How to acquire a house in Deccan Gymkhana

DECCAN GYMKHANA 

If you are an honest Defence Officer – once you retire – you cannot afford to buy a house in Deccan Gymkhana – the most posh, premier and high-brow neighbourhood of Pune. 

That is why most Military Veterans live in the “Military Veteran Ghettos” in the outskirts of Pune – or in other distant suburbs – where most Defence Officers settle down after retirement. 

If you are an honest Defence Officer – the only way you can stay in Deccan Gymkhana after retirement – is – if you are lucky enough to have inherited a bungalow (or house) in Deccan Gymkhana – from your forefathers/ancestors. 

That is why – whenever I visit the area of Deccan Gymkhana – I walk around – “wistfully” looking at the houses in Deccan Gymkhana – wondering – “only if” – I could have managed to acquire a house in Deccan Gymkhana.

Last evening – I walked past a house in Deccan Gymkhana. 

The house was locked. 

The house was locked because the owner of the house (an old lady) had gone abroad to live with her son – who migrated to the US many years ago – and settled down in America permanently. 

As a newly married bride – this old lady had one big ambition – she wanted to live in Deccan Gymkhana. 

I recalled how she had nagged her late husband to buy a house in Deccan Gymkhana – in order to achieve her ambition. 

I smiled at the irony of the situation.

The woman’s nagging had driven her husband crazy – and – he finally succumbed to her ambitions and he bought a house in Deccan Gymkhana which was beyond his means. 

Because of this – he had to slog hard – working overtime – doing many things to earn money – to pay off his housing loans. 

And – all this physical overwork and related mental stress probably caused his untimely death. 

But – his children migrated abroad.

The woman’s ambition for living in Deccan Gymkhana had driven her husband crazy (and maybe even driven him to his untimely death).

And now – instead of living in Deccan Gymkhana – the woman had locked up the house in Deccan Gymkhana – and she gone abroad to live with her children.

What an irony of fate. 

You kill yourself to get something. 

And – when you get it – you can’t even enjoy it...!!!

Maybe all this was in the back of my mind when I wrote a story more than 4 years ago titled “A HOUSE IN DECCAN GYMKHANA”.

This fiction story is about a status-conscious wife who wants to live in the high-brow posh locality in Pune called Deccan Gymkhana.

So – let me delve into my Creative Writing Archives and pull out this story for you to read. 

Do tell me if you like the story...

A HOUSE IN DECCAN GYMKHANA

Fiction Short Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

A HOUSE IN DECCAN GYMKHANA – a story 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 exorbitant price of the house in Deccan Gymkhana. 

The sky-high price of the house was much more than what I had expected.

“Tell me Shekhar – from where are you going to get the money to pay for this house in Deccan Gymkhana?” I asked Shekhar.

“I will take a loan,” he said.

“A loan? Who is going to give you such a big loan? And even if they do give you a loan – can you afford it? The bloody EMI will be more than the salary we earn here.”

“I know all that. 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 your wife has lived her full childhood over here – in fact, she has lived her entire life right here in the heart of this very peth.”

“Yes. That’s why she is fed up of this place – and she 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 – your wife suddenly thinks this place is ‘lowbrow’...? I did not know that your wife has become so snobbish and snooty,” I said.

“Please don’t make sarcastic comments,” Shekhar said, “if you can’t help me – I will manage on my own.”

“Oh – so you think you can buy a house in Deccan Gymkhana on your own? And how do you intend to do that?”

Shekhar 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,” Shekhar said.

Yes – the salary was indeed substantial – very substantial – and with this kind of money – Shekhar 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 to that war-torn country. I hope your wife is ready to stay all alone. Is she ready for a long distance marriage so early in your married life?”

“Of course my wife is ready to make sacrifices. 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 which I am entitled every year and that I should 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 – just look at the pay, the incentives, the allowances, the bonus, the perks…” he said, pointing to the job offer letter.

Shekhar was right. 

The pay packet was indeed very generous – in fact, I had not seen such an attractive compensation package before. 

With this kind of money – Shekhar could easily afford the house in Deccan Gymkhana.

