It happened to me about 6 years ago, when I was in the eighth grade. My father (who I’ll henceforth refer to as Baba) was suffering a major financial crisis. We owed a lot of money to a lot of firms. After weeks of discussions and thinking and rethinking, the elders arrived to a solution- a solution that would put an end to our misery (but give rise to another). They decided to sell the house.
Our house.
What can I say about it? What can I say about her? Words cannot simply describe the forty-year old magnificent structure that she is. A buttermilk and brown coloured three storey building- she knows more of us than ourselves, she has seen the most in us. A haven that has been our refuge when we wanted to hide from the storm and the rain, and the world. Now, she had to be sacrificed.
The buyer, a Mr. Mahesh Sharma, after having thoroughly eyed the house like she was a piece of meat, agreed to pay a handsome amount for her- an amount that would more than pay the debt that we owed. But could any amount of money be enough to bandage this new injury of having to part with the house that’s seen us through thick and thin like a family?
Within a few weeks of the deal between Baba and Mr. Sharma, we moved to a rented house. After having moved, only once did I visit the old house. It was a mistake. The living room was stripped of the velvet sofas, the bedrooms were bare, and the dining room, which always brimmed with stupid arguments and laughter, was now a desert. Ma was weeping in the corner, and that was the first day I saw that Baba’s eyes were red and swollen. Only the storeroom was yet to be emptied.
The days spent in the rented flat can be described in one word- agonizing. I cried myself to sleep every night in that small miserable room, being haunted in my dreams by the old house- the concrete walls, the marbled floors, the engraved ceilings, those deserted rooms- they were all calling out to me.
Do you believe in miracles? I didn’t, until-
On the day of the registration when Mr. Sharma would write a cheque to Baba for the house, there was no sign of him in the registry office. Baba and Dada(my grandfather) waited for him for about three hours, while the rest of us, in our rented flat, waited with sinking hearts and tight throats for the ultimate news that our house was at last officially handed over to another man.
Mr. Sharma, however, never turned up, and only after a few hours we got a call from his manager saying that he had flown out of the city for a personal business, and had forgotten all about the registration of the house, so could the date of registration be postponed?
I think deep inside, Baba never wanted to sell her, which is why he didn’t think twice before cancelling the deal on the manager’s face. We got a call at the rented flat from Baba from the registry office, and I remember his words- “Cholo baari jayi (Let us go home)”.
And we went home.
After that, Baba, with some (a lot really) financial aid from Dida (my granny), gradually built up his business again from its state of ruin. The healing took years, but we did heal. Also, we have never had to contemplate selling the house ever since.
I hope my message has reached to whoever has successfully read this post till the end. No matter how hard it seems, how deep you sink or how lost you feel- don’t lose faith. Just don’t. Not all of us are lucky enough to get back something we lost, but do believe that that’s not the end. Do believe that there is someone who watches over you, and that you’ll be fine. Nothing happens without a reason. Maybe it’s not always for your happiness, but someone else’s. At the end of the day, you’ll be fine. The wheels will turn, and living will not be so hard.
Nice story😊
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What beautiful story! I love the message. I do believe in miracles, but drives me crazy how unexpected they happen, but that is what makes them so special. I really wish you would have posted more pictures of your house. It sounds beautiful.
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I’m thinking of posting more pictures too. Thank you for reading 🙂
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A wonderful story! Glad you were able to keep your much loved house!
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Splendid…..
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Aw, what a sweet story…
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I believe that the walls of buildings absorb the stories and secrets of those inside it. I could imagine it must have been so heartbreaking to leave all that behind and to imagine strangers in your space, not appreciating it as much as your family would.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m glad it all ended so well!
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I’m glad it ended well too. Now that I think of it, I don’t know how I could’ve survived if the house had really been sold. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Inspiring. So true, I totally agree. Everything happens for a reason, we can see beyond the picture when we embrace that which seems insurmountable at the moment. Thanks for the follow by the way, you got a great blog here, thanks.
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Woww that was amazing!!!
It’s always good to read the stories with happy ending, specially the one that are real.
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Well done tough girl !!
May God bless you with all the happiness !!
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What an incredible story! I’m really enjoying browsing around on your blog. I’m excited to read more.
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What an encouraging story…wonderful 🙂
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Those words “Cholo Bari Jayi” gave me goosebumps.
There’s no place like the space you lived in for so many years.
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It gives me goosebumps too, every time I think about it. Thanks for reading! 🙂
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Stay strong tough girl !
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the photos are really good !!
*__*
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:’) thank you
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A home is so much more than bricks and mortar. Forgive the cliché, but home is where the heart is. I haven’t lived at home for a few years now, but it is no less the place that I know will always have its doors open to me. It’s the place where I can always go to feel safe. It’s the place I will always feel loved. No matter where I live, that house will always be home. Loved this post! Great work
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Thank you. I was afraid people would think I’m being overemotional and stuff. Thanks, I really appreciate it.
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You can never be too emotional about the place you feel safest. It’s endearing that you feel such a connection to it and shows you’re an appreciative person
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Hello Intoxicated Story Teller. Thank you so much for following my blog. I’ve subscribed to your email to follow yours x
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Amazing story !
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Great story. I look at this as the house being simply a symbolism of anything we may lose or almost lost and a miracle happens.. I love my material things, my home, my cars.. but I’ll leave the house and the cars and take my personal belongings, my shoes especially, and move elsewhere, live with whoever or alone, anywhere in the world, provided it’s safe and clean, if that’s what it takes to not lose (or find) myself.. ..like a friend who left a lifestyle complete with a mansion, luxury cars, private jets, branded clothes and shoes, etc. to live modestly but live her life free from the emotional and mental abuse from a husband who provided all the “nice stuff”.
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A beautiful story. I am glad it worked out for your family. I left a home, a marriage and many possessions 19 years ago and have rebuilt my life all over again. I rent now and have a lovely home.
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I’m glad to know that you’ve rebuilt your life, got a grip on it. No matter what we lose, life goes on. It’s never the end until we’ve got life in us. I believe that you’re doing great. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing this story and for the thoughtful and positive message at the end.
I Nominated you for Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you!
https://randomthoughtsofmine2016.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/why-i-am-here-an-award-and-thank-you/
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Very beautifully written. I beleive that Faith can move mountains and tough times don’t last longer
Do visit
6elementcolors.wordpress.com
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Pingback: reigniting faith-a true story – Wag 'n Bietjie
You were destined to stay with her… in your private warm nest!
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great
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Very nicely written and sharing such an experience is a motivation for many more..Captivating till the end!
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And thank you for following my blog!
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What a beautiful story.
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