Suspended Animation

The Club’s ‘think tank’ (in pic) gathered after the exercises to weigh the pros and cons of going to Goa (post of January 21) on March 23. Shekhawat had asked Kishor Babani to bring his laptop to the Garden and book air tickets online for all those who had paid the requisite Rs12,000 towards the trip. As it turned out, payments from Khatoon Baig, Mrs and Mr Yusuf Rassiwala, Naseem Bano and Santosh Tyagi and her friend have been received so far.
The question up for discussion was whether to proceed with the bookings of what now amounts to barely 16 per cent of the Club strength. An alternative suggested was not to place an imposition on air travel and leave members to decide whether to take the road or rail route, so long as they reach the venue by a specified time and date.
Srichand Arora pointed out that a two-day Goa trip for Rs 12,000 was “too costly” – more so, when tour operators were advertising five-day trips to Thailand (three days Bangkok + two days Phuket) for Rs 12,999 with airfare, visa charges, three-star hotel and meals, sightseeing and all taxes included. Yusuf-bhai conceded that a trip to Kashmir would also come within Rs12,000. Bose argued that even for Goa, Rs12,000 would be tolerable provided the Club was adequately represented with the usual jing-bang of antakshari, housie and jokes sessions thrown in. Otherwise it will be foolish to invest time and money on the trip.
In the end, it was decided to keep things in suspended animation till Kishor, who is leaving for Shirdi on a personal trip, returns on Thursday. Meanwhile, there’s a proposal to set out on a one-day picnic to a resort in Karjat on February 12. But that’s an altogether different kettle of fish.
Harish Wadhwa:
Well, I am not going to comment on picnic issues, as it is per se an individual's decision. But yes, it has become a topic of big discussion these days, as expected. Let's just have fun at the Garden and enjoy BC with chai or phafda-jalebi parties, which are anytime welcome.