Collision Course

Two rail gaadis -- one of Bijoy Gupta (l) and the other of Shekhawat (r) -- headed for a shattering collision

Shekhawat (r) clashes with Gupta

Shekhawat today got on a collision course with a vengeance. Nobody now appreciates his never-ending pranks and tomfoolery. Razia Khan insisted he stay rooted to one spot for the time she conducted the exercises. Nahid Khan threatened to impose a fine should he budge an inch and when that did not work, suggested a cowbell be strung around Shekhawat’s neck.
Khatoon Baig assumed responsibility to discipline him (like the headmistress she once was) but soon gave up. Rukhsana Khan, Banoo Apa and others too had their own prescriptions to “tame” Shekhawat, but to no avail. It seemed as though he was beyond all control.
At one point when he realised nobody was paying any attention to him, he turned towards a crow (yes, crow) that had settled close to his feet. He playfully teased it, scolded it, chased it… and the crow hopped about, challenging him to a chase.

Shekhawat announces schedule for Club elections

He ran after it and before long, let it be. But the crow refused to take wing and in moments, was back at Shekhawat’s feet.
Ultimately it took some quick out-of-the-box thinking on the part of Bihari Milwani to unsettle Shekhawat. The 'rail gaadi round' had just started when Bihari got Bijoy Gupta to head a counter rail gaadi running in the opposite direction simultaneously.
The inevitable happened: The two rail gaadis collided, sparking an instant head-to-head combat between the two ageing 'engine drivers'!
It all ended on a sobering note with Bihari submitting the audited accounts and draft balance sheet – a pre-requisite for the AGM later in the month. Shekhawat formally invited nominations for the Club’s new managing committee (for 2018-2020) and announced May 9, 2018 (Wednesday) to be the last date for submission of names. We need to get through this election process soon and the only way to ensure maximum participation is to have it before the start of the holy month of Ramzaan in mid-May. When members return mid-June, monsoon would have already descended and that again, would rob us of a decent turnout. And we cannot possibly wait till the monsoon ends. Hence the urgency.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
New ideas, new tendencies and new attributes are welcome -- so long as we all enjoy the fun and frolicking. Keep laughing and enjoy!