BLOG FICTION SERIES by VIKRAM KARVE
Story No. 1
A HOUSE IN DECCAN
GYMKHANA
Short
Story
Blog Fiction
By
VIKRAM KARVE
“My
wife wants a house in Deccan Gymkhana,” Shekhar said.
“Are
you crazy?” I said.
“Why?”
“No
one sells a house in Deccan Gymkhana. There are no houses for sale in Deccan
Gymkhana.”
“There
is one.”
“How
do you know?”
“My
wife found out.”
“And
what is the cost?”
He
told me the price of the house in Deccan Gymkhana. It was even more than what I
had expected.
“Tell
me, where are you going to get the money to pay for this house in Deccan
Gymkhana?” I asked.
“I
will take a loan,” he said.
“A
loan? Who is going to give you such a big loan? And even if they do, can you
afford it? The bloody EMI will be more than the salary we earn here.”
“I
know. That’s why I am quitting this job.”
“Are
you mad to quit such a good government job? Where will you get such a safe,
secure, stress-free, comfortable job with so many perks and benefits?”
“But
I won’t be able to buy the house in Deccan Gymkhana.”
“Why
are you so obsessed about buying a house in Deccan Gymkhana? What’s wrong with
this place?”
“My
wife says that this place is too middle-class – she wants to live in a posh
locality.”
“But
she has lived her full childhood and her entire life right here in this very peth.”
“Yes.
That’s why she is fed up of this place and does not want to spend the rest of
her life living a lowbrow existence over here. She wants a high-class standard
of living.”
“Oh.
So what do you intend to do?”
He
showed me the job offer letter.
“Are
you crazy? This is a war ravaged country,” I said.
“That’s
why they are paying so much. Look at the figure,” he said.
Yes,
the salary was indeed substantial, very substantial, and with this kind of
money he could easily afford the EMI for the house in Deccan Gymkhana.
“Hey,
all this is fine, but you are newly married. This is a 3 year contract. And you
won’t be able to take your wife over there. I hope your wife is ready to stay
all alone.”
“Of
course she is. She is the one who found out about this job. In fact she told me
that I should even work overtime and encash the one month’s leave and LTA I get
every year and come back straight after 3 years. Then we will have so much
money that we will able to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Here,
look at the pay, the incentives, the allowances, the bonus, the perks …” he
said pointing to the job offer letter.
He
was right. The pay packet was very generous – in fact I had not seen such an
attractive salary package before. With this kind of money he could easily afford
the house in Deccan Gymkhana – after just 3 years he would be able to pay off
his loan and still have so much money to spare that he could just live off the
interest. But then money earns more money, and I was sure that with so much money
and an astute wife egging him on, he would go places. Maybe he would start a
business, maybe …
“Hey,
what are you thinking…?” Shekhar said, interrupting my train of thoughts.
“Nothing,”
I said.
“So?”
“Your
wife is right. You must take this job.”
“And
buy the house in Deccan Gymkhana.”
“Of
course, that goes without saying,” I said.
And
so, my friend Shekhar took up the lucrative foreign assignment.
But
before he left, he shifted his wife into their plush newly bought house in the posh
locality of Deccan Gymkhana.
Shekhar’s
wife was overjoyed. She personally got the interiors done to her liking in a
very classy manner. Every time I met her she seemed happier and happier. She
truly flourished. She had realized her dreams of living in a house in Deccan
Gymkhana and the glow of joy showed on her.
Shekhar
would ring up once in a while.
He
was happy because his wife was happy.
I
knew Shekhar was living a tough and dangerous life. From time to time I saw
news reports on TV about incidents of violence in the desolate strife-torn land
where he was posted and I was worried about his safety. But he always seemed to
be full of cheer, maybe by the very thought that he had made his wife so happy.
One
day my worst fears came true.
Shekhar
was killed in cross-fire during a skirmish when rebels attacked the project
where he was working.
I
thought his wife would be devastated. But she coped with this enormous tragedy with
remarkable courage and composure.
At
least financially, she was not that badly off. Shekhar’s company had insured their
employees heavily and with the huge amount of insurance money she received,
Shekhar’s wife could pay off the remaining home loan besides invest in a
monthly income scheme which would ensure her a decent income for her entire
life.
A
few months later I married Shekhar’s widow.
I
now live in a house in Deccan Gymkhana.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this story?
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If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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