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BUSYBEE FOREVER | FOOD & MORE

21st Floor At The Seoul Olympics

This is one hilarious piece. The Seoul Olympics
seen through the eyes of our favourite Busybee
character; the friend on the 21st floor. We are quite
certain the Paris Olympics Committee misses

Busybee and his friend!

mong the Indians who are going to very kind, it gave me one ticket for the
Seoul to watch the Olympics is my opening and one for the closing ceremonies
Afriend, who lives on the 21st floor after I promised to underwrite any losses
and has watched every post-war game. they may suffer in the Games.”
This morning, when I called on him, he “Let us hope they do not suffer any
Round & About was packing his bags. “It is best to leave a losses,” I said. “What are the events you will
be watching?”
little early,” he said. “Later, with the whole
with Busybee world heading for Seoul, travelling becomes events, except archery. It would be too
“Well, I have bought tickets for all the
very difficult. Of course, I am using my own
plane, but still, the airports are crowded.” much to spend money on archery. I will
Behram Contractor, “Sensible,” I said. “I am told the hotels also be watching our boys in the yachting
creator of 'Busybee' and all his are all booked a year in advance.” competition in the Pusan harbour, though
“Yes, I had problems finding a room,” my
fictitious characters wrote this friend said. “For a while I thought of staying that meant I had to build myself one more
hotel in Pusan. If Farokh Tarapore finishes in
satirical column, everyday, for in Hong Kong or Tokyo and shunting to the first 10, I will present it to him.”
36 consecutive years, Seoul daily. Then I decided it would be “I am happy a lot of our Indian sportsmen
over four newspapers. simpler to construct my own hotel in Seoul. and women will be having hotels in Korea,” I
So I have built one on the Kai Pai Tak Kong said. “What about the other members of our
Here is a comment on Road, just opposite the main stadium. That Olympic contingent? Are you initiating any
Busybee by Bachi Karkaria way I can walk across to the stadium and save schemes for them?” I asked.
taxi fare. Taxis are very expensive in Korea.”
“Nothing particular,” he said. “Except
“Yes,” I said, “I read about the taxis. that I will be putting up all the Indian officials
“Busybee’s Bombay was where What will you do with the hotel after the at suites in my hotel. So that they can sleep
the 21st floor was about a Games?” there and not occupy the beds of wrestlers
delightful friend, not about “Well, if PT Usha does go to Seoul, and while the wrestlers are made to sleep on the
rapacious builders. Busybee she comes in the first six or eight in the 400m floor. But what about you? Are you going
wasn’t a colmunist, he was an hurdles, I will present it to her. Otherwise, I to Seoul?”
will give it to Raosaheb Oberoi, they have
“Where I will go in Seoul! I can’t afford
urban commentator of rare been wanting to open a hotel in Korea.” it,” I said.
perception. And more.” “What about tickets for the opening and “Too bad,” my friend said, “but I tell
closing ceremonies?” I asked. “I understand you what I will do, and you must not refuse.
they have been sold out a year in advance.” I will give you the key to my flat, you can
“That was the most difficult part of it all. come here and watch the Olympics on my
I understand the Koreans are putting up a TV set.”
spectacular show, though no elephants, like
ours at the Asian Games,” my friend said. – Busybee
“But the Korean Olympic Association was September 1, 1988

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