Midnight Moving With Red Tape In Tow

The search for an apartment began, and as luck would have it, proved fruitful in the shape of our friends just across the landing who were moving into their own house in distant Sushant Lok, Haryana, which place, it is somewhat unreliably learnt, suffers prohibition (about which, some other time). Quick as a tick we spoke to the owner currently posted in some distant land and were assured that, yes of course, the house was ours for the taking, and what would we pay?

The months flew. Our neighbours didnt move out quite as early as they should have because their house had not been provided an electricity connection. Anxious days passed, but you cant ask neighbours who are also friends why they arent getting a move on. Meanwhile, the agreement on the flat we tenanted was running out. Ominous, official documents started arriving filled with the legalese of whenceforths and heretofores. The new owner, a tenant in another flat within viewing distance, said bluntly: One day over Feb, if you havent left, the rent goes up five times, and: Please dont faint, remember its what you signed as part of the agreement.

 

Meanwhile, the administrative office of these apartments got whiff of the move and pronto, an emissary arrived: we would have to sign another agreement agreeing to pay the society a steep fee to compensate for any damage. For moving across the landing out of one door and into another? Our pleas fell on bureaucratic ears. Another agreement came into being.

Our neighbours stayed stoically on. Would they never move? We began to consider heading for Noida, when suddenly, over a weekend, they were packed and gone: we shouldnt have been so happy, but were.

The landlord-to-be dampened our enthusiasm somewhat. Now how much did you say the rent will be? I think its fair to warn you that there have been queries from friends willing to pay more. All this long-distance, the ISD meter ticking away and running up the equivalent of a rent in itself. We agreed to pay more.

There was work to be done in the flat. Have it done the way you like, said the landlord amiably, the house is yours. No, it isnt, we parried, not till the work is done.

Another agreement was signed: this time to say that the new flat is in our possession for February for renovation, but will come into occupation only in March. We are free to start moving in, but sleeping in can only commence from March 1.

One day over or one month, the owner warned, and you can shell out the quadrupled rent.

So at the stroke of midnight, on February 28, we shall drag our mattresses across the landing. Unless there is a sub-clause in some document prohibiting the transfer of residence at night.