6 Days to Go…

Kerala Gang: Dhruv (foreground) also wants to join them

There’s less than a week to go before the Kerala trip takes off. Next Friday, at this time, in all likelihood a small group of 16 from Big Laaf would be painting the Munnar township red, having cooled their heels at Kochi the previous night.
Broadly, the itinerary for the six-day tour is as follows:
* October 13: Kochi town
* October 14 and 15: Munnar (hill station)
* October 16: Thekkady (wild life sanctuary)
* October 17: Alleppey (in house boat)
* October 18: Departure for Mumbai from Kochi Airport
Significantly, this is the same tour programme a 40-member group from the Club had adopted the last time around, on February 2014.
Yet, there are some like Nahid Khan and Lakshmi Hadimani who have re-booked for this trip also. Put it to plain economics or the composition of the group, the general response for joining in has been overwhelming.

Why is 'Yusuf Uncle' at the receiving end?

In fact, such has been the clamor for going to Kerala this time that for once, a waiting list had to be maintained in the event of last-minute dropouts. Only Rukhsana Khan and her daughter Afreen could be accommodated, following Kanta Sharma’s son, Aryan and Nahid Siddiqui opting out.
Chanda Khadaria’s son, Dhruv is also keen to join the group in spite of a sudden spike in the air fare at this late stage. His mother is however, not as keen because she would be unable to accompany him.
Still, she relented upon seeing how “attached” her boy has become to some of our members. And the feeling is mutual. Moreover, he has not been to Kerala earlier.
So mother-and-son showed up this morning at the Garden in a last ditch effort for Dhruv to be accommodated. Much as everyone would have loved to have him along, somehow it did not work out.
Besides, as we were to learn later, the “permission” from home had been withdrawn for some unforeseen reason.
Now, that’s a pity.
For Dhruv is such a wonderful, well-behaved boy – a darling to all of us. He shall be missed during the trip.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
Kerala, or God's Own Country as it is known, holds a special attraction for everyone. It is worth seeing again and again. Those who can make it, are the chosen ones. Be proud, relax and enjoy.