'Plan-B' Kicks In

So what if the Mahabaleshwar trip turned out a non-starter?
Undeterred by the fiasco, Shekhawat has been working overtime during the week-end and has finally managed to revive the programme for Lonavala – if only to prove that where there’s a will, Shekhawat finds a way. The trip will be by contracted bus and for the same week-end of 15-16 October.
Elaborating on the details this morning, Shekhawat said that like last time (see September 25 – 27, 2010 posts), the trip will entail an overnight stay. However, we will have to be divided into two groups as the guest house run by Hargobind Trust will not be able to provide accommodation for everyone this time. “So another guest house, barely a kilometer away, has been identified, to absorb the spill-overs,” Shekhawat informed. “This new place is slightly more expensive, but we will try to keep to a budget of Rs1,000 per head – which includes to-and-fro travel, stay, lunch, breakfast, tea and snacks, dinner… What more can you ask for?”
The other good news of the day was the rejoining of Nahid Khan (above) after her fortnight-long trip to Lucknow. As is her wont, she was back to conducting the exercises in the middle, after which she distributed fresh, crispy Lucknawi gajak among all present.
Najma Sayed (above) had a complaint though. She too showed up this morning after a period of absence, since she was down with viral fever. “Not a single person here called me while I was bedridden,” she rued. “What is the point of asking me how I am now?” She has a point.
P.S.: Considering the time and effort being invested on organising the upcoming trip to Lonavala, should there be any back-tracking this time around, defaulters should be punished without mercy. They should be made to watch Dev Anand’s Charge Sheet at the nearest multiplex. Kishor Babani will be persuaded (as he too has canceled his Mahabaleshwar trip) to herd them into the auditorium, lock all doors from outside and throw away the keys!
Bhaswati Bose:
Bigger punishment would be to force defaulters to watch Bodyguard.
Renu Babani:
FINALLY! We should be grateful to Mr Shekawat for his determination and young spirit that the trip to Lonavala has been finalised. Hopefully we should have a full bus as everyone did sound eager when the announcement was made this morning. The weather ought to be better there; so everyone bring something warm, just in case. Regarding the defaulters, I totally agree with them being forced to watch Charge Sheet or better still, Hum Tum or Shabana, which I hear is no less than Bodyguard. Lonavala... Here we come!!!