Col Mohan Singh (retd) is a veteran golfer and a regular member of our four-ball. On his day, he can give anyone a run for their money. Fit as a fiddle at the ripe age of 75, his sense of humor and disciplined lifestyle makes him a likeable personality.

It was at the fourth tee-off that he complained of slight breathlessness. A 24-hour holter confirmed a low heart-rate and a need for a pacemaker for healthy living. As an ex-serviceman and eligible to avail of ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS), he got admitted to this oldest, upscale and well-established private hospital at Mohali.

Technological advancement in medical science threw open multi choices of pacemakers to be fitted; a basic MRI non-compatible and advanced versions of MRI compatible ones, of course, at considerably enhanced costs.

ECHS caters to the basic model but the hospital lets one exercise the costlier option with payment over and above. Mohan opted for the MRI compatible one and the extra money was duly deposited. The patient was taken to the operation theatre for the required procedure for fitment of the pacemaker. Surgery to open the area below the rib bone was performed with expertise and now everything was set for the MRIcompatible pacemaker to get implanted, when suddenly, a smiling brave Mohan got the shock of his life when he was quietly informed, “Colonel saab, sorry, the machine that you opted for is not available in the hospital store. We will have to make do with the base model.” It was a do or die situation and the helpless patient was left with no choice, a fait accompli.

Well, it still remains a mystery as to how a hospital of this stature accepted payment for a thing that it doesn’t have. Mohan is now out of the hospital, of course with the excess money duly reimbursed, but surely after a nightmarish experience.

And, here goes the second episode on the thin line between fate and fait accompli. Rajeev was upbeat. His dream of settling down around Chandigarh was finally taking shape. A reluctant Delhiite, he called me up the other day, “Pandit, our ancestral house is being sold and I am getting my share. Could you help me find a suitable place in the budget? Urgent!” Rajeev and me go a long way back. Common interests in minor vices and a critical virtue called golf bind us together as partners in charity and crime. We zeroed on to a 3BHK with an independent terrace in the vicinity of Chandigarh. It was a done deal and the token money was exchanged. Date for the letter of agreement and with partpayment was fixed for November 9.

The house in Delhi was under sale and thus had to be vacated. The luggage was hurriedly packed and dispatched to the yet to be bought flat at Chandigarh, the seller being a kind man. Then, tsunami struck a night before. Exactly, a minute after the PM’s four-minute address, my mobile buzzed with a distraught Rajeev being the caller.

The deal was in jeopardy due to the changed perspective of modalities. Both the parties met to find a solution but none emerged. A piquant situation for my friend who was suddenly rendered homeless with a ‘four minute blitzkrieg’! My better half was requested to utilise her soft skills to break the deadlock. She took a minute to announce her verdict, “Rajeev, why don’t you rent the flat for the time being, move in and get your act together. This is not the end of the road. Things will fall into place.” The magic solution was acceptable to the seller who was as keen to have the deal ultimately accomplished. Rajeev has moved in, albeit, as a tenant, a fate accompli, overriding his fate of seeing himself as an owner of the flat. The writer is a Chandigarh-based

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