Washing Machine

Was a tenant then! Rent and water are two very critical items in tenant tenure – all from practical experience. A tenant can only feel the essence. 2 BHK and a thin verandah was my rented possession. It took a few days to set the house in order and a few more months to call it my home. Life had just settled into the routine order of 9 to 6 on week days and a few relaxed fringes over the week end. By natural symbiosis the family of property owner had taken up a guardian role. I just had to be careful over the weekend as every ounce of water that I spilled to wash used to hit an unknown meter that came back as sweet notes from my undeclared guardian. I managed with a mixed bag of successful attempts or diligent acceptance of failure.

One fine Sunday morning, the greater half of the property owner knocked my door with a request. Being on the other side of the table and with very low asset power, what can follow is an unconditional yes to request from the owner. Don’t be scared it was just a real estate sharing proposal – that too with an energetic lifeless item. That morning I learnt his daughter worked for an electronic company in the city who offered employee’s parents a stock clearance gift. I was excited to see the odd size carton landed up on my verandah late in the evening.

I saw a Washing Machine so closely for the first time. It would be wrong to say I saw as it was mostly covered except for the careless openings of the carton here and there. Monday morning was a twofold realization. My verandah got even smaller and I was now a caretaker.

It was a new habit. I returned from office, to invariably see my power house sitting dormant watching the empty 2BHK from the holes of the carton. It was a guest for some more time and slowly synced into the list of my belonging list. The initial thought was my property owners’ daughter was about be married and my warehouse guest would follow her with the groom to wash all the unwanted.

But that was initial thought. Colors of life are not as easy to mix like the dye of textile. Neither is as easy to wash off the dirt and grease of mind to resume color guard promises while getting through a stain free and crease free swirl.

I took advantage. Turned the table and walked up to meet my renter. Offered decent proposal to own up my caretaker and move it from my verandah to the passage near the washroom. I had never waited so long to open up cartons that landed my home. He was bold grey with sharp blades and sturdy body. Empowered him and pressed the trendy buttons. I stood by him through his maiden journey. Dark in the night pegged the semi wet garments. For the first time the water meter missed sensing the water usage.

Gyan# 28 – Not all associations are planned, they happen when time desires.