And after just 3 years Shekhar would be able to pay off his loan – and he would 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 with an astute wife egging him on – he would go places and become a very rich and prosperous man. 

Maybe Shekhar would start a business – maybe …

But one thing was sure – this job was going to change his life – not only would he have a house in Deccan Gymkhana – but Shekhar would certainly become a wealthy man.

“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 and went abroad to the war ravaged country.

But before he left – Shekhar shifted his wife into their plush newly-purchased 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 me up from abroad – once in a while.

He was happy – because his wife was happy.

I knew that 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 Shekhar was working.

I was worried about his safety. 

But whenever we spoke on phone – Shekhar always seemed to be full of cheer.

Maybe – the very thought that he had made his wife so happy – made Shekhar happy too.

One day – my worst fears came true.

Shekhar was killed in crossfire during a skirmish – when rebels attacked the project where he was working.

I thought his wife would be devastated. 

But – surprisingly – 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.

So Shekhar’s wife received a huge amount of insurance money.

With this money – Shekhar’s wife could pay off the remaining home loan.

Even after paying off the home loan – a very substantial amount of money was still left with her.

Shekhar’s wife invested this huge amount of money 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 – and I moved in with her.

Yes – as her husband – I relocated myself into her posh house in Deccan Gymkhana.

I now live in a beautiful house in the high-class locality of Deccan Gymkhana.

This the story of how I got a house in Deccan Gymkhana...

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

This Story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story 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.

Copyright Notice:

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 (all rights reserved)

This story was written be me Vikram Karve in Jan 2013 and first Posted by me Vikram Karve on February 28, 2013, at 2/28/2013 02:10:00 PM in my creative writing blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/02/a-house-in-deccan-gymkhana-blog-fiction.html and re-posted online by me many times including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/01/how-to-live-in-deccan-gymkhana-pune.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/03/do-you-want-house-in-deccan-gymkhana.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/a-house-in-deccan-gymkhana-story.html

Is it better to be “Pound-Foolish” than “Penny-Wise”...?

BAD LOANS, NPAs and BAILOUTS

When I read about the “Rich and Famous” defaulting on paying back their loans to banks, resulting in bad debts and Non Performing Assets (NPAs) – resulting in the banks writing-off bad loans – which entails deploying honest taxpayers’ money to bailout the rich defaulters – I am amused at this ludicrous situation where – the hardworking honest taxpaying citizens subsidise and bailout the unethical rich businessmen defaulters. 

This reminds me of this article which I wrote 5 years ago...

BAILOUT – A PARADOX

DO THE “POUND-FOOLISH” ALWAYS EXPLOIT THE “PENNY-WISE”...?

WHY SHOULD THE POOR SUBSIDISE THE RICH...?

A Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE

I still vividly remember an incident which happened in the 1960’s – when I was a small boy and I lived in Pune.

My mother believed in the concepts of thrift and frugality – and she practiced what she preached. 

She believed in building up savings rather than borrowing money.

We were taught to live within our means. 

We never took loans. 

In case we wanted to buy something expensive – we saved money till we had enough funds to buy what wanted.

After I got my job – I opened a recurring deposit – saved money every month – and purchased my first scooter after nearly 3 years. 

I still remember that I bought my first car after working for more than 15 years. 

I bought it from my savings – and did not take a loan for buying a car. 

If we could not afford something – we had no hesitation in saying so – and we curtailed our desires instead of having false pretences. 

We had not fallen victim to the disease of instant gratification. 

We believed in “cutting our coat according to our cloth”.

We never lived beyond our means – and that is why we were financially sound – and our savings gave us a sense of security.

We did not believe in “keeping up with the Joneses” – and that is why – we never felt any sense of inferiority or envy if our neighbour was better off than us – or if he had something which we did not have.

I have digressed. 

Let me take you back to the incident which happened more than 45 years ago in the end 1960’s. 

As I have already told you – since my mother believed in thrift and frugality – she always travelled around Pune by Public Transport – Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) Bus. 

Commuting by auto-rickshaw or taxi was considered a luxury – and was resorted to only when absolutely necessary like when we had luggage and had to go to the railway station to catch a train – or when there was some elderly or ailing person who could not travel by bus.

