Week 3 – Being Homeless

Of all the places the broker showed I then liked a place in Prabhadevi which was a 1RK with redwood flooring for 15K. I liked it more than the place I had confirmed last. The broker tells me that the owner is coming back in 2 days there are some formalities but you’ll get the place. I reach my friend’s place in Andheri beaming with happiness upon finding this amazing place. It was only then that I told my friends that I have been homeless since that afternoon. I stayed back in Andheri that evening coz I was exhausted from the day and had absolutely no energy to go to Thane then to my other friend’s place. I leave for Thane the next evening and leave for office the next day from there which only took me 1 hour 15 minutes (I was expecting it to be a longer journey). On Monday the broker was supposed to get back to me as always he didn’t. So, I call him and I get to know ‘The flat is no more available’. The owner wishes to furnish it and then will give it for 23k. Which was way over my budget. I go back to the previous flat to find out if it can be given by Tuesday evening. The owner asks me to speak to his wife upon reaching there. She showed me two more flats that they have but the earliest possession would be after a week. The flat that I had seen was occupied by their relative and they didn’t intend to ask them to vacate it. Which was surprising as they had made it available to show it to prospective tenants. I was not very convinced about taking one of their other places, I randomly asked a lady in the lift about the water situation there and she tells me it comes only once a day and it was sometime in evening when I’m in office usually. Revelation of so many lies was too overwhelming I decide on dropping the idea of staying there altogether.

PGs in Bandra:

Next day I see some places in Bandra (PG). The one that I absolutely loved was a conventional PG where you are given a room in owner’s flat. They had a dog and I love dogs. The room was on sharing basis but I was ready to compromise. After the entire discussion I get to know that the kitchen is out of bounds for guests. It was a deal breaker as I cannot have outside food. It’s not only a wastage of money but I love cooking and I cannot let go of that in exchange for a decent place to stay.

Stay at Santacruz:

By this time I had moved to a colleagues place in Santacruz as I had used up the two pair of formal clothing I had in my backpack and I needed to take my stuff from the hotel’s cloakroom. Of all the frustration that had built up by then this was one thing that brought in some positivity in me. If I came across a bunch of liars and crooks I also found this amazing friend who opened up the gates to her home to a person she had barely known for 2 weeks.

The same friend convinced me that moving to a PG was a bad idea which I totally agree with.

House hunting got easier from here as I had my luggage at my disposal and Santacruz being close to office I could house hunt till late.

Mumbai Monsoon:

It was during this time that Mumbai rains picked up pace and posed as another major hurdle in my process of finding a place to stay. It rained the entire Thursday night and the three of us unaware of its strength and city’s weakness in handling it, started from our places as usual only to take an about turn about 2 km from office. The taxi driver refused to drive further as it was clearly dangerous venturing into roads filled knee deep in water.

We came back, discussed our strategy in case we get stuck in her house for days. The good thing about this it forced me to take a break from the house hunting that my body desperately needed. I had got multiple boils on my feet of all the walking esp in the rain.

I saw a couple of places in Santacruz of which I liked a 1RK. This broker’s style of showing flats was different. He kept showing me places without telling me the price, I innocently assumed he must have considered my budget while doing so. 

It started pouring on Saturday just after I had seen 1 flat and 1 door. I was supposed to see the latter too but the door wouldn’t give in. They kept trying to unlock it for 15-20 min only to be stopped by me. I didn’t want to stay at a place that could ditch me anytime from entering.

My friend had left to meet her friend somewhere in South Mumbai. No other broker picked up my call as it has started raining really heavily. I had no place to go back to. I decided to go to my friends place in Andheri as soon as the rain slowed down. Andheri was the closest I could go to. Trains were rare, meanwhile I called my friend from Andheri to let him know I’m reaching. He didn’t pick up but that didn’t worry me. I knew his place so I decided to just drop in. I tried calling him one more time when I reached Andheri but he didn’t pick up again. I reached his colony and realized while walking that I actually didn’t know where he stays. I just knew the lane. Called him a couple of more times, no response. I walked up and down it all seemed normal to me till then. I called another friend who stayed close by. He was outside and promised to be there in 5 minutes. For the next 20-30 minutes I just walked up and down trying to figure out where does he stay. Finally I did find his place (and I’ll never forget it). Mind you it was still raining then. I ring his door bell, trying to dry myself there. I ring the bell again, then again, and then again. I was outside the door for about 10- 15 minutes, no response. I called out his name, called him over the phone. No response. It was then that tears started rolling down my eyes and the frustration, disappointment, Anger, and all other feelings that had strengthened in the last three weeks of trying to find a place to stay in Mumbai came rushing back and the volcanic eruption of emotions just happened. Thankfully it was still raining and it became easier for me to hide my crying face under it and the sound of rain subdued the sound of my sobs. I stood at the bus stop for some time trying to figure out what to do next. I could go to Thane but I was scared of being stuck up while reaching there as the rain hadn’t stopped the entire day. I kept standing there waiting for absolutely nothing. After some time, rain reduced it’s wrath and I decided to see palces in Bandra. I had contact number of 3 brokers and 1 owner. No broker picked up the call. The owner’s flat had already gone. I called an old broker who had shown me PGs there and begged him to see if there were any palces for 30k. He called back after sometime and called me to a common place from where one of his men could pick me up and show me available places. It took them really long time to get the keys but I didn’t mind as I anyway didn’t have anywhere else to go. Finally when I got to see the place, I liked it immediately (It could have been my desperation) but it was quoted for 35k. Broker called the owner and I begged him to reduce it to 30k. A lot of negotiations later, he did. I paid him 10k as token amount and then I just the feeling sink in that I finally have a place in Mumbai I can call my own at least for the next 11 months.

