I woke up in the morning, miraculously at the first ring of the alarm. Glad it was a Saturday today, I was more than happy about the prospect of having a half day at work. I loved Saturdays.
It was an important day today. It was half past six, April sun emanating the most pleasant light which made the green trees sparkle and the little birds chirp joyously. It was good to see nature all around.
I got ready within half an hour (surprising, being a girl!) and went to the living room to join the others for breakfast. I was thinking wildly as to how to broach the topic of the important decision I wanted to make.
Taking a deep breath, I smiled and joined my family. Summer time always brought the family together; Riya had completed her tenth grade and awaiting her results with the least anxiety whereas Raj had a job in a recruitment company (I wonder why he studied engineering then) and Dad had his medical store which would open after 9 am. Everyone was seated at the dining table in their usual manners-Dad reading his newspaper with the same sincerity of a priest reading the Hanuman Chalisa, Riya was sending texts and giggling stupidly, Raj had his whole attention in the food and Mom was making a list of the chores she had to do today. Sigh, I would miss them, but I had no other choice left.
I looked up at everyone, cleared my throat and asked everyone for attention, hardly realizing that my voice was as feeble as a mouse. "Okay, listen up ya'll!" Everybody dropped their respective businesses, surprised at my firmness. "Mummy, Papa, I want to tell you something important today."
"What?" my two siblings said together and I shot them a "Shut-the-heck-up" look which I had mastered being the middle child.
"What is it, honey?" Dad asked sweetly while Mummy looking over with concern and anticipation.
Mustering up all the courage I had, I finally spoke, "I need to move out of this house."
Silence.
I could not bear to look up at anyone in the eye. Though my parents were not traditionally conservative, I knew they would not be keen to let their young daughter live alone, moreover, in the same city. Many a minutes had passed when Daddy had lectured all of us, with special reference to Me and Riya, about how the crime rates against women had increased in the country drastically. Of course, I knew this decision of mine would not be given a second look and I would be asked to shut my mouth and stuff that damned khakra in my mouth.
To my surprise, after that eerie silence, I did NOT hear a no. I was watching my parents whispering something to each other while Riya and Raj back to their chores, although with lessened interest.
"Dear, we know there is a lot of workload on you and that the long travel hours in those stinky local buses make life even more uninteresting but moving out is not an option." Mom explained. It is, I thought. I didn't know how to make them understand my perspective.
"Mom, I think I have grown up now, enough to at least stay with a roommate which even a 12 year old kid does in a hostel. I want to be independent and manage my own expenses. And don't worry, I am in the same city, just much nearer to my workplace."
"Our daughter has grown up, hasn't she, Tina?" Dad said to Mom with a neutrality in his voice which frightened me as well as confused me. What did that mean? Am I permitted or am I not? While I was thinking of all these questions, Dad asked "Have you even thought about any places where you can stay?"
I felt a glimmer of hope inside my heart. Little did anyone know that I had spent every free minute of my day browsing the internet for clean and modest places to live in. I did not have any problem to share the room with another roommate too. And lately, while I was searching the internet inside out, I found this:
"Roommate needed. Girls only. 2 bedroom flat with a decent living room and a small kitchen. Garden View Society, Nehru Road, Pune-02. For contact, call the number below." There were pictures of the house on the site and strangely, I had found it immediately endearing, realizing I had actually wasted 45 minutes daydreaming about the place I was not even sure, I would get to stay in. I had quickly saved the number into my cellphone by the name "Dream House" (cheesy, I know!)
I told Dad about the advertisement and the "Dream House" to which he replied "Okay, let us contact on that number and see what's in store." his tone still nonchalant. It suddenly hit me that my family was actually supporting me in this and I felt my stomach flutter! I called on that number and turned the speaker on. After eight rings, a rugged voice said, "Hello?"
"Hi, I am Shikha and I saw your ad over the internet about you needing a roommate. I wanted-"
"Ah! Helloooo Shiiiiikhaaa." She said,suddenly so excitedly that I thought she had mistaken me for her best friend with the same name. "So, when are you movin' in?" she asked casually, expecting me there within the next half hour.
"I would like to ask about a few things first." I quipped.
"Yes? Go on."
"Tell me everything about that place."
"Better you come here for yourself and have a look." She said without a hint of rudeness in her voice. She was right, I thought. How can I make a decision about staying in a house that I haven't even seen yet?
We made the arrangements to meet there in the afternoon as Lovely (I was not even sure if that was her actual name) blabbered about how she had a holiday on Saturday.
I hung up and then looked towards everyone. It was decided that Mom and Dad would come with me to check out the place to which I vehemently insisted that there was absolutely no need to gang up and scare Lovely or worse, give her a chance to joke that a 20 year old girl still carries her parents along to check out a small house. "Okay, you are not going anywhere. Tell Lovely you have changed your mind." Mom said bitterly to which I immediately pleaded, "OKAAAYY!! I will go with you both only if I get to drive!" and found my parents smiling at each other with that "trick worked!" look.
Excited about the afternoon!