Alibaug Picnic

Reception Committee

Even before the Himachal group could touch base in Mumbai, plans are afoot for a week-end getaway to Alibaug. Everybody is taking Harish Wadhwa’s hospitality for granted and nobody is saying no – as though (to quote Geeta Sardana) the “resort has been built for us”.
Tara Chand Seth is particularly eager to go: “We should go before April 21 because I’ll have to leave for Delhi on April 22. Can’t say when I’d be back.” Ramila Mistry, on her part is “unavailable for 10 days, effective April 9 because of domestic compulsions”.

Ved Prakash Grover

In other words, if both are to join us, April 20 (a Saturday) is the earliest date available – though everybody agrees that we should do an overnight stay at the resort.
A final call on this will be taken once Shekhawat returns from the Himachal Tour – most likely on Monday. Along with others in the group, he should be reaching Mumbai today afternoon. Tara Chand gave us a lowdown on the group's last-minute hassles in boarding the train at Delhi since he had been tracking their return on phone from Shimla through Ved Prakash Grover. The latter was said to have been completely under the weather during the trip due to physical strain and a nasty stomach upset. But now he is cheerful.
A rag-tag ‘reception committee’ is gearing up to accord a heroes’ welcome to the tour returnees.

'War' News

News hounds, everyone

In the old days, when men went to war, women back home would gather at the village square in the mornings to seek emotional succour and support, voice their concerns and exchange info trickling in from the battle front. This ancient ritual is currently being re-enacted in the Garden every morning, ever since Rehana Sheikh, in a state of heightened excitement, broke the news of a Mrs Naidu on the Himachal Tour being struck by a bout of food poisoning at Katra.
With the group now in Shimla and channels of information opening up, every morning presents fresh news updates and a disaster story -- as though it is not a pleasure trip but a war which Shekhawat and his group have gone to fight. Not just the ladies of the Club, even those on the walking track have become eager news hounds.

Tara Chand Seth

They all need to know of the calamities (if any), the latest casualty figure (from food poisoning), who are the survivors (from dysentery and diarrhea), what is everybody doing about crucial potty problems, if it is still raining out there, whether the next trip to Kerala is on… As Tara Chand Seth put it succintly: “Jaaney walon se zyada, ghar-walon ko badi fikr rehti hai!”
But then, who wouldn’t be worried? Given a killing travel schedule, hostile weather conditions, the treacherous terrain and above all, deadly food on offer, this whistle-stop tour is no less than an everyday battle at keeping body and soul together – especially for the senior citizens. And then, it is also a fact that adversity always adds to the sense of adventure and excitement that goes into making a trip memorable.
“Food poisoning can happen anytime anywhere, even at home in Mumbai,” commented Tara Chand, the only voice of reason left behind. “So why make a big hoo-haa about it? Yes, one must be careful in future... The Himachal trip has taught us this lesson. So theek hai, take it all in your stride -- as a learning experience.”

Diminishing Returns

Ramila Mistry's prasad treat

School kids are done with their board exams and the Garden has started looking bright and colorful. There are more kids than elders these days – playing, jumping about, running in and out of our circle while we exercise… Their cheerful screams and shouts have transformed the morose morning atmosphere into that of a fairyland. If spring has set in, these kids are the real harbingers.
Unfortunately, this sense of exuberance has yet to percolate into our group. For no sooner did the ‘Gang of 21’ leave on the Himachal Tour a week back than attendance for the exercises dropped. One by one, the regulars stopped coming.

