Falling Prey

Persuading Gupta (second from left) to join the Gir Forest trip

It was Bijoy Gupta’s turn to fall prey to the corona virus threat. He was supposed to leave for Calcutta tomorrow and his air tickets were booked a month in advance. Today he informed that he has cancelled the tickets.
Gupta’s plans for Calcutta had compelled us to exclude him from the Gir Forest trip (ref post of February 6) scheduled from March 18 to 22.

Banoo Apa (file photo)

Now, it turns out that his son in London has dissuaded him from taking the risk of flying to Calcutta, lest he'd contract the dreaded virus during travel.
“He is concerned because of my age,” reasoned Gupta. “I am 77 years now. The elderly are more vulnerable to a viral attack. In case I fall ill, he will have to take leave from his job and come here to look after me. I think that would be quite unfair on him.”
But that is not what the Club thinks. Gupta had only to say that he has cancelled his Calcutta trip when Yusuf Rassiwala, Nahid Khan, Bhaswati Bose and others pounced upon him, insisting that he better accompany them to Gir forest now.
“There are two drop-outs,” Yusuf R said. “You and your wife can take their place. The room is already booked. All you need to do is book your train tickets. Getting confirmed reservation is not a problem now because people are en masse cancelling their rail bookings.”
Gupta is not averse to the idea, but he needs to have a word with his wife, Pushpa. He said he knows of a railway booking agent who would do the needful and also took down details of the itinerary and costing from Bhaswati. He promised to confirm by tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Banoo Apa has reported sick. She is down with a ghastly rash of chicken pox and needs to remain indoors till such time the infection subsides. It so happens that she too has signed up for Gir forest. Let us hope and pray that she recovers fast and is able to join us on March 18.