“Leave Vacancy”

Khatoon Baig (right) today coined a new term for the emergency situation arising out of the absence of seniors who conduct exercises for us in the Garden. She called this “leave vacancy”. Since Srichand Arora, Sitaram Hivarkar, Nahid Khan, Yusuf Rassiwala and Razia Khan were missing from action this morning, Bapu Rane was promoted to fill up the “leave vacancy”. He did the exercise session, while Hari Singh Shekhawat moved in to take his place for the laughter rounds.
It must be said that both did a fine job in the middle, earning the appreciation of all the 19 present this morning. “Kya karein, kabhi na kabhi toh mujhe karwana padta,” Shekhawat-ji (below, left) said returning the compliments. “Sab log aajkal dabaa-ke phunti maar rahein hain!”
He had a spot of good news also. On April 17 or 24 (subject to the convenience of members) he plans to take the next excursion out – to ROYAL GARDEN RESORT, near Dahisar Check Naka. “It is not very far, has all the facilities most resorts have, food is unlimited and it would not cost us much,” Shekhawat-ji said, amidst a round of applause from the ladies. “We shall leave early morning and return by sunset.”
As these are early days yet, there were no dissenting voices. Shekhawat-ji made it clear that he would "rather have a picnic now than wait for peak summer or when the monsoon sets in”. Furthermore, he assured that members and their families would be given first preference and only if there was place in the bus, would “outsiders” be taken – that too, on a first-come first-serve basis.
If anything, he would get to use the stamp he has made for allotment of seats in the bus.
Dilip Babani says:
Royal Garden Resort is very nice for the picnic. Everybody will like it because the food there is delicious. Rain Dance is nice and swimming pool is very nice. Slides are there. Now that the climate is hot and vacations are on, it will be nice fun at the resort. Breakfast is nice and lunch is very nice. Tea, coffee and pav-bhaji will be served. There will be lots of enjoyment like non-veg food and alcohol. So all the members will enjoy. Everybody will say that this is a very nice place.
--Dilip