Two Days To Go…

Another wet morning, forcing us all into the Chinese Hut for the third day running. But by the time the exercises were through, it had turned bright and sunny outside – much to the relief of the 33-member group headed for Kashmir the day-after-tomorrow.
The group members were doubly delighted because the met department had raised a ‘high rain alert’ yesterday. This could only mean that it would be nice and dry by the time they leave. The fear of water-logging on the rail tracks and train cancellation had vanished by that singular prediction.
The other good news was that both Monthi Serrao and Santosh Tyagi are fast recovering (see yesterday’s post) and would not be backing out of the trip. Santosh’s BP is almost normal now and Monthi informed on phone that all she needs is some rest to recuperate fully.
Shekhawat informed that he had called up Mumtaz Jahan (left pic) in Srinagar and was re-reassured of “A-1 arrangements” there. The mighty lady has already sacked a watchman at the hotel there and tightened security outside the rooms allotted to our members. She has also negotiated a “good deal” with the gondola operators at Dal Lake.
Shekhawat also appealed to the group members not to leave behind their club caps and if needed, borrow from those not going on the trip. He further suggested pooling together for cabs to the railway station in the early hours of August 31.
Also, Srichand Arora took formal charge of the documents that would facilitate day-to-day operations during the trip – thereby leaving Shekhawat with the onerous task of managing the finances only. Much of the morning was taken up by these last-minute nitty-gritties – as the lead pic reveals.