Monday, August 12, 2013

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE
A Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE

I once met an officer who regretted not making full use of the navy.

He felt that he had incurred a great loss because he did not exploit all the entitlements, facilities and perks offered by the navy. 

For example, being a non-drinker he could not enjoy his monthly subsidized liquor quota and neither was there any provision to encash it. 

He wondered how much financial loss he must have suffered because he did not utilize this attractive perk throughout his long career of over 30 years.

He talked regretfully about other entitlements and perks too, which he felt he had not exploited optimally and thereby he had suffered so much financial loss, albeit notionally.

In order to cheer him up and enliven his spirits, I told him this story:

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE

One day, the man went to visit a colleague convalescing in hospital after heart surgery following a massive heart attack.

Fascinated by the sophisticated and luxurious facilities in the hospital he asked his friend how much it cost. 

“Over five lakhs,” the patient said.

“My God – that’s expensive. How can you afford it?”

“Medical Reimbursement,” the patient said.

“Medical Reimbursement? Does that mean that you have to pay nothing for all this?”

Of course I don’t have to pay from my own pocket – they pay everything. That’s why I joined the medical insurance scheme – you too are a member, aren’t you? So even if you have a heart surgery they will pay everything.

After he returned home, the man kept brooding and appeared to be in low spirits, so his wife asked him what was wrong.

“I have lost five lakhs!”

“Five lakhs? Where? How did you lose five lakhs?”

“Suppose I had a heart attack then I too would have got five lakhs worth of medical reimbursement. I have lost five lakhs just because I did not have a heart attack! 

Dear Reader:

Close your eyes, reminisce, and calculate all the “losses” you have made in your life because you did not “avail” of things you were entitled to.

Have a look at the balance sheet of your life and tell us what is the profit and loss account of your life?

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. 

Disclaimer:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved

Did you like reading this story?
I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my book  COCKTAIL an anthology of Short Fiction.
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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:
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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 and blogger. 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 an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and 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  and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines 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 and blogging. 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: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
      
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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