Existence Rocks!

Well, not too long ago, my landlord and landlady told me that their son and his family were planning to come down to Pune and stay with them. Towards that end, their son had also begun looking for a job here in Pune. They gave me time till March.

And then every single day they would ask me if I had begun looking for a place. Or if I had begun saving the money. And so on and so forth. So I knew for a fact that they wanted me to go as soon as possible. So I began to look. I found a place in Koregaon Park itself.

So when I told them, they expressed such a lot of surprise. I mean, that’s how people are – first they keep bugging you to leave and then when you are off, they are surprised!

Of course, I needed money for moving. I was about to begin work for a client. I asked him for an advance amount. He promised me that he would pay me. But then at the last minute, he began to not respond to my calls and smses. I began to feel that something was not quite right.

So then I sat down and asked my cards. It was clear to me that this client was not going to pay me. I began to think. I called up PK and he agreed to lend me the money for shifting.

I mean how can people be so callous. First they promise and then they don’t deliver. And if some problems have cropped up sometime in between, they don’t even bother to inform you. After all, informing can at least allow the person to make alternative plans. Not everyone is a Tarot card reader, that they can ask the cards and find out what the matter is all about, is it? I have absolutely no sympathy for people who don’t even have such common courtesies.

Soon, things began to fall into place. PK put the money into my account. And last Sunday, 2nd of December, 2007, I moved into this 1 Bedroom Hall Kitchen (commonly referred to as a 1BHK) flat in Koregaon Park.

The surprising thing is that the broker/agent really helped me out this time! Which for me is a totally novel and unexpected event. I mean, I have changed houses so many times here in Koregaon Park. I have dealt with agents and have found them to be the scoundrels of the worst sort. This broker too is a scoundrel.

When I went to see the flat, he refused to show the place to me until we agreed on the brokerage. It was nuts, but this time, I didn’t get too involved into it emotionally. I mean, I know what the scene is. A house is a house is a house. And a broker is a commission agent is a ruthless person out to make a fast buck.

I mean, even though this person is supposed to be my broker, he acts as if he is the flat owner’s broker. Then he takes money from me and f**ks off into oblivion.

So I negotiated with him in a very interesting manner. Even I was quite surprised as to how I could do this. Perhaps, something inside of me is turning and changing.

Well, anyhows, the broker helped me get a tempo and even helped me move! Wow! I was totally shocked. I mean, I have never seen a broker do that! They just do the deal and disappear after they have taken your money…but this person stuck around and helped me move. I think I will recommend him to other people. At the end of the day, if you are getting something in return for the amount you are paying him, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

So I moved in!

Now this is probably the first time that I am in a place where I have complete control over things. First I used to live with my parents. There I didn’t have much choice in the running of the house or other stuff. Then I lived with Rahul for a while. Again, I didn’t have much choice there. Then I moved in with D. With her I never had any choice. The house used to be run as per her wishes.

This is the first time, I have a place all to myself and the running of the house and everything related to it is in my hands. I am so thrilled.

The day I moved in, me and my maid Nalu got the place in order. We unpacked everything. Then on the day after the next day, a couple of my friends came over and we went to a shopping mall to get stuff for the house – shelves, pots and pans (D had taken all of the stuff – some which belonged to me even!!), and stuff for cooking such as the spices, Rice, Dal and so on….it was such great fun to do all this! I mean, I was getting stuff for my house…it felt so great! I even got a nice little dinner set with plates, quarter plates, bowls and serving bowls with spoons!

Yeah! I know, this sounds so silly and absolutely domesticated na! Especially coming from me it just doesn’t go with the image!!!

Yeah, well! The thing is I am not really interested in household domestic chores. I would rather earn a few bucks more so that I can afford a servant to take care of all these nitty-gritties for me. And so I do.

But at the same time, that does not mean that I cannot cook or clean or run the house all by myself – I can.

Knowledge of a thing doesn’t equate to Interest in the thing, does it?

Meanwhile, my friends began to visit me and they all loved the place too! I made Pav-Bhaji yesterday and called a few friends over for lunch-dinner and we all had a grand time of it!

Anyhow, it’s been a week that I have stayed here, and finally I have some time to sit down and write down all about it…..so all you guys had better read it….