Srichand Arora

The biggies out of the way and with no one senior enough to supervise, the Law of Diminishing Returns kicked in. With each passing day, the numbers fell – despite allurements like Monthi Serrao’s Easter bourbons and Ramila Mistry’s prasad treat today.
But then, it is now a matter of two days only when the Himachal gang should be returning and we would be back to our former strength. Word has come in of their reaching Shimla safe and sound last evening – though there was a food poisoning scare enroute from Katra. Srichand Arora has thoughtfully sent us a text message this morning to allay all fears: “Shimla is too cold. No one is prepared to leave the bed. Since yesterday 50% of us are suffering from food poisoning. But things are UNDER CONTROL now. Mrs and Mr Jagmohan had to leave for Delhi yesterday.”
So this should put to rest the exaggerated rumours swirling around on the condition of some members of the group. Everything is under control at present and there is no need for their families back home to panic. Food poisoning is a common occurrence on any excursion. This too shall pass.

Easter Bourbons

'Happy Easter!' Monthi Serrao

Tara Chand surrounded by his admirers

We know of the traditional Easter goodies – the cake, pastry, Easter eggs, Easter chocolates, Easter candies… But whoever heard of ‘Easter luddoos’? Monthi Serrao almost made history by offering to celebrate The Resurrection with luddoos, till better sense prevailed and she treated us today to bourbon (sandwich) biscuits instead.
Belated as it was, Monthi cannot be entirely blamed (or credited) for this confusion. She had been in a fix over treating us to cakes, which inevitably contain eggs as an ingredient -- much to the dislike of some vegetarians who keep demanding only eggless cake preparations.
Rather than enter into a dispute, Monthi had wisely considered skipping the Easter celebration this year when Tara Chand Seth did something out of character yesterday. He sidled up to her after the exercises and in a conspiratorial tone said, “Aap kuchh laney wali thi?” clearly, taking an empty-handed Monthi (and others) by surprise.
Visibly embarrassed by what he had done, he made up for it today by wishing her “Happy Easter” profusely (actually, he was the only one to do so) and was suitably rewarded by the first packet of bourbon. But then, it must be said that Tara Chand has turned increasingly voluble of late – besides of course, looking and behaving younger than his years. He even uses expressions like “beautiful girl” (in English), quite oblivious to the response this tends to generate.
The latest is the ‘solution’ he has found for all the talking-shawking that goes on during the exercises. “The talkative types should be allotted a special period in between the free-hand and laughter sessions,” he has advised. “And only after they are done, must we resume exercising.” This way, he says, everybody would get to vent their repressed feelings.

Breaking News

Manish Wadhwa

Harish Wadhwa

For all those wondering where Harish Wadhwa had disappeared after Holi, here’s a piece of Breaking News. Well, it is a fact that he had lost his way after the celebrations in the Garden on March 27. But it is also a fact that he has since returned home safely – just that it had taken him 10 hours instead of the usual 10 minutes to walk home that day. He simply could not recognize the gate of his building!
But that’s not what this is about. Harish is today the proud owner of a health resort at Alibaug, barely an hour’s hop, skip and jump from Mumbai. Located close to the beach, it is a neat 28-room property overlooking a beautiful swimming pool with tennis and badminton courts, air-conditioned gyms, jacuzzi, sauna, Thai and Kerala massage… the works, ideal for a weekend getaway.

Who wants to go to Kerala?

It was acquired by the Wadhwa family early this year and opened yesterday (Sunday) with Harish’s younger brother, Manish Wadhwa relocating from Indore to run the place.
According to Harish, the resort will cater to an exclusive corporate clientele, but an exception shall be made for Big Laaf members. “Manish knows of us and will never refuse a request from the Club,” he assured. “Individual members with or without families are also welcome...”
“Please give us a week’s advance notice and we shall roll out the red carpet for you,” quipped Manish, who, but for his brownish-black hair, bears a striking resemblance with Harish. He also promised to visit us in the Garden one of these days.
Although the brothers did not discuss tariffs and discounts, this is a picnic option worth exploring, given the fact that we have not gone on a local outing for almost two years. Even today, Sitaram mentioned that we have been overlooking short-distance picnics ever since Shekhawat started organising long-distance tours. “Let Shekhawat even utter the word Kerala and we shall shut his mouth,” chirped the ladies in unison.