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📜 The morning after the Dussehra competition, gentle sunlight streams into the Mysore heritage courtyard. Dev happily polishes his silver medal with a soft cloth while Kavya feeds fresh milk to Chintoo.
Chapter 02 • Mysore
The Bank Vault & The Mystery of The Vanishing Kulfi
Why did Gundappa’s creamy saffron Kulfi cost ₹2 in 1996 but ₹20 today? Join Kavya and Dev at the heritage State Bank to learn how interest helps savings keep up with the Inflation Monster, and why money under a mattress cannot!
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📜 Ajji stepped onto the red-oxide veranda in her emerald-green Mysore saree, holding a velvet pouch filled with their saved chore coins.
Ajji (Kalyani Amma)
"Good morning, my champions! Yesterday, Kavya’s clay Gullak saved the art competition. But today, we embark on an even bigger mission!"
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📜 Ajji jangled the velvet pouch. Dev’s eyes lit up like Diwali sparklers!
Ajji (Kalyani Amma)
"We are walking to the State Bank Mysore heritage branch near the clock tower to open your very first official Junior Savings Bank Accounts!"
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📜 10-year-old Kavya adjusted her braided pigtails thoughtfully, asking with practical curiosity.
Kavya
"Ajji, if our red clay Gullak already kept our coins safe during the crisis, why do we need a big stone bank?"
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📜 Ajji smiled warmly and handed both children their canvas walking caps.
Ajji (Kalyani Amma)
"A clay pot is like a sleeping vault—it only guards what you put in. But a bank puts your money to work in the real world, earning Interest so it grows!"
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📜 They walked down the sun-dappled heritage avenue. Bright red Gulmohar blossoms shaded the cobblestone path as Chintoo the golden pup trotted happily ahead.
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📜 Near the temple square, the rich, irresistible aroma of boiling cardamom milk, roasted pistachios, and saffron drifted through the breeze.
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📜 Dev halted in front of the hand-painted wooden cart, licking his lips eagerly.
Dev
"Look Ajji! Gundappa Uncle’s famous Matka Kulfi cart! Can we please have one cool saffron kulfi before our long bank meeting?"
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📜 55-year-old Gundappa wore his spotless white kurta and checked gamcha, beaming with pride.
Gundappa
"Namaskara Kalyani Amma! Congratulations Dev on your silver medal! Fresh, chilled Mysore Matka Kulfi ready for our young artist!"
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📜 Gundappa handed the frosty earthen pot sealed with leaf and dough.
Gundappa
"Here is a creamy clay pot for you, Dev! That will be ₹20, please!"
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📜 Dev stared at his shiny ₹20 coin, clutching his forehead in dramatic disbelief.
Dev
"Wait... TWENTY RUPEES for just one little pot?! Gundappa Uncle, did you sprinkle real 24-karat gold dust inside this milk?"
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📜 Ajji reached into her cloth bag and produced an antique, brown-leather household expense ledger from 1996.
Ajji (Kalyani Amma)
"Haha! Dev, listen to this. In October 1996—exactly 30 years ago—Gundappa’s father sold this exact same Matka Kulfi for just ₹2!"
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📜 Dev pointed an accusing detective finger at the kulfi barrel while Kavya chuckled.
Dev
"WHAT?! ₹2 in 1996 and ₹20 today?! That is 10 TIMES MORE! Uncle, are you making 10 times more profit and building a palace?!"
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📜 Gundappa wiped tears of laughter from his eyes and laid out two slate boards on the cart.
Gundappa
"Hahaha! I wish I were building a palace, Dev beta! But let me show you the secret recipe book of 1996 versus 2026!"
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1996 kulfi: milk ₹1
+ sugar ₹0.20 + pot ₹0.30
= ₹1.50 · sells for ₹2
📜 Gundappa wrote out the vintage 1996 ingredient ledger with chalk.
Gundappa
"In 1996: 1L rich buffalo milk was ₹6 (₹1/kulfi). Sugar was ₹4/kg (₹0.20/kulfi). Ice, salt & mud pot = ₹0.30. Total cost to make was ₹1.50! We sold for ₹2 and made ₹0.50 profit."
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Inspiration & Educational Attribution
FinJunior interactive quests are adapted and gamified with gratitude and inspiration from Zerodha’s Rupee Tales and Varsity Junior educational initiatives to champion early financial literacy for children across India.