Chidiya Ghar

Leaking taps, burnt chokes, failing ballbearings, lost switches, unending spending followed by inability to get reimbursement from the land lord, Oh no more, I have to buy a house. Any idea conceived, is often rushed with haste, is probably my weakness. The regularly ignored real estate columns were scrutinized with a magnifying glass, any half constucted building generally perceived as a nuisance is watched with admiration, that is how I began my great exploration of a house. It took me no time to come to the ground reality that I cannot afford an independent house in the close vicinity, leaving the other option to go for a flat. It is also not such a bad idea. With least maintainance nuisance and supposedly more secured place than a remote house in the suburbs with drainages, municipal water long pending.

It was very evident that I have to pay some commission to broker if I want to go through him, which is quite a few chips, I had a brilliant idea of searching it on my own. I was very choosy and and started enquiring only in prime localities and where flats are already in shape giving me an idea of how they look like when they are completed . I thought I would be welcomed with great enthusiasm, but to my utter dismay they refused even to divulge the name of the builder and with quite stern faces told me that they were all sold. I began to undestand that the flats in prime localities in finishing stages would have been already sold out and no use of trying them. With disappontment creeping into my heart I started looking side ways, and was lucky enough to find few flats even in bylanes , built with equal good taste, and found that they were also sold out . Then came the realisation that any flat even in bylane in the finishing stages will not be available if I am not first in the que. I was suggested by my friend that we have to look for a flat when it is in the foundation stage. So whenever I found persons digging a hole on earth I started enquiring them, some said it was for commercial pupose, some coolies engaged were not aware for whom they were working, some said some supervisor will come at a particular time and all the details can be taken from him, at least there is hope of getting some thing. But my spirits were getting dampened as I always found some "nala" besides it, or some tinkering shop opposite to it , or at least government primary school behind it, in addition to the long wait, and unpredictability about their shape and look. Many builders will not provide you with their building plan and specification list, as it is not viable for them to print them for the sake of few flats, an easy way to escape from the commitment , which can be deviated at a later date. At last I was lucy to figure out one flat for sale which was actually booked by one and is being sold by him for his own reasons. I went to see it with lot of hope . It had two bed rooms neither sqaure nor rectangular in shape , a litteral attempt to make space out of nothing, and two windows facing the corridor which we can not afford to open in our life time , with too many curious onlookers passing through. The price was exhorbitantly 65 lakhs. Another flat was offered but rejected because it's being located just beside a place of worship which will ensure twenty four seven noisy prayers. It was really a difficult decission for me . Finally I said no. My husband said "It seems it is very difficult to get like this. Let us go through a broker" The huge sum which is to be paid to him looked like a pittance now.

My broker made his presence with thick gold chain and a bracelet, riding a motor cycle asking "What is your budget?". He took us to a flat, which very close to my dreams, and where I was already been rejected once. I said "They said no flats for sale" He laughed showing all his bright teeth "They dont show you madam" "Why?" My husband pinched my hand, it is a signal to keep my mouth shut. I thought it is the first door.Oh.. what is more beautiful than that?.. No, he did not take us there, at least the next one?.. no..no.. you have to pass through it too,.. may be it is the last one?.. Sorry, not exactly that, uum.. take a right turn, you will find a door in the most unsuspecting corner. Some thing in me is toppling with disappontment. He opened the door. With all the PVC pipes , strewn all around the floor, "This is the drawing, cum dining, two bedrooms with one balcony, kitchen. Look at the floor. How nice!" . Really floor looked so smooth that any senior citizen can break his back effortlesly, bed rooms big enough to accommodate one double cot. "Where is the balcony?" I asked him exitingly. Even if the bedroom is small I can sit in the balcony and muse. "There it is" he showed, I almost fainted. "Is it the balcony?'" "Yes . What is wrong with it?"he asked. "What am I supposed to do with this balcony? Exactly opposite to my balcony my neighbour's living room is positioned, either I have to keep watching their T.V. to keep my power bill low, or have a free peep into their bedroom and take a data of their daily routine.Where are my birds,blue sky, etc..etc...". He looked assuringly "You want sky madam ? Just look there . Just rise you neck" Sky was not deprived to me. But I have to prop my neck upwards until I get spondylitis to get a gimpse of it amidst long parallel cement walls, shining like a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. " Madam one thing I have to tell you. There is no place to dry cloths, a kitchen is an end in itself" he told me with honest tone. "Any way how much would it cost us ?" my husband asked. " Just 75 lacks. I can bring him down him for a lack or two" Both of us looked at each other, a thing which we rarely do, after all it is a joint venture. I could not hep but asking him "Sir, why are you showing such flats to us?" "What to do madam? All flats will be sold while under constuction, this too has got a long line of propective buyers. Take a quick decission." I have to shell down 75 lakhs!! that too compromisingly. "No" I said firmly. I know this will not be available even under constuction, some body will book it paying a meagre amount, wait till rate goes up, later keep it for sale after 6 months or so for double the price. What an easy way of earning?. As more and more we are inclined to do smart work than hard work, they are also getting smarter and inventing thousand ways of snipping more from you . There is no dearth of smart people on the planet. "It is too expensive . Show another one" my husband told him. "Tomorrow" he promised.

That tomorrow he came. He took me to a building in semi finished condition. We spiralled, exactly I do not remember, he lead us into a den admitting very small light, "Why so dark?" " Because there is plastic around and after a white wash it will look bright." May be. We entered into bed room which was pitch dark "Where are the windows?" "Can't you see ma'm up there" he showed some ventilators. "Do you call them windows?"I asked "Now a days people always use lights know, ma'm" "How about air?" "Every body is installing A.C. you know, madam" "If there is no power?" "Generator is there you know, ma'm" "If diesel is not available in the market?" He gave me broad smile, I could make it out only when his teeth flashed in that darkness. "We can not get a better house ma'm for a cheap price." "How much?" "Fifty lacks". Fiftylacks. So cheap ! One has to break his back all along his life to earn 50 lakhs. But now it is not worth buying roof on your head! A feeling that I have to choke, languish and perish in that pitch dark dungeon all my life made me very sick. I longed to get out the place sooner. "What do you say ma'm, take it or leave it, another party is waiting with a cash bag" " To hell with his cash bag . I am leaving it." I told him. I came out and looked back.People are pushed, squeezed and crushed into to the small four walled infernos , called a flat, with no breathing space, no elbow room, no leg space, no open sky, nothing to call it human. The doves already found their way to it to make it home , but at least they can fly when they feel strangled. I am human. I refuse to be a device in this ruthless money swindling circuit. "Leave it for ever" I told myself. I walked away with peace.