At Wit’s End

Hari Singh Shekhawat (right) is a much harassed man. After the Chokhi Dhani proposal came up yesterday, he has been running from pillar to post making arrangements for the trip on January 8 (see last post). He has since spoken to the transporters and short-listed Neeta Travels and Tour India for the bus. Neelam Garg was to speak to the management of the resort, but has not got back yet. Shekhawat-ji tried calling her number, but she’s not responding.
Today he comes to the Garden and finds that the ladies are no longer inclined to go to Chokhi Dhani. “It is too far,” grumbled Geeta Sardana (below, left), who was not present yesterday. This became the trigger for others to voice their reluctance. “Who says the entry fee is Rs 300?” demanded Mrs Singh. “The papers say it is Rs 500 per head.” A quick calculation revealed that together with bus fare, the trip would cost between Rs 700 and Rs 800 per person – hardly the value for money members had bargained for a New Year bash.
Various alternative options were thrown up, while the men stood around blinking in disbelief. This was a case of ‘woman proposes and woman disposes’. Somebody said that going to a hotel nearby on January 1 for lunch/dinner would be appropriate and cost us less. Mention was also made of a restaurant, Blue Waters where unlimited lunch (both veg and non-veg) is served along with six starters, welcome drink, dessert… all for Rs 350!
Now Shekhawat-ji is at his wit’s end. All his efforts for Chokhi Dhani appear wasted because of the ambivalence of the ladies. As Neelam-ji did not turn up today, he cannot be sure of a discount on bulk bookings. Even if a discount is negotiated, surely it won’t bring the entry fee down to Rs 300, as originally estimated. In effect, there is every possibility of the Chokhi Dhani trip getting cancelled.
Seeing how dejected Shekhawat-ji had become, Srichand Arora (right) offered to bring a box of luddoos tomorrow and be done with the "moonh meetha", as per the original plan. Then, as an afterthought, he dropped the idea. “After keeping late-night today, who knows if anybody will show up tomorrow morning… or else, I’d have to be alone at the gate distributing luddoos to passersby,” he quipped.
So, as of now, the New Year “moonh meetha” is fixed for Monday morning – January 3.