When a person cries? Person cries in the saddest moment or at the happiest moment in their life.
Gruhapravesh was the happiest moment in our life. It was my life time wish and ambition to buy home in Pune, the city which we love very much. Unfortunately it was not materializing for many years. One of the reasons was lack of courage and also as I was in neck deep debt. Thanks to the Banks and their Credit Cards and my life style. Let me tell you there is not much difference between Quick Sand and Credit Card traps, if you use cards foolishly, and I am the most foolish person around. One fine day I reveived arrears and after getting it, first thing we decided to clear balances of all the Credit cards I was holding and to cancel the cards and we just did it. It was really courageous act to get release from the clutches of Credit Cards. After all the debts were cleared slowly, slowly, we started thinking with relaxed mind in line of fulfilling our dream. Thanks to the moral support from my colleague received.
During that period my brother and his family were staying in Indore. During Diwali Vacation as usual we made plans to go and stay in Indore for all three weeks. My wife was insisting on going to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussourri and I was damned scared with the thought of expenses involved. I casually mentioned her that I am thinking of buying flat in Pune for which we need money. Her reply was “we will go to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussourri and buy flat also“. What does she think about her husband? Is he Rockefellers or what? Doesn’t she know that financial position of her husband? To cut down the story short, we went for the trip and after coming back she started nagging for the Flat. Again budget was the main hurdleas usual.
We visited DSK’s office at Dadar where we received good information and good treatment.(Chalo Shurvat to bahaut acchi ho gayi maine kaha). Then I mentioned the idea to my parents and to my Godfather and to my Brother in Law and surprisingly they liked it. We all agreed that all of us should go for flat hunting together on next Sunday. However one by one, dropouts started. We, with sheer frustration and upset mind cancelled the plan for the day decided.
But It was our destiny to have home in DSK Vishwa.
Sunday early in the morning at 4.00 am, I do not know how, I waked up and told my wife that come on get up, two of us will go to Pune right now and she agreed (for a change. Wife and agree?). Then we proceeded to Pune. Mohimechi Survat tar ekdanchi zhali.
My wife was deadly against of buying flat at DSK Vishwa because of the distance from Deccan Gymkhana. She was not even open to reasoning and ready to go to Dhayari to look at the project. On the other hand I was keen in buying flat ay DSK Vishwa. The good advertisements by DSK about the project had deep impact on my mind. Kya kare chakraview me khoya hai Abhumanyu. Well I am not Abhumanyu. I knew what to do. I played a little trick. After getting down at Shivaji Nagar Railway Station, we hired an Auto Rickshaw and took her to Pashan Sush Road, Baner, and Aundh and so on. I was very quite sure that she is not going to approve the idea of staying in another Urban Jungle with one eye on auto rickshaw meter and the trick worked. She agreed to have a look , just look at DSK Vishwa, After lunch I called up DSK’s office in Pune and told them that I have come from Mumbai with a intention of buying a flat. They arranged a vehicle to take us to DSK Vishwa. That was the turning point
And let me tell you that it was the love at first sight. The Ganapati Temple near the entrance at the bottom of the hill, the ghat, Pu La Deshpande Katta, the nature, the trees, the greenery , the Lotus Ponds, the surroundings, the garden ,the jogging track , the open space, the air, the wind, the climate and of couce the salesperson.. It was the instant decision to buy home, the only small problem was which flat to select. We visited 3 / 4 flats but nothing was clicking in the mind. The Fifth flat we entered and that it. Intuitional decision was made on the spot. No second thought. It was the inner feeling. I called up my parents, my sister, my sister in law for their approvals and join us in Pune next day for the final approval along with the Cheque book. We spend sleepless night in my wife’s cousin’s place. Next day the Cheque for the booking amount of Rs.11, 000.00 was handed over to DSK’s office. The best part was I was penniless. After coming back to Mumbai I arranged to deposit amount in my bank a/c and in the meanwhile started knocking banks doors for Home Loan.
We had bitter experience at HDFC. The Lady on the counter wanted to know my monthly savings in the saving bank account. What a joke? She was not able to understand that deposits in Voluntary PF Account and LIC premiums and Deposits in Employee Credit society are part of the savings and they reduce your take home salary. We were much nervous. We were so close still far away from the fulfilling the dream. I called up DSK’s office and received assurance that they will help me in availing Housing Loan and which they did. We availed Housing loan from ICICI Bank without much hassle. The waiting period was hardly 10 /15 days. However we were very impatience during that period. During those two weeks we jumped at every opportunity to visit DSK Vishwa to just have a look at out future home. In the meanwhile when we discovered about our great,friendly, neighborhood the joy was doubled. It's called Dugdhasharkara (milk +sugar ) yog.
Finally the D-Day of Agreement and the hand over of the keys arrived. I must say that the major role in this sequence was played by ever smiling, ever helpful DSK Staff members, without their help and support, our dream would have remained dream only.
And then we cried on the day of Gruhapravesh.
We are grateful to all DSK Staff members, Shri Lele, Ms. Ashwini ( Mumbai), Ms. Sidhaye, Ms.Pratibha Kulkarni and Shri Shudhodan Naik in particular, for helping us to fulfil our dream.
Thanks Shri Shudodhan Naik. You played the instrumental role in selection of home.
