WOO HOO! This wardrobe looks spiffy on you,” Lady Flora remarked on seeing her friend, Sir Pheroze, dressed in khaki cargos and a linen shirt. They were headed for a weekend trip to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and were excited at the prospect of travelling on the Van Rani. Both were well aware of their limitations as SoBoites, unacquainted with the rigours of long-distance travel.

By the time they reached the location, it was afternoon. Lady Flora’s skin turned a light shade of pink, as a direct reaction to the heat, while Sir PM looked upset that his wardrobe had become a pale shadow since the earlier thumbs-up. Much to their dismay, after they arrived at the spot, they learnt that the toy train was not operational. An official on the spot offered bits of information to them, who were among many other unsuspecting tourists who had shown up without any prior intimation of the train’s no-show. It turned out that the popular tourist attraction had stopped operations due to a few mechanical issues, citing a faulty engine component.