Crap!

Not this!!! I need to do something about this fast. Dammit!!

'Dear Madam, this is a gentle reminder to submit requested documents on or before 31st May. If you fail, you will be evicted from the premises with immediate effect.'

I sit at my chair, wondering what to do. I do not have any friends or relatives in this city who can help me out. What should I do? I ponder in despair.

'It's impossible! I have to start looking for some other accommodation.' A wave of dejection threatens to overwhelm me. I breathe rapidly to clear my mind.

I love the house I was staying in now. Granted it is a small studio apartment, but it's a place I can unwind, after the day's stress. Somewhere, where I can be myself, not a nameless face in the crowd. It has been only a month since I moved in but its home, something I can call mine.

Five months before that, since I arrived in Mumbai, I lived in a working ladies' hostel. I shared the room with three other girls.

Despite strict restrictions and ban on leaving the premises after 10:00 p.m. two of my roommates always sneaked out at night to meet their respective boyfriends and sometimes returned in the morning. We always got into trouble with the hostel authorities because of them.

The other one was the messiest person I have ever met. Her stuff was never in its proper place, ever! Her hygiene habits were questionable. She would gladly help herself to anybody's stuff, whether permission was granted or not.

One month in that hostel and I desperately started looking for a new accommodation. I searched ads in the newspaper, internet, placed my own advertisements, visited every real estate agency that I came across and asked anyone who would listen, to help me find a new place to live.

For four months I went on a fruitless hunt looking at rundown houses on the outskirts of the city, paying guest accommodation in already overcrowded houses. In the nicer parts of the city, the rents were so high that it would take my entire monthly salary and then some, just to pay a month's rent.

I was beginning to lose hope and resigned to staying at the hostel.

One day, about four months in Mumbai and at my job, I was at the receiving end of Nivedita's fury. This time, it was my fault that a famous movie actress who was supposed to meet my boss to discuss being the brand ambassador for our chain of retail stores, decided to go on an impromptu, secret holiday out of the country with her "good friend" co-star. Nivedita hates being stood up and since she couldn't possibly vent her anger on the actress, guess who got lucky?

I was really upset at Nivedita's hurtful and vicious words and I wanted solitude to calm down. My noisy, stinky and messy hostel room was certainly not the place. So, I boarded the first bus that stopped at the bus stand, intending to simply take a ride around the city and then return to my quarters.

The bus passed a very pretty garden tucked away behind a cul-de-sac on a narrow bylane. It looked so serene and peaceful amid the maddening noise, that I decided to spend some time there. I got off at the next stop, making my way back to the garden.

As I was walking past a gate, I heard two women speaking that made me stop to listen.

"Oh yes, they are still on the lookout for a tenant," a middle-aged lady was speaking to the other. "But you know how it is in this city. It is very difficult to find decent and trustworthy people these days."

On a whim I went up to the lady. "Excuse me, sorry but I couldn't help overhearing, that you are on the lookout for a tenant."

The lady eyed me suspiciously "Yes, so?"

"Well, I am looking to rent an apartment and maybe I could have a look?" I gave her the widest smile I could manage, hoping she would believe I am not a crazy woman. The lady studied me intently, scrutinizing my appearance, then concluded I was not a psychopath, mass murderer or of questionable character.

"Let me see if I can get you to speak to the society officer. Come in." She nodded to the watchman to allow me to enter. I walked past them and inside the walled compound and my heart skipped a beat.

The 'building' if you can call it that, was not your regular run-of-the-mill multi-storied apartment complex with typical floors, but more like a huge ancient bungalow large enough to be probably called a palace. The front entrance in the middle of the semi-circular building, visually dividing the building in two halves was designed to awe, with marble steps leading to a portico held up by four massive ornate stone columns. Two huge marble staircases on either side of the entrance lobby twisted in opposite directions leading to the upper floors. I could see there was another exit to the back or maybe the front side of the building, but it was sealed shut with rusted iron grills and wire mesh. The bottom three storeys of the building were divided into smaller apartments while the topmost one looked undivided.

The building curved around an enormous central courtyard with lots of trees and shrubs that looked like they needed some TLC. A big, defunct marble water fountain with two cherubs, I guess supposed to spew water from their mouths, stood in the middle of the courtyard, protected by a high iron fence. Ladies and men sat on the circular stone bench built around the fountain, some chatting, while others watched the children play.

To my left, was a small children's play area replete with a jungle gym, swings, slides and a seesaw. I saw some cars exit and enter from what I figure was underground parking. I heaved a sigh of relief. This society seemed to have decent middle-class families living here. It was not some shady, sleazy place.

The lady asked me to wait out in the courtyard, while she called out to someone. An older man probably in his late 50's came out of the building They spoke briefly, the lady pointing towards me. He looked at me, nodded and went in to get the keys.

"Hello, I am the society secretary, Dinesh Chavan," he said by way of introduction and I introduced myself.

"Please come this way," Mr. Chavan gave a brief smile and walked ahead. I followed them to a door on the ground floor of the older looking wing of the building.

Mr. Chavan opened the door and gestured me to go in. I hesitated to go in, my instinct for my protection kicking in. The lady with Mr. Chavan placed her hand on my shoulder, and said gently, "It's OK, you can go in and have a look, we both will wait outside here." They both stood at a little distance from the door.

It was a small studio apartment, but as soon as I entered the house, I knew I had found just what I was looking for. A couple of steps led up to the door which opened to a living area. A small kitchen lay ahead in one corner, and a bathroom and toilet at the opposite. The house had ample natural light streaming in through big windows, protected by iron grills. The window in the kitchen looked to the street outside.

I couldn't believe my luck. The house was in a pretty good shape and only needed very minor repairs. It was tiny, but perfect for me - an answer to my prayers.

I turned back to meet the lady & gent waiting patiently outside. I was so happy and excited I would have danced right then, if it were not for them standing there. 'This is it,' my inner self was clapping its hands in glee.

"I like the apartment and would like to rent it," I said with as much of a straight face as I could manage. The elderly man nodded, "Let's go to the office to discuss." He led me to a studio on the ground floor of the opposite wing, similar to the one I just saw. The door had a paper stuck on it with the words 'Society Office' printed on it. He sat across me at his wooden desk and took out some papers from a file in his drawer.

"The owner of your apartment has designated me to negotiate with tenants on her behalf as she is very old. If you are interested in renting the apartment, you need to read and then sign these documents," he handed me a bunch of papers. "The rent and deposit amounts, terms and conditions of the society and all other legal and statutory documents required are mentioned here."

My eyes grew wider with excitement as I read the rent amount and the deposit which fit my budget. This is awesome!!

"Yes, fine. I agree to the rent and deposit," I could just about contain my excitement.

"There is one thing we need to verify first, before the contract is signed. I should have asked before showing you the house," Mr. Chavan looked quite serious.

My excitement deflated a bit.

"Yes sir, what do you want to verify?"

"See the thing is," he placed his crossed arms on the table and leaned in, "the owner of your apartment is very conservative and wishes to give out the houses only to families and married people. So, unless you are married, we cannot allow you to rent this place."

My heart sank.

Crap!