Are Children of Divorced Parents Assets, Liabilities or Bad Debts...?

Recently – I saw a link to an article on The Unintended Plight of Children of Divorce on the Social Media – a thought provoking article which evoked an interesting discussion on Social Media on the effect of Divorce on Children.

This reminded me of a story I had written long back – around 6 years ago in the year 2011 – on a similar theme – from the Point of View (POV) of a small boy whose parents are divorced.

I called the story BADMINTON

Read on...

BADMINTON

A Small Boy Narrates his Life Story

Short Fiction

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Badminton is a game where you volley a shuttlecock back and forth over a net 

BADMINTON – A Story By Vikram Karve

Part 1 – DIVORCE 

BADMINTON SINGLES

My life is like a game of badminton. 

I am the shuttlecock – and my mother and my father are the two opposing players.

Let me explain.

My parents are getting divorced. 

Now – both are highly qualified MBAs – and have very meticulously divided their assets – and very painstakingly shared their liabilities. 

Except me. 

They don’t know how to divide me – so they are fighting it out in court – battling it out for my custody. 

And – till they finally decide this way or the other – I am being tossed from one parent to the other – like a shuttlecock is tossed from one player to the opponent in a game of badminton.

From Monday to Thursday – after school is over – I take the Aundh Bus to stay at my mother’s place.

On Friday – I take the Kondhwa Bus to spend the weekend with my father.

On Sunday evening my father has to drop me off at my mother’s place before 6 o’clock.

And – if we are late even by one minute – my mother raises a hue and cry against my father – and she complains to the family court.

After Two Years

Part 2 – REMARRIAGE

BADMINTON MIXED DOUBLES

My life is still like a game of badminton. 

But now – after 2 years – there is a slight difference. 

Now – instead of Badminton Singles – it is a game of Badminton “Mixed Doubles”.

Let me explain.

On one side of the badminton court – are my REAL FATHER and STEP-MOTHER.

And – across the net – on the other side of the badminton court – are my REAL MOTHER and STEP-FATHER. 

And – I am still the “shuttlecock” – being tossed from one side of the badminton court to the other side of the badminton court – back and forth. 

However – there is also a big difference. 

Earlier – when they used to play “badminton singles” – the rallies were short and sweet – the volleys were gentle – and – each player wanted the “shuttlecock” to fall on their own side of the court. 

Now – in “badminton mixed doubles” – the rallies are long and painful – the smashes are hard – and – the players – especially the new players – they want the “shuttlecock” to fall on the other side of the court – across the net.

Do you want me to explain...? 

I don’t think I need to.

I am sure you have got the drift of what I am trying to say. 

Now – you tell me one thing:

Am I an “asset” to be divided...?

Or – am I a “liability” to be shared...?

And then – a terrible thought comes to my mind – of a third option.

And – I feel afraid of one thing. 

In an actual game of badminton – the shuttlecock may get worn out. 

If this happens – the badminton players toss the shuttlecock out of the court – yes – the players throw away the old shuttlecock – and they get a new one.

Oh my God...!!! 

Will this happen to me...?

Once they have their own children – what will happen to me...?

Will I become like an “old shuttlecock” – to be discarded – and to be replaced by a “new shuttlecock”...?

Yes – once they get rid of the “old shuttlecock” – maybe the “mixed doubles partners” will stop playing “mixed doubles” with the “old shuttlecock”.

Now – the new partners may start playing “badminton singles” with each other with their own “new shuttlecocks”.

Soon – both couples – my REAL MOTHER and STEPFATHER – and – my REAL FATHER and STEPMOTHER – they will have their very own children.

And then – they may abandon me forever. 

Yes – I am really scared that I will be abandoned forever. 

I will no longer be an “asset” to be divided.

I will no longer be a “liability” to be shared.

But – I will become a “bad debt” to be written-off from the balance sheets of my biological parents’ lives.

Part 3 

CHILDREN OF DIVORCED PARENTS – ASSETS, LIABILITIES or BAD DEBTS...? 

Please answer the small boy’s question – and  solve his predicament.

Once parents get divorced – and then – they remarry someone else:

1. Are children of their first marriages “ASSETS” to be divided...?

2. Are children of their first marriages “LIABILITIES” to be shared...?

3. Or – Are children of first marriages “BAD DEBTS” to be written-off from the balance sheet of each parent’s life...?

Dear Reader – please comment – and do let us know your views. 

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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This is a revised version of my story BADMINTON which was Written by me Vikram Karve nearly 6 Years ago in May 2011 and First Posted Online by me Vikram Karve in my blog at 5/30/2011 03:45:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/05/badminton.html and susequently revised and re-posted online a number of times including at urls:http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/12/badminton-my-favourite-short-stories.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/04/marriage-divorce-remarriage-and-game-of.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/11/blog-fiction-badminton.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/12/badminton-story.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/children-of-divorced-parents-assets.html etc