50% : short story

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50%

Story by Vikram Karve

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Dramatis Personae

The “Girl” – an IT
“Techie”

Her Boss

The “Boy”

His Friend

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PART 1

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The “IT Techie” Girl is
talking to her Boss

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“Sir – I wanted you
to be the first to know – I am getting married…” the IT Techie Girl says to her
boss.

“Congratulations –
when is the date…?” the boss asks the girl.

“That’s not fixed
yet, Sir…”

“Oh – but your
marriage is finalised…?”

“50%…”

“What do you mean
50%…? I hope you have met the boy – or is everything online…?”

“I visited his home
last evening – I met his family – there were so many people – it’s a joint
family – exactly as I had wanted…”

“Joint Family…? Are
you sure you want to live in a joint family…?”

“Sir – you know my
life story – my parents – both my mother and my father – both of them suddenly
died in an accident when I was 9 years old – since then – my uncle – my
father’s younger brother – he has looked after me – he is in the merchant navy
– and a bachelor – so – he sent me to a boarding school – then – I went to IIT
– and now – I am here – working in this job – I lived in a boarding school
dormitory – in a college hostel – and now – I am living in working women’s
hostel – I never enjoyed family life – so now – I want to have a proper family
life…”

“Oh – so you will
live with the boy and his parents…”

“Sir – it is a huge
family – his grandparents, his parents, his uncles and their families, his
brothers and cousins and their families – they all live in a beautiful
ancestral “Wada” in the heart of the city – it is a large three storey mansion
with a courtyard in the centre and rooms on all sides…”

“Will you be able to
adjust…?”

“Of course, Sir – I
love people – I met all of them last evening – they liked me – and – I liked
them too…”

“And the “Boy” – what
does he do…?”

“He works in an
office, Sir – relaxed 9 to 5 job – we will have plenty of time for family
life…”

“I want to say
something – if you don’t mind…”

“Sure, Sir…”

“Well – your salary
will be much more than his – you will be earning much more than him – that
could be a problem – male ego…”

“Sir – that won’t be
a problem at all – I am going to quit working after marriage…”

“What…? Are you
sure…?”

“Sir – I signed a two
years bond during campus placement and I have already worked for three years…”

“No. No. I wasn’t
talking about that – I just don’t understand why you want to quit such a good
career – you are an IITian – you are one of our star performers – you have such
a bright career ahead of you – we have great plans for you – No. No. – don’t be
a fool and give up your career – tell me – did the boy insist that you quit your
job – or his family…?”

“No, Sir – last
evening – at their place – there were so many people and so much excitement – we
didn’t even talk about it – but seeing how close-knit they are – I am sure they
will be happy – and me too – I want to enjoy a domestic life – I am not a
“career woman” by nature – I want to get married, have children, enjoy
parenting and family life – live a life of domesticity – with so many loving
people around me – his grandparents, parents, brothers, cousins, children,
families – this is the life I want – I don’t want to be lonely any longer…”

“It is very strange –
you are the first girl I have seen who thinks this way – most want to live
independently after marriage – but I will advise you one thing – don’t quit
your job – keep working – I am sure you can easily manage with such a large
family to support you – well – I feel you can enjoy the best of both worlds –
good family life and a successful career…”

“Sir – I have made up
my mind – I want a full-time family life…”

“Well – it’s your
life – your decision – so – when is the wedding…?”

“Sir – I am meeting
the boy this evening – so – we can talk alone and finalise things…”

“Oh – so – you
haven’t yet talked to the boy…?”

“Sir – last evening –
everyone was there – and all of them were talking to me – so – I hardly got
time to talk to the boy…”

“So – you liked the
boy – and today – you are going to ask him if he likes you…?”

The girl laughs and
speaks.

“That’s why I said my
marriage is finalised 50% – but I am sure he likes me and wants to get married
to me…”

“I am curious – your
marriage proposal – was it through a matrimonial site…?”

“No, Sir – a girl who
lives in my working women’s hostel – she knows the family – she told them about
me – and they called me to meet them – I asked my uncle who now lives in
Singapore – he told me to go ahead – and he will come to finalise the wedding
once everything is fixed between me and the boy…”

“Okay – all the best
– I am sure the boy has liked you and your marriage will be 100% fixed today…”
the girl’s boss says with a smile.

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PART 2

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The “Boy” is talking
to his Friend

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“I want you to find
me a good apartment in Deccan Gymkhana – brand new – in one of the
redevelopment projects…” the boy says to his friend who is a real estate agent.

“You want to buy a
flat in Deccan Gymkhana…” the friend asks – surprised.

“I am fed up of
living in our old “Wada” with so many people around me in the congested city –
I want to live independently in a modern apartment in a posh locality like
Deccan Gymkhana…” the boy says.

“Apartment in Deccan
Gymkhana…? Are you crazy…? The EMI will be more than twice the salary you earn
– and no one will give you that amount of loan…” the friend says.

“I am getting married
– the girl is an “IT Techie” in a top firm – I am sure she will get a loan and
can easily afford the EMI…” the boy says.

“Congratulations – I didn’t
know your marriage is fixed…” the friend says.

“It’s 50% fixed…” the
boy says.

“50%…?” the friend
asks, curious.

“The girl had come
home last evening – everyone liked her – I liked her too – and I think she
likes me – I am meeting her this evening and I think my marriage will be 100%
fixed today…” the boy says.

“That’s great – I will
shortlist some flats in Deccan Gymkhana for you to see…” the real estate agent friend
says.

“Yes – ready possession
flats – we will like to move into our new flat immediately after the wedding…”
the boy says.

“I can help you out
with the home loan also…” the friend says.

“That’s great – I
will talk to her about that – I am sure she has a high pay package and we can
get good home loan to buy a flat in Deccan Gymkhana…” the boy says with
confidence.

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