I called up my friend from Santacruz the first thing coz I knew no one else will understand what I was feeling at that time. Although I had always tried to put up a strong face in front of her but she just knew how miserable the entire experience was making me feel inside. Maybe because a couple of years back she had gone through a similar experience. I would have loved to celebrate with her but she was still outside and I obviously didn’t want her to alter her plans for me.

Waking up without the thought of house-hunting:

Then I called my friend from Thane and told her I’ll stay over. I lost my watch during that journey but at that time absolutely nothing mattered. I had found a shelter in Mumbai and I was not going to let anything even remotely disappoint me that evening.

It was still a Saturday so I thoroughly enjoyed my Sunday with my friend and her family. Every time I visit her place Aunty cooks something that I have never had before which is so amazing. It seemed like eternity that I didn’t have to get up to the first thought of finding a house. I felt a tonne lighter!

Week 2 – New Brokers, New Setbacks

It was time to look for new brokers, new websites, basically anything that had the remote possibility of getting us a shelter. Broker# 2 showed me a flat close to office (area we had explored with Broker#1). He showed a 1BHK on the ground floor which was surrounded by flying papers and plastic, I had stopped minding rats by then, The ceiling was so low that even though I could walk straight I had a feeling to hunch down. I told him after seeing this place that my preference was a good locality and I don’t really mind a smaller place if the locality is good enough. He called his boss and told me he’ll get back to me next day. As he was going to show multiple places, I didn’t commit my time to anyone else. So, we were done for that day and things were not looking any better. He never called back.

The following Saturday I went to see a hostel in Colaba. It’s meant for Defense kids. The place was undoubtedly amazing esp. after seeing other places, this place seemed like heaven. It’s located inside defense area and I’ve always been a huge fan of defense colonies (being brought up in one has everything to do with it). I started imagining myself staying there, convincing myself how easy travel would be in the opposite direction, I can manage with induction cooker for dinner, and blah blah blah. After waiting for the warden, reaching the office in the nick of time I get to know ‘The hostel is only meant for kids of serving personnel or kids of personnel retired in the last one year. My father retired 4 years back and the fact that both my brothers are still with the forces and my Sister’s husband worked right there where the hostel in located for 3 years, made absolutely no difference to my case. I came back to my hotel drenched in sweat, dejected.

This meant going back to the brokers. Broker# 3 was a reference from a friend and I had high expectations from him. Another friend of mine staying in the same hotel wanted to accompany me to get an idea of how rented apartments are and what is the entire experience like. We had seen one flat which was a 1RK and which was again too costly for 1 person to afford. No matter how many times you tell them your budget they will take the liberty of increasing your budget themselves assuming it’s flexible. We were on the way to the next place, when it started pouring real bad. We took shelter at a bus stop. The rain didn’t seem like it was going to stop at all. My friend decided to leave even though he had the umbrella. He got enough idea of the city during that time (at least the idea that it’s going to be difficult).  I stayed on as it was the only weekend that was left with me; I had to vacate the hotel by next Saturday. Braving the rains without an umbrella I moved ahead with the broker. He showed a decent 1 BHK later and a flat that I had already seen. The day closed without much success.

