I always thought that chess was a boring game. I had given it a few tries as a child and had given up as something I would not be able to master and never enjoy. Thinking of a number of moves and counter moves in advance was not my idea of having fun. If I had to stare at something for long periods, I would rather stare at an interesting book than a chess board.
I found a new type of chess in the administrative office. It was played between one staff member and the administrators. It all started with the staff member moving into a guest suite of the institute. It was actually meant for external examiners and visiting dignitaries. This person apparently moved in temporarily because his house was in need of major repairs. Days stretched into weeks and weeks into months, but he would not move out. People started talking about it.
"He will stay there permanently" one person said. "At a charge of Rs. 300 a day, it works out to Rs. 9000/- per month. Where else in this city will one find a suite with air-conditioning, television, kitchen, and no separate water and electricity bill?"
"But he has a house of his own. He must be spending on its maintenance. Why would he spend on two places? He is not known to waste any money" another person said.
"At market rate his flat will fetch a rent of Rs. 30000 to 40000 a month. After spending Rs. 9000 per month, he gets to profit by Rs. 21000 to 31000 per month. Who will leave that suite under such conditions?" a third person said.
"He has let out his flat on rent?" someone asked.
"God knows" the first one said, sounding like 'yes, of course'.
"The administrative boss was complaining that he is not leaving, not matter how many times they have told him to leave" the third person said.
"External women examiners don't like it" the first one said. Their suite is adjacent, and they have to share the bathroom and toilet."
"Hmm..." I said.
Another month passed. Then there was news.
"He has moved back to his flat" the first person said.
"What made him go?" I asked.
"The administrative boss asked him to pay Rs. 700 a day. That comes to Rs. 21000 a month. 'Who will pay that much?' he asked and moved out the same day."
"What about the tenants he was supposed to have in his flat?" someone asked.
"God knows" said the first one, sounding like 'who cares?'.
What none of them realized (or voiced if they had realized) was that this was a brilliant game of chess played between this fellow and the administrative boss, in which the administrative boss won brilliantly. This form of chess was, in my opinion, far more entertaining than conventional chess.
I found a new type of chess in the administrative office. It was played between one staff member and the administrators. It all started with the staff member moving into a guest suite of the institute. It was actually meant for external examiners and visiting dignitaries. This person apparently moved in temporarily because his house was in need of major repairs. Days stretched into weeks and weeks into months, but he would not move out. People started talking about it.
"He will stay there permanently" one person said. "At a charge of Rs. 300 a day, it works out to Rs. 9000/- per month. Where else in this city will one find a suite with air-conditioning, television, kitchen, and no separate water and electricity bill?"
"But he has a house of his own. He must be spending on its maintenance. Why would he spend on two places? He is not known to waste any money" another person said.
"At market rate his flat will fetch a rent of Rs. 30000 to 40000 a month. After spending Rs. 9000 per month, he gets to profit by Rs. 21000 to 31000 per month. Who will leave that suite under such conditions?" a third person said.
"He has let out his flat on rent?" someone asked.
"God knows" the first one said, sounding like 'yes, of course'.
"The administrative boss was complaining that he is not leaving, not matter how many times they have told him to leave" the third person said.
"External women examiners don't like it" the first one said. Their suite is adjacent, and they have to share the bathroom and toilet."
"Hmm..." I said.
Another month passed. Then there was news.
"He has moved back to his flat" the first person said.
"What made him go?" I asked.
"The administrative boss asked him to pay Rs. 700 a day. That comes to Rs. 21000 a month. 'Who will pay that much?' he asked and moved out the same day."
"What about the tenants he was supposed to have in his flat?" someone asked.
"God knows" said the first one, sounding like 'who cares?'.
What none of them realized (or voiced if they had realized) was that this was a brilliant game of chess played between this fellow and the administrative boss, in which the administrative boss won brilliantly. This form of chess was, in my opinion, far more entertaining than conventional chess.
