Trouble in Paradise

Shekhawat vents his pent-up anger

Special treat of Punjabi sweets by Jagmohan Papneja

The 'Kerala cat' has finally jumped out of the bag. All pretences of having “enjoyed a lot” was blown asunder when Hari Singh Shekhawat turned up this morning and lambasted all and sundry in the group for their thoroughly anarchic, irresponsible and disgraceful behavior during the seven-day conducted tour. He spared no one – except Srichand Arora. Clearly, he was Shekhawat’s sole confidante while trouble brewed in 'God’s own country'.
Speaking more out of pain than anger, Shekhawat said that never before had he felt so helpless and betrayed by people he trusted. “Nobody told me to carry Rs100,000 of my own cash, lest there be an unforeseen crisis or medical emergency,” he informed. “I did it for you because I was responsible for you. People had joined the trip because of their faith in me. How was I to know that there was all along a conspiracy to sabotage the trip from the very start?”
Giving details of the fiasco, Shekhawat mentioned names (mostly non-members) who have “brought disrepute” to the Club. And then, there were issues of mismanagement by the tour operator. On top, there were problems over which no one had any control -- like the vehicle suddenly breaking down near Periyar. In effect, the group was more caught in their own problems than being able to enjoy any sight-seeing.
Nobody had seen Shekhawat so agitated since his heart surgery last year. But this was necessary because he could today release all his bitterness bottled up for days. The trip was also a learning experience for all – never again to take a big, unmanageable group along. “Just forget about any picnic in future,” Shekhawat said striding out of the Gate in apparent disgust.
On a bright note, Jagmohan Papneja extended an open invitation to a Mushaira Evening in the Garden tomorrow. The event is to mark the 10th anniversary of a cultural group that gathers in the China Hut every Friday evening. He also treated us to ‘special Punjabi sweets’ he had just picked up on a trip to Chandigarh.
Jagmohan Papneja:
One thing is clear that Shekhawat-ji has learnt that the right way to make future trips, if any, is not to surround himself with the people of irrational behavior.
Srichand Arora:
Where are the photos of our Kerala trip?
Big Laaf: We desperately need pictures suggestive of Kerala -- the group having been there, done that -- not indoor shots. Anybody having clicked such photos, please e-mail to biglaaf@gmail.com