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SHORT FICTION by VIKRAM KARVE
REDEVELOPMENT
A STORY
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REDEVELOPMENT
Fiction Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
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“I have decided to
give the bungalow for redevelopment…” his mother says.
“Re-development…?” he
asks – surprised.
“Yes – redevelopment
of our old bungalow into modern high-rise apartments – I discussed it with your
sister – she wants it too…” his mother says.
He looks at his
sister and smiles at her sarcastically.
“Oh – so this is why you
have come to Pune all the way from the US – after a gap of 3 years…” he says to
his sister.
“We were busy…” his
sister says.
“So busy that you
couldn’t come for father’s funeral last year…?” he says in an accusatory tone.
“I wanted to come –
but couldn’t – and you were here to do everything…” his sister says.
“Oh – Yes – I am
always here to do everything…” he says with sarcasm in his voice.
His mother looks at
him and speaks.
“Let’s talk about the
redevelopment of our bungalow…” his mother says to him.
“I am not interested
in redevelopment – I love living in this bungalow…” he says.
“But your sister
wants redevelopment…” his mother says to him.
“What has she got to
do with this…?” he says, “father had clearly said that this bungalow was mine…”
“No – but…” his sister
starts speaking.
He gestures for her
to be silent.
Then – he looks at
both his mother and his sister – and he speaks in a firm voice.
“10 years ago – in this
very room – father had said that this bungalow would be mine after he died – do
you remember…? I wanted to buy a flat near Baner – and move out to live independently
– but father said there was no need for me to buy a flat – that I should live
here and look after him and mother – and after his death – I would be the owner
of this bungalow…” he says to his mother and sister.
“That was 10 years
ago…” his sister says.
“So…? He gave me his
word. Doesn’t his word of honour have any significance to you…? In fact – knowing
that I would be living here permanently – I got the bungalow renovated – I built
two extra rooms – improved the terrace – beautified the garden – now – the bungalow
is in good condition – and – we are quite comfortable here – so – there is no
need to demolish this beautiful bungalow…” he says to his mother and sister.
“Those are your views
– we feel redevelopment is the best option – the builder is giving us a very
good deal too – one 3 BHK flat for each of us – and quite a nice amount of
money…” his mother says.
“What…? You have
already talked to a builder for redevelopment…? You didn’t even bother to tell
me…” he says – shocked.
“He had come here in
the afternoon – when you were at work – so – I am telling you now – the moment
you have come back from work…” his mother says.
“You should have
asked me before speaking to him…? And – did the builder land up here suddenly
on his own…? Someone must have spoken to him…” he says – curious – looking at
his mother and sister.
His sister speaks.
“My husband spoke to the
builder – he is a classmate of my husband…” his sister says.
“Oh – so it is your
husband who is the culprit – sitting in the US – and creating mischief here…” he
says to his sister – contemptuously.
“Don’t speak like
that about your brother-in-law – he is elder to you…” his mother says to him –
in a tone of admonishment.
“Then tell him to
mind his own business…” he says curtly – then he looks at his mother and sister
– and he says, “I am the owner of this bungalow now – and I have decided that
there is going to be no redevelopment – that is final…”
His sister looks at
him and speaks.
“You are not the owner
of this bungalow – this bungalow was originally built by our grandfather – so –
it is ancestral property – after father’s death – the bungalow belongs to all 3
of us – mother, you and me…” his sister says.
“But father clearly
promised me that he would be giving me this bungalow…” he says – assertively.
“Father is dead now…”
his sister says – matter-of-factly.
“I know he is dead – I
was the one who performed his last rites – but you didn’t even bother to come
for his funeral…” he says reproachfully to his sister.
Their mother
intervenes.
“Please stop arguing…”
his mother says to him, “that fact is that your father didn’t make a will – and
even if he did – you won’t be the sole owner of this bungalow since it is
ancestral property…”
“But he promised me –
in front of you – doesn’t his promise have any credence…?” he asks his mother
emphatically.
“We have to be
practical in these matters – we feel that redevelopment is the best option – we
are getting a good deal – so – we should go ahead…” his mother says to him.
