"I am telling you Mrs. Sekharan,"sighed Mrs. Kohli. "As soon as we plan a holiday something bad happens and we either have to cancel the trip or experience some horrible adventure."
"So we have decided, no more holidays for the Kohlis."She added looking sullenly at the picture of the family hanging on the wall.
In the photograph there was Mr. Kohli looking particularly glum with his cheeks puffier than usual standing next to Sonam their daughter whose curly, bouncy hair could never be tamed. Then there was Mrs. Kohli looking ghostly white as usual thanks to her frequent application of her favourite face powder. And finally Sunny the plump 6-year-old who could eat a whole meal even after dinner.
Mrs. Sekharan said sympathetically, "Now, now, Mrs. Kohli. Surely things could not have gone that wrong."
"Oh, but they did Mrs. Sekharan, they did,"cried Mrs. Kohli. "Hmm,"said Mrs. Sekharan. "I see your point. But can’t the *jinx be broken somehow?"she sat thinking and suddenly exclaimed, "I know. Why don’t you take our holiday?"
"What do you mean?"asked Mrs. Kohli Mrs. Sekharan explained "I will plan a vacation, book the tickets, hotel, etc. in our names but instead of us, you all will go for the holiday. Therefore, it will not be the mishap prone Kohlis but the Sekharans who will be enjoying the trip."
Mrs. Kohli thought the plan was fantastic.
Soon the Kohlis were on a train to Udaipur and were now on their way to the hotel that had been reserved by Mrs. Sekharan. "Nothing so far,"said a smiling Mrs. Kohli. "This plan is working."
"Good Morning,"greeted the man at the hotel. "I am Vinay. Do you have a reservation, Sir?"
"Yes. Yes. Kohli…uh…I mean under the name of Sekharan,"fumbled Mr. Kohli. Vinay looked curiously at them then checked his register to find the reservation. "Welcome Mr. Sekharan. We have two rooms booked for you,"he said finally.
The bell boy who had taken the Kohlis’ luggage returned hurriedly and said, "I think the new guests are a bit strange. The lady kept telling her husband ‘Sekharan, you are Sekharan.’ Then she pointed to the kids and said ‘Sonam Sekharan, Sunny Sekharan and me Harpreet Sekharan.’ Don’t you think that is strange?"
