Apartment #1

So we went to see this apartment which was not at the best area where one would like to move from the better area where he/she is staying currently. Nevertheless I just want to escape from the … well you know.

I rang the bell, while I was waiting for the door to open, I could see smoke coming out of the keyhole.
“I think its burning” I said.

A young guy opened the door (by young I mean, a bachelor not necessarily younger than me). He was holding a cigarette on his one hand while he leaned on the door keeping it half opened. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt that said few letters which read “WTF”. No, I don’t think he meant me. May be me, 1400 hours on a Saturday evening? Definitely ME. (But he suggested the time)

“Vikram? Remember we talked on the phone. Seems like you are moving?” I asked.
“Uh, yeah” He replied. I assumed he was Vikram*.

10 seconds. He took another puff.

“So shall I come in and see the place?” I asked to kill the silence and shove away the smoke.

My wife was already covering her face with her dupatta.
“I will check out the place first” I told her and stepped in.

There were 3, no 4 guys on the floor. There were wires all over, empty bottles (liquor), cigarette buds, cartons, plastic bags. It was a mess.

To make things worse the entire walls were covered with foot and hand marks. I think either people got all crazy after watching Spiderman or were completely drunk and didn’t know where they were going.

The smoke was so thick that the kitchen was not visible. The government bathrooms at bus stations were lot better than the ones I found there.

Wifey stayed out.

I got a call after half hour.
Owner: “Did you see the house”
Me : “I am afraid sir, I think your house is a mess”
Owner : “Oh, a couple of bachelors were staying there, they will vacate in 2 weeks, we can get it cleaned up”
Me : “Cleaned up? I think the entire house needs re-painting and lots of work needs to be done.”
Owner : “Oh, that apartment is my hard earned money, those guys destroyed it? Oh oh. God’
Me : “Sir, no Sir its not like they destroyed it or anything.. A little messy I would say”

I did not want to hear an old man crying. Messy bathroom and an old man crying was definitely not my idea of a Saturday evening.

We met this weekend, the owner came over from his hometown 300kms from Bangalore to take a look at his hard-earned apartment and send the boys out. The owner looked pretty sad.

“I want to be honest with you; I don’t want to move into an apartment this messy. I guess you should start looking for other tenants” I said.
“I completely understand” he said.
When the door closed behind me, I think I could hear him cursing himself for giving the brand new apartment for rent to a bunch of guys. (Who as he says promised to keep the place neat?)

<<<<<<<FLASHBACK>>>>>>>>>>

Few years back,

Five friends and I shared a 3 bedroom house when we started working. It was fun.

There were bottles, cigarette buds, polythene covers, wires, books, clothes, paper all over. It was a mess…………………….

*Name changed to protect privacy.

PS: Just out of college and a cleanliness freak? Nah, I don’t think anyone will look cool then.

Tags: Bachelor Accomodation, Landlord