I have a weak leg, so I go to our neighbourhood pool at 6 am and kick the water in the mornings. No one usually comes at that time, so I can also lower myself into an aqua jogger and "run" from one end of the pool to the other. I dio have some company though, the lifeguard and a"meditator", an old man who treads water in the middle of the pool with his eyes shut and two fingers to his forehead.

"Coaching starts tomorrow" announced the lifeguard one day, "classes for beginners."

The meditator lost his balance sank and spluttered.

"How many?"  I asked.

"Thirty" he said.

The next month was a nightmare. The adults who tried to learn found it very hard. They did not like to put their heads into the water. With two legs firmly fixed on the ground in the 4 ft pool, they sputtered and sank. They attached themselves to the side of the pool like limpets ad refused to release their hold.  Young and old women wore modified swimming costumes. The costumes had long sleeves and little skirts. Not satisfied, they wore their own innerwear or T shirts under this. They wore long leggings. The men wore Bermudas. Some of them wore T shirts as well.

I guess no one had heard of "drag." Air formed pockets in between the layers of clothing pulling the  swimmers down.

After two weeks they were promoted to the big pool with three lifeguards at attention. They still hung on to the  four side walls.

One day they were  taken to the deep end and asked to "jump'' in. After this they had to reach the wall. Any stroke, even dog paddle was fair game. Everyone did more or less what they were told. One little girl flung her self off the side, headed for the coach who was   treading water and climbed on his head. Chaos resulted, but he managed to haul her to the side (Luckily she was one of the few people wearing  X back swimsuit. Catching her was relatively easy, he lifted her  out by her back straps.

"Jump one at a time" he yelled, "jump, jump" at the cringing adults.

Suddenly a fully clothed three year old in "Lehenga dupatta" leapt in holding a box in one hand. She was not part of the class. He hauled her out.

"What are you doing? You are not part of this class!"

"Uncle " she replied accusingly, "you kept shouting jump, jump. Today is my birthday. I came with sweets because my brother is learning. You told me to jump!"

No one has  any answer for that. (Not even her wailing mother)!

Thank God the month is over and school has started. The pool is empty. The meditator and I are back in action. The good news? The children all learnt. The adults? I saw a couple of them yesterday practicing by themselves in the four-foot pool.

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