Living with my father-in-law, Richard, has always been a challenge. He’s the kind of man who thinks his ideas are better than anyone else’s, and he’s constantly trying to change things around the house. His latest obsession was a swimming pool. Richard had been nagging my husband and me for weeks, saying he was bored while we were at work and wanted to invite his friends over to swim.
I told him repeatedly that our backyard was way too small for a pool. Besides, I had spent years nurturing my lawn and flower garden, which were my pride and joy. I’d poured my heart into that garden, planting and caring for each flower with love. But Richard was relentless, insisting that a pool would be better.
One weekend, my husband and I visited my parents. We enjoyed our time away, relaxing and catching up with family. But when we returned home, I was greeted by the most shocking sight of my life.
My lawn and flower garden had been replaced by an enormous hole. Dirt was scattered everywhere, and the once-beautiful flowers I had carefully tended to were gone. Richard stood proudly by the destruction, beaming as if he had done something wonderful.
“I’ve started the pool for you,” he said with a smug grin. “No need to thank me.”
I felt a surge of fury but bit my tongue, trying to avoid a family drama explosion. Richard was so pleased with himself, acting as if he had done us a huge favor. I was devastated, but I kept my emotions in check, thinking there was no way to reverse the damage.
The next day, as the diggers continued their work, karma decided to pay Richard a visit.
The first sign of trouble came when the contractors hit something solid just a few feet below the surface. It turned out that our property sat on top of a massive underground rock formation. The contractors explained that digging any deeper would require heavy-duty machinery and extra costs, far beyond what Richard had anticipated.
Still, Richard was determined to get his pool. He authorized the extra work, confident that the final result would be worth it. But karma wasn’t done yet.
As the diggers tried to break through the rock, they hit an old, corroded pipe that no one knew was there. Water began gushing out, flooding the hole and turning the backyard into a muddy mess. The water pressure was so intense that it created a small sinkhole, which quickly swallowed the machinery and made the situation even worse.
Richard’s smugness vanished as he watched the chaos unfold. The contractors tried to control the situation, but it was clear that the damage was beyond repair. The project had turned into a disaster, and the backyard, which had once been my peaceful sanctuary, was now a muddy, ruined wasteland.
To make matters worse, the sinkhole had caused structural damage to the foundation of our house. The repairs would cost tens of thousands of dollars, and insurance refused to cover it because the damage was caused by unauthorized construction. Richard’s grand pool idea had turned into a financial nightmare.
My husband and I were furious, but there was little we could do except start the long and expensive process of fixing the mess. Richard, on the other hand, was left with nothing but regret and guilt. His plans for a swimming pool had not only destroyed my beloved garden but also brought a heap of trouble onto himself.
In the end, Richard’s arrogance and disregard for our wishes had backfired in the harshest way possible. Karma had delivered its justice, and while it didn’t restore my garden, it taught Richard a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.
As for me, I found a small sense of satisfaction in knowing that nature had its way of balancing the scales. And while it would take time and effort, I vowed to rebuild my garden, turning the wreckage of Richard’s failed project into something beautiful once again.