One-Point Programme

As the date closes in on bookings for the ‘Himachal Tour’, all activities of the Club have ceased to matter. Or so it would appear from Hari Singh Shekhawat’s behavior these days (lead pic). Mobilising people to join the tour has become a one-point programme for him. As his wife, Mohan Kanwar (below right) once wittily remarked: “Sotey-jagtey, uthtey-baithtey, he has only one thought in mind!” So absorbed is the man on organizing this tour.
Only two days are left to firm up on the railway reservations and in his anxiety to ensure that the group travels together, Shekhawat must necessarily book all tickets en-bloc. Srichand Arora is of course, with him and apart from liaising with the tour operator in Pathankot, has issued circulars and put up notices in the Garden for all interested to sign up soon. Yesterday, he even managed to get an ambivalent Yusuf Rassiwala to come around; but this morning, the latter did not show up.
Shekhawat too is having his share of flip-flops. While trying to push up the numbers, he pulled a fast one on Sunita Jajodia, informing that her tickets were already booked with Santosh Tyagi’s. But when he played the same trick with Ramila Mistry, it backfired. He had told her that Monthi Serrao needed company on the trip. Monthi had only to turn up and gleefully deny everything!
Clearly, where things are going wrong is that everyone is putting up a set of pre-conditions before signing up. If one wants to add a new destination in the itinerary, another wants to drop some. Likewise, while some find the ten-day programme too hectic, others want it reduced to no more than a week. The worst and most common argument runs somewhat like this: “If A or B goes, I will not go. But if C goes, I might consider…” Since it is not possible to please everyone in a large group, Shekhawat finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place.
Hearing this, Harish Wadhwa too came up with a pre-condition: “If Priyanka Chopra (left) goes, I will go.” Quick on the uptake, Arora hit back, “Huh! If Priyanka Chopra goes, why should I be asking you?” Harish thought for a while and retorted: “If Priyanka Chopra goes, let no one go from the Club. I shall go!”
Said in jest, it just betrays a childish innocence on the part of Harish and Arora. Neither of them has any idea of what happens when beauty is paired with the beast.
Harish Wadhwa:
Only good things can happen (when beauty meets so-called beast). That great adrenalin rush, heart pumping extra oxygen-rich blood, glistening bright eyes and the willingness to go many extra miles... all for such a good company! Ek baar maine commitment kar di, toh mein Club ya gharwalon ki bhi nahin sunta. Moreover, it will be an all-paid tour for her and me by air!
Big Laaf responds:
Done, Harish -- it's all-paid. Now keep up to your "commitment". Yesss... you can do it!!!
Harish Wadhwa retorts:
Yes we can! I am talking to the pic almost continuously, not only because I am mesmerised by PC's looks, but also because I wish and dream to make the trip with her. After all, only dreams come true... So let's start dreaming.