Out of the Box

Geeta Sardhana

As the clamor for a ‘monsoon picnic’ gets increasingly strident, Geeta Sardhana today came up with something completely out-of-the-box. On Saturday (i.e. the day-after tomorrow) soon after the exercises, why not set out on a walk to Lokhandwala Lake, just off the Back Road? Those who want to join her are welcome and would be rewarded with a cup of tea at the end of the mile-long expedition.
As almost everyone in the group raised their hand, Sitaram Hivarkar raised a few questions: “Suppose it rains where do we go? Is there any house or shed nearby or some arrangement for us to take shelter? Is it really necessary to undertake this walk? How far is this place? Is it clean? Where exactly is the lake…"
Significantly, barring three or four members present, nobody has seen the lake. All they know is some local environment activists are up in arms with builders at preserving the ecological sanctity of the lake. Nothing more.

Dark and Dreamy: The weather in the mornings

Even Geeta, who is familiar with every flowering shrub, mushroom and herbal plant growing wild in our Garden, has absolutely no clue where the lake is located. And yet she will be leading the group. “The walk will be a welcome diversion from our regular routine,” explained the lady, who actually wanted to go there today itself. “The weather is so beautiful, so let us make the most of it. It will be a very pleasant walk, a new experience for all of us.”
Indeed, after the first monsoon shower last week-end (see post of June 10), the mornings have turned heavenly. The skies continue to be overcast and with just about a hint of a drizzle off and on and a light breeze blowing across all the time, this is just the weather that must not be wasted indoor at home. Our periodic plans and proposals for a day picnic have remained just that. Nothing seems to be working out.
At least this walk sounds doable. And it promises to be fun, even if it rains cats and dogs on Saturday.
Harish Wadhwa:
One day exercise in the Garden is more than a mile walk to the lake. So let us have the chai session in the Garden itself. It has adequate shelter, a loo, doctor, juice-wala and... friends. We can plan the lake trip once we know its whereabouts. Will it be accompanied with sweets, fafda-jalebi, kachori, biscuits, toast...? Just curious to know.