The Akshaya Tritiya "Gullak" Mystery
The sun was setting over the Ranip skyline as Shantilal Kaka sat on his balcony, precisely folding a newspaper. Arav, his neighbor, stormed in, looking at his phone with a frustrated sigh. "Kaka, everything is becoming so expensive!" Arav grumbled. "I got a 15% hike this April, but my bank balance is lower than last year. I think my company is cheating me on my salary slip." Shantilal Kaka didn't look up. "Arav, your company isn't cheating you. You are being cheated by your own Architecture. Did you check your 'Wages' or just your 'Take-home'?" Arav paused. "Wages? My salary is my salary, Kaka." "No," Shantilal replied, finally setting the paper down. "In this new 2026 era, the government says your Basic Pay must be at least 50% of your total CTC. Your company increased your PF contribution to match the law. Your 'Take-home' went down, but your 'Future Fortune' went up. You aren't poore...