One day – an aunt came to meet my mother. 

She was much younger and fitter than my mother. 

She had come to borrow money from my mother. 

At first – my mother was quite reluctant to lend her money. 

I too seemed quite surprised that my aunt wanted to borrow money from us – since she was quite well-off financially – as compared to us.

Seeing my mother’s unwillingness to lend her money – my aunt begged and pleaded desperately – to the point of emotional blackmail.

(I could overhear something about cheques bouncing etc). 

Finally my mother succumbed to the emotional blackmail – and she gave my aunt the money. 

Then – my mother asked me to see off my aunt to the bus stop.

As we were walking towards the bus stop – my aunt asked me to hail an auto-rickshaw.

“You want to go by auto-rickshaw...? Why don’t you go by PMT bus – it goes right near your house...?” I asked my aunt, surprised

“I am not used to travelling by bus. These PMT buses are so dirty, crowded and uncomfortable – I just can’t travel in these terrible buses. You just call me a auto-rickshaw...” my snobbish aunt said snootily. 

And so – off she went travelling in the luxury of an auto-rickshaw.

Of course – my snooty aunt would pay the “exorbitant” auto-rickshaw fare out the money borrowed from from my mother – while my mother would travel by bus – that’s what hurt me the most.

A question arose in my mind.

How can a person who borrows money have a higher “standard of living” than the person who lends them the money...?

In fact – why should someone who is well-to-do and has a higher standard of living – borrow money from someone who is less well-off?   

Isn’t it logical that the standard of living of the lender should be much higher than that of the borrower?

My mother travelled by economical public transport bus. 

My aunt travelled by expensive auto-rickshaw.

We lived in a modest home in a middle-class neighbourhood – whereas my aunt lived in a stylish house in a posh locality.

Yet – my aunt would always borrow money from my mother – when logically it should have been the other way round.

My spendthrift “pound-foolish” aunt kept on exploiting my thrifty “penny-wise” mother.

I did not understand the paradox.

How can the rich borrow from the poor?

Does it make any sense?

And – why should the rich borrow from poor...?

But now – I see this happening all around – when I hear that familiar term “BAILOUT”.

Rich organisations like banks and airlines (who have the most highly paid employees) are being “bailed out” by the comparatively poorer taxpayers. 

Yes – the poor taxpayer is being penalised for the extravagance of these lavish spendthrift organisations – who have landed themselves in dire straits because of their own incompetence and profligacy.

Why should a person who earns much less than the highly paid employees working in these organisations be expected to bail them out...? 

Why should rich bad loan defaulters be bailed-out at the expense of the honest taxpayers...?

Is it fair to ask the middle class to bail out someone who is much more financially well-to-do...?

Why must the economically prudent subsidize the financially reckless...?

It seems the same thing is happening with nations too. 

Developed nations like Greece are seeking bailouts. 

If you have a look at the luxurious lifestyle and plush high standard of living of these European Nations as compared to underdeveloped or developing nations – you really wonder why these developed and modern nations should be “bailed out”.

In fact – it is the less-developed Asian and African nations who need a “bailout” – not developed European nations. 

It is inexplicable.

How can someone with a lower standard of living “bail out” someone with a higher standard of living...?

It would be much better if these cash-strapped nations and bankrupt organisations be asked to cut costs, reduce salaries, prune expenditure, implement austerity measures and practice thrift and frugality – rather than giving them bailout after bailout – despite the fact that they continue with their spendthrift lifestyle. 

And if they refuse to mend their profligate ways – then it is better to let them go bust.  

The poor subsidize the rich.

The “pound-foolish” always exploit the “penny-wise”.

Strange but true – an inexplicable paradox – isn’t it...?

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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.

Copyright Notice:

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 (all rights reserved)

  

Updated Re-Post of my Article titled BAILOUT Earlier Posted Online by me Vikram Karve on June 11, 2012 in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/06/bailout.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/07/the-pound-foolish-always-exploit-penny.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/bad-loans-npas-and-bailouts.html  etc