“I am not interested
in redevelopment – I want to live this bungalow…” he says.
His sister looks at him
and speaks in a combative tone.
“What do you mean “I
want to live in this bungalow”…? You can’t always dictate terms and
bulldoze your way. I have an equal share – as much as you have – so you have to
listen to my views too…” his sister says insistently.
He looks at his sister
coldly and speaks.
“Oh – “equal share” –
okay – so – from now on – you look after mother…” he says to his sister.
“What do you mean…?”
his mother interjects.
“You keep out of this…”
he says to his mother sternly, “I am talking to her…” he says pointing to his
sister – then – he turns to his mother and says, “till now – I looked after you
and father – now – father is dead – and – and you say that his promise is dead
too – so – your daughter will look after you from now on…”
His sister is taken
aback.
“How can I look after
mother – I don’t live in Pune…” his sister says.
“Then – you relocate
to Pune and live here…” he says to his sister.
“I am an American
Citizen – I am happy living in the US – why should I relocate to Pune – I don’t
want to live in Pune…” the sister says.
“If you don’t want to
live in Pune – why do you want a house in Pune…?” he says to his sister.
“Why not…? It is my
right to have a share in my parents’ property…” the sister says.
“Yes – and it is your
responsibility to look after your parents too – I looked after them for the
last 10 years – now – it is your turn…” he says to his sister.
“My turn…? What do
you mean…?” the sister says.
“Well – rights and responsibilities go
together – if you have equal rights to your parents’ property – you have equal
responsibility of looking after them too – I have done my bit – I looked after
both father and mother for 10 years – now – only our mother is alive – so – it
is your responsibility to look after mother for an equal duration…” he says to
his sister.
“And you – what about
you…?” his sister asks him – questioningly.
“I am moving out of
the bungalow soon – so you can stay here and look after mother…” he says.
“Moving out…?
Where…?” his sister asks.
“That’s none of your
business…” he says rudely.
“What do you mean…?
How can you just go away like that…?” his sister says.
“Don’t worry about me
– you worry about doing your duty – rest assured – I’ll be back after 10 years
once your turn is over…” he says.
“I told you that I
can’t come and stay here in Pune for such a long time…” his sister says.
“Then – you can take
mother to America to live with you – anyway – that’s none of my business – it
is your prerogative how to look after mother…” he says firmly to his sister.
Then – he walks out
of the room – before his mother can react.
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He means what he says
– and – he walks his talk.
A few days later – he
moves out of the bungalow and relocates to another city – taking up a new job.
His mother pleads
with him to not to go – but doesn’t pay any heed to her entreaties.
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Meanwhile – his
sister has returned to the US – back to her husband and family.
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His mother keeps
beseeching him to come back to Pune – but it is of no use – he doesn’t come
back.
Then – a few months
later – he migrates overseas for better career prospects.
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So now – with her son
and daughter both abroad in foreign countries – the mother lives all alone in
the bungalow – lonely and desolate.
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And – the bungalow…?
Well – though his
mother and daughter are keen on redevelopment and building high-rise apartments
in place of the bungalow – the redevelopment cannot happen without his NOC – which
he consistently refuses.
He also makes it clear
to his sister that she is responsible for looking after their mother for the
next 10 years – when it will be his turn again – as per the “equal rights –
equal responsibility” hypothesis.
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Living in the US –
the sister can’t look after her old mother living in the bungalow in Pune – and
– taking her old mother to the US doesn’t seem practicable – and – neither is
her old mother inclined to relocate to America – so – the old mother leads a
lonely existence in the bungalow.
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The daughter does
whatever she can – remotely – from the US – to arrange caretakers for her old
mother – who is becoming infirm day by day.
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When the daughter realises
that her mother can’t live alone – she moves her mother to an “assisted living
facility” – and the bungalow lies unoccupied – locked up – uninhabited.
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Dear Reader:
I wonder what will
happen to the bungalow…?
Will the son come
back and live in the bungalow…?
Will the bungalow be
demolished and redeveloped into high-rise apartments…?
I really don’t know.
Let’s see what
happens.
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VIKRAM KARVE
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