Ah, the sweet scent of redevelopment!
Promises of glossy new towers, luxurious amenities, and—best of all—extra square footage to boast about. Who wouldn’t be tempted?
But, alas, the perfume of promise soon turns rancid when greed sneaks in, and what was meant to be a blessing, becomes a battleground—brothers against brothers, neighbors at war, and entire colonies splintered like fragile glass.
It’s quite amusing how an extra bedroom or an additional balcony suddenly transforms the gentlest soul into a raging warrior. Siblings who once shared their childhood dreams now glare at each other like ferocious rivals, battling over inherited property as though it were a trophy rather than a home filled with memories.
“Mine!” screams one. “No, mine!” yells the other. Meanwhile, the father who toiled his life away to earn that house must be rolling in his grave or an old folks home, wondering how bricks and mortar became more precious than blood.
Property disputes aren’t confined to families alone. Housing colonies too fall prey to this contagion, with neighbors once amicably sharing tea now sharing dirty looks across the courtyard. The most amusing sight is a redevelopment meeting—residents sitting in plastic chairs, nodding sagely as some dubious builder promises the moon.
The man in the front row dreams of his penthouse; the lady at the back fancies a parking spot. Nobody seems to notice that the builder’s smile is a bit too wide, his assurances a tad too glossy.
And why not? Greed clouds judgment. If one builder offers a 40% extra area and another a mere 20%, reason flies out the window. Who cares if the one promising the moon has a history of leaving projects half-finished and residents stranded?
Who bothers checking credentials when dreams are so much easier to believe?
It’s fascinating how the greed for more, blinds us to reality. A hardworking father or mother saved every penny to buy that modest flat, scrimped and saved to pay off the loan. And here comes the son and daughter, expecting that instead of working for their own home, the crumbling ancestral property will magically transform into a sprawling luxury apartment, all thanks to some smooth-talking builder.
“No need to work hard like your parents did,” he grins, “just wait for the golden goose to lay its redevelopment egg!”
But here’s a thought, dear youngsters—why not earn it?
Why not step into the real world, save, work hard, and buy that coveted space yourself, like your parents did? And those parents who are trying to do it for their children; don’t!
Redevelopment should be about progress, not shortcuts or handouts.
Take time, choose wisely—builders with integrity, plans that are realistic, and dreams grounded in hard work. Because at the end of the day, a building built on greed will crumble faster than the old structure it replaced.
Meanwhile look at the irony—friendships, and families falling apart! Perhaps we should remember that inheritance without working for it, makes a weakling out of a man or woman …!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to bobsbanter@gmail.com
