The Heat Is On

The onset of summer. Not that I am welcoming it. People everywhere else on earth are rejoicing but we Dilliwallas are slowly facing the hot, arid weather. Two weeks back, I got my cooler fixed and it's working wonders. I had to remove my ancient big AC. The reason: it did not fit in any of the windows, so I broke the wall and had it fixed there. Now, it did not escape the eyes of these NDMC officials, who told me that breaking a government property was against the law. So, I had to promptly remove it.

You see, I live in a delapidated government accomodation, which has been sublet to me by an acquaintance. Illegal again, but that's business for some, home for others. The charm of these government flats is that one, they are so centrally located -- everything is within earshot distance, the airport, the railway station, the offices -- that I wouldn't trade them for one of the opulent, nice houses in the outskirts of Delhi. I think it's insane to drive one hour to work and back 365 days in a year, what with Delhi already so stressful. And two, you have complete independence. No landlord bugging you, checking out on how many guys visit you, how much water and electricity you consume or how late you come back from work!

Besides I have the coolest of landlords. We chat on gmail to discuss rent or work, sometimes family or the weather. Well, he is an educated, diligent government servant, who doesn't insist on a year by year increase in rent. Such a breather from my past landlords, who would only talk money. The horror stories of Delhi's landlords are unimaginable. I remember some friends whose landlord would insist on sleeping on the terrace which was actually rented out to them as part of their barsati. But the old bastard was such a lech that he would do anything to get a glimpse of the women. That is just one story. There are others, who told me how the electricity bill would shoot up every month or how they had to sneak in friends because their landlords just didn't like any visitors. Now, that is a pain. Imagine living in seclusion because your landlord does not like people visiting you in your house for which you pay rent!

I have my parking space, my backyard, the trees, the greenery and ample space for Dylan to run around. My dog needs pyschological help. He is hyper active and he loves to bite on anything and everything. That's a different story. I also seldom face power cuts because the area is a high security zone! Delhi's real estate market is hot with activity, with launches and re-launches of serviced apartments and what not. But you know what, if you have lived in south Delhi all along, you develop the south Delhi snobbery and nothing tempts you, not even a five-star like accomodation elsewhere. So relocation -- that's an impossible thought!