joke published in the newspaper, when Buddhi asked. How I wish, newspaper really had such amazing jokes published.
Bawa instantly picked a magazine and pretended to read it (yeah, you know the reason was just to hide behind the book). Thankfully Buddhi didnt' come to his side, otherwise would have definitely found him laughing. And I was so shocked, that Bawa completely deserted me because of 'THE FEAR'. He was not paying me any attention (I was his guest). I had already seen the other 2 guys laughing hysterically, and not able to stop. And this triggered my own laughter. I had to take shelter near the clothes hanger. AFAIR correctly, I was just looking at those clothes for over 12-15 minutes for all the time that the Buddhi was in the hall; with my back facing the buddhi.
While talking to Amol, Buddhi found that the other guy is still sleeping in his bed with his head covered in the blanket, and his body moving (because of laughter). She asked - "How come someone sleep so long? And with his face,head covered in this peak summer at this time? And why is he shivering?" Someone answered her - that "he's sleeping because he's got fever, and he is shivering because he's cold"; just to take care of the situation. And this triggered another laughter for everyone. Thankfully, Buddhi left. All of us were still holding our stomaches. Still laughing.
This remains one of the best laughter memories to me till date. So many times, we still laugh remembering this one incident. Thanks to you Bawa, and convey my Thanks to the Buddhi as well :P
