Looking for an ideal house for one’s family can be an agonizing experience
“GET out of the car,” I spoke through my clenched teeth, glaring at my two daughters sitting stubbornly in the car, and refusing to get out.
I turned and spoke with a fake smile to the flustered property dealer, “I guess we should see it, since we are here ...” walking a few steps in the blazing heat of the radiating July sunlight.
“I refuse to see a house with these cheap green coloured balconies on it,” spoke my 12-year-old curly-top from inside the car.
When I turned and looked at her helplessly, she pointed at the pillars and remarked, “Just look at that golden paint at the top.”
“But the rest of it is white,” I told her, and added, “Look, it’s just paint. We can get it painted some decent colour.”
“And the neighbour’s balcony?” she asked stubbornly.
“Well, we’ll get their part painted too.” At least we’d get a home in Islamabad.
“Is there a lawn with it?” now she spoke in an over-sweet voice, from the window of the car. She knew I wanted a lawn for my precious cocker spaniel.
“Well, no,” said the man.
“That settles it. Let’s not waste more time on this one,” I said, turning and getting into the car. As I looked back to reverse the car I caught my daughters winking at each other happily.
“Big deal,” I thought. I decided to see this house later on. After all, a house on the double road in F-11 is worth a second trip.
Okay. On to house number 11. We had seen 10 houses, and immediately rejected most of them.
Sigh! But I was full of energy. Two of our friends had got lovely portions of homes after seeing 25 places. So, I was still ready to see more.
Surprise, surprise. The corner house in F-11/2 was a dream. A simple and sober exterior; lovely white marble entrance; white marble kitchen; and perfect flooring. And a fabulous view of the Margalla hills from most of the rooms. In fact, every room had a lovely view, privacy, and excellent finish. “Finally!” I exclaimed. My daughters’ eyes were popping with appreciation. They could find nothing wrong. Frankly, nor could I. No lawn suddenly did not matter; it was decided, the side terrace would have to do for the dog. This had to be ‘it’.
Not bad. Now, we just needed my hubby dear to see it and make the final approval. The dealer was so happy, he started talking about the biyana, but I said : “Nothing doing. My husband will make the final decision.”
The next morning, Najib and I went over to that place. He was more careful. Frankly, in the end he never saw it. They couldn’t find the key to the house. And then we went to meet the owner. And Najib asked him why the repair included breaking down of the front gate and boundary wall.
“It’s nothing. No problem. Just a convenience for the basement tenants who will need to park their car in this porch (Yes, you guessed it our porch). And they’d have their own gate but would walk through our drive and porch.
“So, what about our security?” We asked.
“No, no, they are very nice people.”
“I’m sure he is and so will all his servants and guests be,” I thought.
That was the end of that. Anyway. It was good we had found out in time.
It was lovely coming to our own home in Islamabad, (which we would have to leave soon), and I was trying to just live in the present and not think what other nightmares were still waiting for us ... when the phone rang.
“I have a house just for you.” This was Nadeem, the first dealer who had already shown us seven rejected places. So, I was surprised he still had the stamina to call us up for more. Now he was wiser. He said, “I’ll give you their number and address, and I’ve spoken to them. This is just the type of house you will like. But let me warn you, it’s a two-bed house in F-8.” Wow! F-8 is the favourite place for foreigners and the elite class. So, even a two-bed could be seen at least ...
Within an hour we were at the doorstep of this house. My goodness. We could not believe it. Finally. A really beautiful stone-finished, charming, simple and elegant house. And when we looked inside, it was as good as it was from outside. The owners too seemed to be wonderful people. I just couldn’t believe it. And it’s right next to my place of work, and my girls’ educational institutions. The real reason for our wanting to stay here. Now, the table was turned. I wondered if the owners would consider us good enough to give us the house.
“She has already turned down a mother of two small children, as they’d mess up the place.” The elderly brother of the owner told us as he showed us the beautifully finished and elegantly made house from within. In front of it is a beautiful forest with grassy slopes. It’s just lovely, secure, beautiful and perfectly located.”
“Well, let me tell you. I do have a dog. But she is very well behaved,” I said hopefully.
Now, all we have to do is to squeeze all our stuff from our four-bed house into this two bedroom apartment.
Is that a problem?
The next day, my dad called me up. He was fully in the picture, due to his chats with my little one. “Just put the stuff that matters in the house, and get rid of the rest. That’s it.”
“Yes, daddy, that is what we’ll have to do,” I said, with a sinking feeling. Well, easier said than done. And I thought of what else it would mean...”
Well, it meant, putting some more money in, from our pockets every month. And throwing most of our sentimental stuff out for ever. Living in cramped conditions. Forgetting our lavish parties, and a huge home and garden. Not being able to have our friends and relatives coming to live with us when they came over to Islamabad.
We all are wondering now, if it’s really worth the ‘pleasure’ of living in Islamabad.
Wait a minute, no decisions, till I’ve seen my 25th house. So just hold on a bit. I’ve found some more dealers who haven’t met me yet ... Perhaps there is a place which will be good enough to live in ... By now we were getting pretty depressed. Suddenly, the prospect of leaving Islamabad didn’t seem so bad after all ...
And today we saw our 20th house. Pretty nice location, independent and tolerable. One catch, it was 35 and not 25 thousand a month, as the dealer had told us. So, that’s out too.
By now we have seen 40 houses — between my husband and myself. (Yes, he too plunged into the project after I’d lost my patience at house number 28). Somehow, something vital was missing in each one. The ‘perfect’ house I’d finally selected; the company said was not up to our ‘status’.
We’ll live in Wah, even if it means having to get up an hour earlier. At least we’d have a complete beautiful house of our own. No one to tell us where not to put the nails on our walls, where not to put my flower pots, or to put off the water’s motor when anyone is having a bath. Where my dog can have an entire lawn all to herself. And we can have a home with black marble floors and an atrium. And I can have a studio-cum-study all to myself.
So, it’s goodbye Islamabad.
“Hey, this place is really beautiful with mountains, rivulets and greenery all around. What is it called?” I asked my husband once we were fully settled. “It’s called Lab Thattoo,” he said with a real sparkle in his eyes. We all started laughing. He keeps pulling our legs, so we didn’t believe him. But suddenly we realized he was not. At least I did find my ‘dream house’, even if it is in Lab Thattoo.
Looking for an ideal house for one’s family can be an agonizing experience
