6) Accommodation Blues

My hometown is Delhi and my first taste of South came when I joined NIFT at Chennai. The college days ensured good hostels and a mess where north Indians had a say in the menu. But it did little to prepare me as I took up a job in the southern heartland.

Working women’s hostels had their own idiosyncratic, stringent rules. Imagine reaching the hostel by 8 pm and lights switched off by 10. It is these silly dictums that egged me on a hunt for an independent accommodation.

But it is here Chennai’s conservativeness conspires against you. House owners just don’t rent out apartments to single working women. In fact north Indians in particular!!!!

My perseverance paid off as I managed to locate a single bedroom flat in Mylapore. A colleague with an uncle in possession of a vacant flat; this dear girl pitched my case strong - guaranteed my good behaviour and vacating on notice!!!

I moved in, highly excited for it was my first independent dwelling. The first floor was occupied by a young family: Ramesh, a senior manager in LIC and Sumathi, his wife and two adorable and chirpy kids. I stayed on the mezzanine and ran into this family frequently.

Sumathi was a hospitable, friendly soul and we soon discovered a lot in common. Ramesh, however, turned out a dirty flirt and my antennae on guard in his presence. Both the kids were very friendly and chirpy; I had a good time except for this man’s boorish behaviour.

It happened on Holi in 2004. While cleaning the stains of the staircase, I fell, real bad. As I lay grimacing in pain, Ramesh came to inspect the damage. He lifted me to his arms and took advantage of my plight – almost squeezing my bosom - while feigning innocence. The doctors confirmed a fracture on the ankle condemning me to 6 weeks in bed before the plaster could be removed.

My mother came from Delhi to attend me and Sumathi was full of co-operation, showing my mother the grocery stores besides taking her to the temples. In addition she brought books from the library to relieve me from the monotony of the sick bed.

After 3 months, I got better as to rejoin work and Ramesh’s harassment brooked beyond tolerance. He would await an opportunity to accost me whenever alone and run his hands all over. I was too weak to hunt for another apartment option and secondly, Sumathi had grown to be such a good friend that I hated to break her faith on her husband.

It was sad that I could talk to Sumathi on anything except the antics of this creep. The very mention of his name or the sight of this monster sent a shiver down my spine; a source of lingering danger and mental agony.
Once my cousin visited me and she was hopelessly naïve. Sumathi had invited us for dinner and my cousin exhausted talking about her career even giving Ramesh her calling card. Since then the girl has been besieged by his calls. Though I had a respite, I felt her safety my responsibility.

I weighed in the options: one, call the police for Chennai has a women’s protection wing and one complaint, this fellow would lose his job and most certainly be imprisoned. I did not wish that on Sumathi though his behaviour had crossed all boundaries of tolerance.

Second, take courage and confront him head-on.

I sought him out for a walk to the terrace and the greedy dog lapped up immediately. I recounted about my cousin’s discomfiture and his constant calls. I bluffed that we have recorded it and would be soon be filing a police complaint.

Ramesh boasted about his familiarity with the police commissioner and at this point, I lost my composure completely. I slapped him hard and warned him to face the cops.

A week later, Sumathi came to apologize,” I heard your showdown with Ramesh and I knew he was besotted with you right from the start. He has always been a creep and it’s my fate. This is not the first time my husband has strayed and he just cannot resist a beautiful woman”.

She continued,” This place is no good for a nice girl like you. My uncle has a house in Alwarpet and I will ensure that he rents it out to you. Leave me to my fate and we will always be friends”.

I was stupefied and totally in awe. What a woman!!!!
I learnt that sometimes putting with a bad situation too requires courage.