Overbooked

Last-minute 'adjustments' for the Mahabaleshwar trip

The Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani tour, beginning tomorrow, is overbooked. For the first time Shekhawat is faced with a real possibility of having to refund money (collected from four extra people) unless he is able to find accommodation for them.
Shekhawat had arranged for the stay of 20 people in the Mahabaleshwar hotel, but following a couple of dropouts, he began to invite newer members in the group. Suddenly, to his disbelief, he finds that he has taken up more on his platter than he can possibly handle. The hotel has informed that there are no more rooms available – unless some last-minute cancellation crops up.
Shekhawat now has the option to wait indefinitely and keep his four guests in suspense. Or else, he will have to check with the hotels nearby. Either way, he will not get the benefit of any discount on the new bookings.
Meanwhile, Monthi Serrao kicked up a row on Pehchaan Kaun-12, the results of which were declared the day-before-yesterday (see post). She is convinced that Yusuf Rassiwala is fibbing on his shoe size.

Monthi Serrao argues on Yusuf Rassiwala's shoe size 

“How can you say it is No 10?” she demanded. “I don’t believe it!”
Yusuf struck a tribhanga pose, balancing himself on one foot and told Monthi to study the shoe sole of the other. Monthi refused. He then sat on a bench and painstakingly took off his right shoe. The only number decipherable was ‘45’ marked on the instep. “Barobar,” remarked Dilip Babani. “Four and five make nine. So the shoe size must be 9!”
Before Monthi could jump jubilantly, Yusuf reminded her that even if she was right on the shoe size, she had got the age wrong. “But who told you to apply for an auto licence at the age of 28?” she charged. “My husband applied for a taxi licence when he was 21 and he also wore that Gandhi topi. He did not wait till he was 28. He was married at 24.”
Yusuf declared lamely, “I got married at 25.”
“But who told you to marry at 25?” Monthi thundered.
This time Yusuf was at a loss of words. “She is correct,” Dilip instigated him. “Yusuf-bhai, you are wrong. You should not have got married at 25. Neither should you have applied for auto licence at the age of 28…”
Yusuf gave them a look of losing his sanity and walked away without uttering another word.
Bihari Milwani from Los Angeles:
PK-12 ne Yusuf-bhai ka barah baja diya!