Picnic Prelude

Hari Singh Shekhawat (left) is back at doing what he does best – organizing picnics. Nobody else in the Club can match his organizational skills, right from mobilizing the members and collecting money to fixing the transport, getting the best rates, keeping accounts and ensuring that everybody has a good time.
This time the destination is Lonavala and for a change, it would be an overnight stay. The hotel has been identified and the date fixed is for September 18-19 (next week-end). “It would cost us roughly Rs 500 per head for the night stay,” he announced. “Depending on the number of people who join, we will decide on whether to hire a small bus or big bus. But this much I want to specify right now: Money once paid will not be returned.”
“Why should we be staying in this hotel?” somebody asked. “There is another hotel there which charges less. But we might have to pay a donation.”
“But Kishor-bhai has already stayed in this hotel last week. He says it is very good.”
More discordant voices, not too difficult to identify:
“Bhai, the hotel room should be clean. I am used to sleeping on freshly ironed, white bed sheets. That’s the way I am.”
“Please make sure the bus is comfortable. I want comfortable seats!”
“Do the charges include breakfast and lunch also?”
“What would the total cost work out to per person?”
And then the final spanner in the works: “It would be Ganapati Visarjan day. There will be terrible traffic problems on the way. Besides, why do we need to have a picnic so soon? We just had one in June. Let the next one be in December?”
Such discouraging noises are routinely heard during the planning of every picnic and to a major extent, it goes to Shekhawat-ji’s credit how he handles these wet blankets with patience and humour. Nobody else can. For ultimately, this is a thankless task. Mr Garg (right), on one of his rare visits, watched the tamasha from a distance with an amused smile before setting out on his rounds of the Garden.

Renu Babani says:
Hats off to Mr Shekhawat! He has to constantly listen to everyone but takes it in his stride. Regarding the picnic at Lonavala, the best is not to force anyone. Whoever is interested pays the money and comes for the picnic. These constant discussions will never end. So what is the point? Let everyone decide for themselves so that no one has to hear any complaints later on.
--Renu