I started hunting for new numbers and listed a couple of places from nobroker.com to check out. Even finalizing a place to see is not that easy as a lot of them are either already taken or get cancelled owing to things like ‘sharing toilet’. I went to this place in Dadar, close to my hotel. I had already given some browny points to the place because of its location. I had gotten used to travelling from Dadar and felt it very convenient. My office was about 15-20 min from there. This listed place was right opposite police quarters which got it additional points. It was an affordable 1 RK – My highest priority. I finally locate the place ask the neighbors to show the place to me as was instructed by the owner. The door took 15-20 minutes to open and required help from almost every neighbor there. That should have been my first clue but I was blinded by the location and convenience. The place opened and with it ended my hopes of staying in that area, that building, growing plants in the open area, travelling from Dadar, and the room too ended right there. I stood outside in shock when one of the neighbors said ‘Please go inside and see the room without hesitation’. I went in to see if what I saw was true. The room truly was that small. I’m sure if any of my taller friends decided to sleep in their feet would enter the area, they liked calling ‘Kitchen’. The place was filled with newspapers so it felt all the more like a store room. The positioning which was ground floor right at the entrance of the building gave it a guard room feeling.

I left disappointed, dejected and only then did I realize that the other number was not of the owner but that of the nobroker.com’s customer care as I had exceeded my limit of getting phone numbers. Anyway I had to head back to the hotel to jot down more numbers but no place materialized to be seen close by.

The following days I checked a few more disappointing places. Seventh floor without lift, places where getting the lift took longer than reaching the building, etc. etc. By this time I had seen the nooks and corners of Mumbai but to no avail.

Here Broker # 4 comes into picture. On 11^th I saw a 1RK in Prabhadevi (apparently a good place to stay) and about 40 min by bus from office. The place was fine for one person my only problem with it was its design. It had a long corridor with flats on both sides. And all of them were 1RKs exactly like the one I had seen. Room that I had declared was only sufficient for one person had families staying in the same place. But by this time I was already losing patience and will to look further. I had to vacate the hotel in another 2 days, I had got a muscle pull on my shoulder by carrying all that laptop weight for about 3-4 hours every day after office, My feet were injured of all the walking and got worse because of walking in the rain water. I trained my brain to process only the good part about the place and decided not to look at the corridor at all.

I asked the broker to check with the owner if he can give me the bed and almirah which was already there in the flat. Next day i.e. Friday I don’t see any flats because the broker told me he’ll get back to me regarding what all the owner can give with the room. I had decided to move in any which way so I knew I’m shifting on Saturday no matter what the owner says. The broker didn’t confirm anything until Friday night and kept saying he’ll get back to me every time I called. This continued till Saturday morning the day I was to checkout. I was so certain that I’m shifting that day that I invited another girl who hadn’t found a place till then to join me as she was staying in the hotel at her own expense. I packed all my stuff and checked out from the hotel and kept waiting for the broker’s call. Before this a lot of screaming had already happened as he was neither picking up the calls nor calling me back but he did tell me ‘you’ll get the place today don’t worry’. I’m waiting in the lobby with my entire luggage to know when can I move in to my new place.  5 minutes turn into 10 and 10 into an hour. After a zillion calls to the broker he gives me owner’s number who in turn tells me I’ll get possession of the flat by Wednesday. I’ve packed all my stuff randomly and then I’m told I don’t have a place to go to for the next 5 days. I scream at the broker and ask him to find me a new place. Meanwhile I ask the hotel’s reception if they can give me a private space for a couple of minutes so I can take some stuff from my luggage and put it in my backpack that I had to live off for next 3 days (I was told by then I’ll get possession latest by Tuesday). I was still very upset about the whole thing. I take my backpack and reach station without an idea where to go from there. Broker calls back in sometime and tells me he’s sending one of his agents to show me a couple of more places.

At that moment started my journey of being a homeless person in the city of dreams – Mumbai. The place which will force you to dream bigger staying in apartments that are getting smaller by the day.

Week1 – The beginning of a difficult time

Next day was Monday, First day at new work place. I was absolutely certain I cannot take the local so I took a taxi straight away. Let me not get into the details of my first day at work which was really boring by the way and I have a feeling that I’m not supposed to say that. My friend - Suman (My potential roommate at that point) accompanied me in the evening in the house hunting. We saw a 1 RK very close to our office, the problem with this was it was too costly for 1 person to afford and too small for 2 people to share it, He then took us to a place which I then thought was the most sad place I had seen. God must have had a laugh there. The place had to be reached from a dark alley under the bridge; the route was filled with big fat rats running around, we saw train passing by through the view from the staircase stained with paan spit marks. We stepped in only to not offend anyone and left immediately. We then got mad at him for showing us such a place. His response was ‘Your budget is too low, increase your budget’, the budget that could get us a fully furnished 2 BHK in Hyderabad (It's only much later that I realized that comparing rents of two cities is absolutely senseless).  Our budget had increased so many times after arriving that I have forgotten what was it during this phase. I think it was 22k for a bare 1BHK flat.

