HALF WAY IN LOVE (CHAPTER 10)

Chapter 10

Few months back Dev's maternal uncle, Ramachandran, had visited him from Palakkad. Dev's native place. He was a marriage broker turned real estate agent.

Brokering marriages was turning into a high-risk, low-income career. Then, the real estate boom started. Many turned to real estate brokering, with much ease, as they already were having established contacts.

Ramachandran, was one of the many unregistered, unregulated, real estate agents in the country.

A segment sadly unregulated. A segment which turned many ordinary people into millionaires. Most of the time, they had the luxury of tax free income.

Ramachandran went straight inside Dev's cabin.

"Hi chandran uncle, long time. Hope you are fine"

Standing up from his seat, Dev greeted him and made him to sit opposite to him.

"You grew big Dev, and don't have time for us. Earlier, at least your father used to visit us. Now he also is not getting time to come.."

"..It has been months since I met my sister."

He said after a brief pause.

He looked concerned.

Dev knew he was speaking the truth.

Earlier, at least once in two months, his father used to visit most of his family. He visited them taking turns. He made sure, he reached everywhere. Sometimes he took Sarada and Dev too along with him. Sometimes, he went alone.

The respect he commanded from relatives.

That too, his father went everywhere, in bus.

He used to start early in the morning, on those days, on which he went visiting his family. And he used to return in time, to be present for night duty. He was punctuality personified.

This way, he ensured, he was in touch with his family roots and relatives. And they all in turn, loved him.

Now, Dev had a car. If only he wished, he could go to his native place with two hours of drive. Comfortably.

But he never could. Not that he never wished. Emerald Garments took up his time and energy, he had earlier, for other things in life.

"Tell me, Chandran uncle, what brought you here today. Have you been home? We still stay in the same house."

"No Dev. I thought of visiting you first. The very reason I come here is to ask you this; why are you still staying in the same house now?"

Dev looked at him with interest now. He liked this uncle among the few he had. Ramachandran had a great humour sense and sharp business acumen. Dev knew about his life as a street vendor in Chennai. Many years before. He made lots of money, but threw up everything in drinking. Now back in his native place, he was a changed man. Stopped drinking, and took to brokering. With his natural ability to do business and to make someone laugh, he was now making enough money.

"Dev, it is time you start giving some comforts to your parents. They have struggled all their lives. Let them live peacefully now."

"Uncle, what are you coming at? I am confused, honestly. They are very happy here."

"I meant, build your own home Dev. High time you did."

It was a new perspective, a new spark, for Dev.

He had never thought about it earlier.

He was making huge profits now. But investing it on a house never occurred to him.

" But don't do it here Dev. Not the right place for your parents or you to spend all life. I know Sarada. She surely wants to settle down in Palakkad at some point of time. With all of us now back there. She can visit temples, take bath in ponds, go for evening walks with sister in law's or friends. Your father too Dev, high time he is given a break. Let him spend rest of his life peacefully among us. The best thing you can do for them."

Dev now sat silently for some time, thinking.

"You may be thinking about your business. Dev, I can say with conviction that, with half the effort you are taking now, and half investment, you will earn double what you earn here. Only thing is that, you need to have some tact. And also someone, who can make business happen for you. For you, you have both."

He continued.

"Doesn’t mean that you have to stop this all of a sudden. Continue this for some time. Start your operations in Palakkad. And find someone whom you can trust to run day to day business. Visit on crucial days. Stay one or two days here and come back home. You have the option of living well Dev. Only if you would think of it."

He made Dev thinking hard. After few minutes, Dev smiled, having made up his mind.

"How are the property rates in Palakkad, uncle?"

"Dev, now you got the point. Rates are very cheap now. But they will boom in another couple of years. Ten cents will now cost around three lakhs. You can build a nice home in that."

Dev smiled again, and started hitting few keys in computer. At the end, he took a printout. It was a map of Palakkad with important roads passing through it.

Ramachandran now watched him with some kind of amusement.

Dev drew few circles alongside NH 47 and two state highways.

He handed it over to Ramachandran.

"What I want is not ten cents of land uncle. I need few acres. I can invest around two crores. Get me the right land, and I will proceed."

He put extension plan of his company building in backburner now. Let Chandran Uncle come back with options. He will take a decision then.

Ramachandran sat speechless, and looked at the map given by Dev.

He had clearly underestimated Dev.

Two crores. Lots of money.

"You have got my business genes, Dev. I will get you some good deals, with that kind of money. See you Dev. And welcome to Palakkad soon."

With that, he walked towards the door.

CONT ..... cHAPTER 11 . NEXT WEEK)