Conversations,book readings,dumb charade,acupressure and chai these are regular features for the Chai Masti group of senior citizens at Sneh Paradise Its 4 pm and Ashok,the chaiwalla,swiftly puts on the water to boil,while the crowd slowly starts their animated conversation. The chitter-chatter leads to a buzz of activity and the stage is readied for a round of dumb charade. Amidst shouts of 'well-done' and 'Bravo',Gayakar comes back to her team. She receives a thumbs-up from 60-year-old Kakaji. Which film was it? inquires the person sitting beside her. She just winks and reveals nothing! Ashok then precisely pours the chai in cups,and hands them over to the fun-loving crowd. Vinaya Dixit,a group member,gets up after requests and cheers to sing a melodious number. Her audience applauds her talent. Chai Masti,an initiative by the Dignity Foundation,is a regular feature for the senior citizens at Sneh Paradise,Paud Road. Started a few months back,it has become a part of their routine,and has evolved into a platform for these spirited people to alleviate their stress,share their lives and express their views. The magic that this 4 pm activity adds to their lives begins with a sip of garam chai. There are excited conversations,laughs and smiles about someone's grandsons naughty acts,high fives over office politics and insights about the world around. While the group discusses all this and more,PD Bhadkamkar's remarks ring loud. He says,You see,chai is the best catalyst for making friends,Over a cup of tea,you can share experiences and make friends instantly. This novel concept includes events like dumb charade - that lead to short chat sessions over chai. Right from reading and discussing an interesting book to yoga sessions to crossword and sudoku solving,the evening is reserved for wholesome interaction. Chandrakant Khole,marketing manager,Dignity Foundation,shares,"I have met some of the most wonderful people here. There is so much to share and it feels good to know my evenings will be spent in good company." So while the green surroundings,coloured ambience and flow of ideas and feelings take over these sessions,the members look forward to the little lessons that they learn. Shares Aparna Pendharkar,coordinator,Chai Masti,Age is just another number. Watching the members interact proves that though the body might be ailing,being 'young at heart' is what matters. I think it's a lesson that every young person can learn. There are different events marked through the week,and being a part of them is such a learning experience. After the lively chat and dumb charades,the focus shifts to acupressure and mudra lessons. Malini Munshi takes the group through ways of de-stressing and unwinding. All members are interested and the keenness is reflected through their concentration. Wrong attempts are sportingly corrected and all around one sees hands raised mid-way in a bid to follow the session perfectly. The acupressure session concludes and again the aroma of hot tea fills the air. After a quick round of gup-shup,the group breaks to head home,but with excitement about the next day's planned activities.