All this while I was carrying the heavy laptop given by my organization on the very first day without allocating us a locker (Pretty cruel I still feel). Walking around with 2 back packs, one with a laptop in was a task in itself. I reached hotel all drenched in sweat. Too late to look for eateries then, had to sleep with a vada pav for dinner.

Suman was leaving for Lonavala the next day for her training and by this time her final posting location was not confirmed. It turned out to be a major hurdle in the process as I didn’t know what to look further - 1RK or a 1BHK. So, I started looking for both. The broker showed me a place in a MHADA colony. It was a shockingly tiny 1BHK.  But that was not the issue, the place had a strange feel to it and by this time I had no idea what MHADA was.

He told me he has run out of options after this. So I started hunting for a new Broker and on my senior's advice (Thank God, I found him) I got my accommodation extended by another week in the hotel.

Little did I know the how much more I was to see of the city and the time that it actually required to find a shelter in this world of its own!

Mumbai - Arrival

Mumbai - Arrival

The golden period was nearing end at college (probably the last time I’ll be studying full time) joining letters had started flowing in. Mine came in too with joining date as 1^st June and location – Mumbai. I was fine with it as a lot of my friends had got their joining location as Mumbai and the idea of starting over in a new city always excites me.

I made some innocent plans during the two months I got to stay at home before joining like my budget for accommodation – 8-10k, I would look for a 1RK to stay alone or “compromise” with a single occupancy room in a 2BHK which I’ll share with another friend, and something closer to my office which is in Mahalakshmi so that I could avoid travelling in local altogether (Yes, I was that naïve). I planned my savings accordingly which had to be at least double of what I used to save before going for an MBA. I had invested 2 years in education, 12 lakh in only fees, double the previous savings seemed only a fair enough expectation. I saw a couple of places online which were more or less similar to what I was looking for. Now, I do realize God must have been smiling at me in pity all those times.

I arrived in Mumbai on 30^th May as I wanted to look for places on Saturday and Sunday and finalize something soon so I could shift next Saturday (Yeah sure laugh all you can, it was my first time in the city). Organization had provided us accommodation for a week in a hotel in Dadar. Now when I think of it I feel it was too cruel on the organization’s part to place Mumbai newbies in a place like Dadar where you could easily get trampled down by the tsunami of people.

Coming back to my baby steps in Mumbai, I freshened up after reaching the hote where I was put up for the week – Rammee guestline hotel and started making calls soon after. It was then that I started sensing trouble. The place that I had my eyes on – 1RK in lower parel, 420 sq ft., fully furnished, for Rs.9000 was already taken and turned out it was available on sharing and not single occupancy as was mentioned in the ad. The next calls went like– ‘Number not reachable’, ‘Number does not exist’, ‘This is a chawl’, ’Toilets are on sharing basis’. After 3-4 hours of calling (to find a number I had to surf multiple websites) I got a place to see. I wanted an idea of the places on rent and was sure this would help even if I don’t like the property. The place was in Chinchpokli which is very close to my office. After some difficulty I reached the place and the existing tenants (a family) were surprised the owner is still allowing people to see the place as they had just moved in. The building was almost a km from the main road and that km was filled with tiny shops, people sitting outside those tiny shops, lot of police, garbage strewn all over. The police camps made me particularly suspicious and on walking further I found the reason why. There stood this huge building staring down at me in pity – The central jail. People had queued up outside to meet their friends/ family in the jail and it was not a very comforting feeling to imagine staying in such a neighborhood. This is also because I’m not very comfortable with police owing to past bad experience dealing with them.

After this I called a person whose name was listed for two different properties. I assumed he must be some rich person with multiple flats in Mumbai upon calling I realized I have met with the inescapable – a Mumbai Broker. He sent one of his men to show me some properties. He showed me a 1BHK right behind curry road station, the route to this place seemed a little shady and I didn’t want to look over my shoulder every time I was leaving or reaching my place. The next place was a 1BHK near KEM Hospital which was extremely small but I was still considering it. Later I got to know the building does not have water supply yet and it will take another couple of months to get it). No water – well, not a very good idea.

Next day I met a couple of friends including the girl I was planning to share flat with in case I found a good 1BHK (By this time sense had prevailed and I had dropped the idea of even trying to look for a 2BHK). The evening plans of looking for a place didn’t work out as the broker didn’t pick up my call and by the time he returned my call (8 p.m.) I felt it was too late to roam around a new city with a stranger, visiting residential places. Sounded like the perfect recipe for a crime and being in Mumbai I was trying to be extra cautious.

The weekend turned out to be only a trailer of what was in store for me in the city. I knew it was not going to be easy.

Keep Travelling

Manisha