Episode 96: The EMI Trap — When Buy-Now-Pay-Later Culture Destroys a Young Couple’s Peace
Series: Broken by Burden: Financial Survival Strategies for the Troubled Mind
Date: 09-11-2025
🎭 A Life Lived in Instalments
Characters:
- Ravi Iyer (29): A young marketing executive with dreams of living like the “urban elite.”
- Priya Iyer (26): His newly married wife, a schoolteacher who desires comfort but values financial stability.
- Suresh: Ravi’s carefree friend who glorifies BNPL schemes.
- Mrs. Nair: Priya’s sensible mother, who has seen the consequences of debt in her own life.
🌳 The Beginning of a Dream
When Ravi and Priya got married, they moved into a 2BHK apartment in Bangalore. Priya wanted a warm, cozy home where they could create memories.
Priya: “Ravi, I want our home to feel special. A place that’s just ours.”
Ravi (smiling): “And it will be! I’ll give you the kind of home you’ve seen on Instagram.”
Ravi’s ambition wasn’t just to make Priya happy — he wanted his friends and colleagues to see that he was “settled.”
Within a month, they furnished their home with everything top-of-the-line:
- A ₹1.2 lakh double-door refrigerator.
- A ₹75,000 smart TV.
- A ₹35,000 designer sofa set.
- Latest smartphones for both.
And all of it was purchased on “zero-cost EMI” and Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) schemes.
💸 The BNPL Addiction
Ravi’s friend Suresh encouraged him.
Suresh (excited): “Bro, this is how we live smart! Why waste time saving? Just buy now and pay later. Life’s short!”
Ravi (grinning): “You’re right. Why settle for less when we can afford comfort?”
Soon, Ravi had 3 BNPL apps and two credit cards. Their monthly EMI payments climbed to ₹27,000 — almost half their combined income.
⚠️ The First Warning Signs
One evening, Priya sat down with their budget notebook.
Priya (concerned): “Ravi, we’re barely saving anything. Do we really need all this?”
Ravi (defensive): “Priya, these are just EMIs. We can handle it. Besides, why live like misers when we’re young?”
Priya’s mother, Mrs. Nair, visited a few days later.
Mrs. Nair (looking around): “All this looks fancy, Priya. But have you thought about emergencies?”
Priya (hesitant): “Amma, we’ll manage. Ravi says it’s all under control.”
Mrs. Nair (gently): “Beta, luxury on debt is like decorating a leaking roof. It will collapse when the rains come.”
🗣 The Collapse Begins
The rains came sooner than expected. Ravi’s company delayed salary payments by 15 days due to cash flow issues. The BNPL apps started sending reminders, penalties, and calls.
Priya (panicked): “Ravi, the app is saying we owe ₹5,000 extra if we don’t pay today. We don’t have that much left this month!”
Ravi (angry): “Stop blaming me! It’s just a delay. Don’t make it worse.”
Priya (hurt): “You don’t see it, do you? We’re living like kings for 29 days and beggars on the 30th!”
That night, Priya cried herself to sleep. Ravi lay awake, staring at the ceiling, realizing for the first time how deep they were in.
💔 The Emotional Breakdown
A month later, when another EMI bounced, Ravi received a legal notice from one of the BNPL companies. He sat on the balcony, holding the letter, trembling.
Priya joined him quietly.
Ravi (softly): “I wanted to give you the life you dreamed of. Now, I’ve trapped us.”
Priya (teary): “I didn’t marry you for smart TVs and big fridges. I married you for peace. Can we start over, Ravi?”
🧠 Character Psychology
- Ravi: A man chasing societal approval and instant gratification, unaware of the long-term trap of debt.
- Priya: A woman torn between wanting comfort and fearing financial instability.
- BNPL Apps: A modern villain — alluring, invisible, and relentless.
💡 What This Story Teaches Us
- BNPL and zero-cost EMIs often hide penalties and fees.
- If EMIs exceed 30% of your income, you’re walking into financial quicksand.
- Peer pressure and social media often push young couples to live beyond their means.
- It’s better to start small and upgrade slowly, rather than buy everything on credit.
💸 The Financial Impact
- Total BNPL & EMI debt: ₹3.5 lakh.
- Monthly EMI commitment: ₹27,000.
- Savings: ₹0 — they had to take a personal loan at 12% interest just to clear overdue EMIs.
🌱 Where They Are Now
Ravi sold his high-end phone and TV to close one BNPL account. They now follow a strict cash-only budget with ₹10,000 saved monthly. Priya told him:
“I’d rather have less but sleep peacefully, than have everything and live with fear.”
Episode 97: The Greedy Guardian — When a Child’s Inheritance Is Misused by a Relative
In the next episode, an orphaned child’s inheritance is placed under his uncle’s guardianship, only to be siphoned off for personal greed, leaving the child with nothing.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This narrative is fictionalized but inspired by real BNPL and EMI debt traps faced by young couples. Always evaluate necessity, affordability, and savings before opting for credit.
Finance World 
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