Khajuraho

Office trips are the birthplace of lunchroom stories. This one however, had stories even before it began.

Khajuraho, the place itself spelt mischief. “Who thought of it?” “Whose popular choice????” “Who’s going to sleep with whom?” (Curtsey management) “Can we do an award -winning idea on it?” (Hanif Qureshi did, with the T-shirts).

With the office abuzz, we all boarded the train at 6.30am. An achievement, considering advertising timings. The journey to Jhansi witnessed the unraveling of quite a few juicy tidbits. First the positions. Creative Director downward, of course. Soon, everyone was wrapped in the romance of gossip.

The bus trip was a bit of a dampener because of the heat. But the happy Ogilvyians revived with a splash at Taj Chandela. At sunset everyone had their ‘peak-a boo’ of the famed temples. The romance created by the Light and Sound Show sparked desire for the next day’s guided tour. After hectic parting, at night where everyone let their hair down, we were already feeling the lure of the temples.

The seductive sculptures, erotic art had their own strange effect. The photographs, prove this. The temple visit set everyone in a frenzied search for ‘erotic key chains’. Positions were hunted for, prizes shown off, exchanges and bargains sought.

Those who weren’t too exhausted by the temple visit set off for the Rane Falls. And the evening’s highlight was the Awards. The titles seem to have stuck on. Since it was the last evening the merrymakers continued till wee hours of the morning. Leaving few enthusiasts for the sanctuary. The journey back resounded with requests, cribs and pleas for the next day off. Unfortunately it did not lead to the desired outcome.

In short, Khajuraho was, as someone in the office aptly put it, “A sexy trip”