RANDOM AT LARGE

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 7

RANDOM AT LARGE

ODD MAN IN

The premises in which we, and the group of healthy young sportsmen with whom we are now travelling, abide at present belong to one of the largest sporting organisations in India. For service and accessibility to the match being played here in Bombay, it could not be Improved upon. There is nothing, in fact, wrong with the place, if one is able to disregard the regular catch of cockroaches, even the smallest of which looks about the size of a small Aberdeen Angus. It is just a bit different.

There are four of us here, two in each of tbe bedrooms, and there is a shower room. The whole apartment ean muster a total of 18 switches and

eight electric point plugs. Some of them turn on the four lights available, one of them operates a fan, another an air conditioning plant. The purpose of the others escapes everyone, although they have clearly been installed for some particular purpose. Perhaps the power is off in part of the switchboard and if it were available, some exotic eastern service would be provided. The fan itself is a work of wonder. At least, the one in our room is. It may be operated at eight different speeds, but it is somewhat reluctant to perform its given duty in any of these positions. Reluctant only: it does get there ultimately. But it is hardly worth waiting for top gear, because even at its slowest speed, the contraption rocks its mount-

ing most excitingly, and when put on to top speed, it looks very much as if it proposes to fly off and take half tbe ceiling with

Tbe other outstanding feature is the bed. Or beds. They are very hard boards, the mattress is wafer thin, a biscuit-like arrangement They do not make sleep come easily, although we assure ourselves it is all very good for the posture. The only depressing feature of the business is that at first there were only three of us here. And it was only when we filled up to a full complement of four that we—or rather the newcomer discovered that the empty bed (his, of course) was the only sprung one in the entire, remarkable extensive establishment