Displays that vanished

It is good news for people in Bangalore – I shifted from there. Not so good news for people in Kochi – that is where I live now!

As such when one relocates, one needs to keep in mind the new weather, food habits, dress code, stray dogs and equally dangerous mosquitoes – there are many other such things. One among them is your neighbor.

The very next day after I moved in I decided to open the back door and get the sight of Sun for enhancing the Vitamin D in my body. I might need stronger teeth and bones to survive. May be it is too early in the day as I moved towards  western part of the globe, or may be the nearby buildings were blocking the sun -  I did not find any sun or his rays. But I did find something on my back gate. Though it is around 30 feet away from my back door, the display was quite visible. It was clothes spread nicely on my gate for drying!

As such I was somewhat fine seeing that display early in the morning. But I could not stand listening to all sorts of “unkind” words from my wife – that too about the stupid underwear of my neighbor!!!

As I was entering through the back gate the very next day I heard something, which I thought would solve all my problems. “Why are you putting those clothes on other’s gate ?” It was a young guy to his old mom. I felt for a moment that I am not alone. There are like minded people like me in this world who are sensitive to others needs and issues. Then came his next statement “ That too you put only my clothes, if you want you can put your own clothes !!” I pretended as if I didn’t know their language and entered came reply from mom “ I will not remove them now. If you want, you do it yourself!!!”

Before confronting with them and losing rapport with a good neighbor, I decided to analyse the reason why they are behaving like this. It is not that the (under)garments guys have advertised that if you dry them in metal surface the body parts that cover them will be in good condition – no I don’t remember seeing such ads. Not that they get a pleasure by displaying such artifacts on our gate. I came to know from the previous tenant of the house that this habit was normal and nothing new.

I came to the conclusion that probably they see me as an outsider. They are trying to give me a strong message that they would not change their habits a bit by my sheer modern outlook and presence !! They would continue to live as they have been.

I decided to become friendly with the old couiple. Started talking to them about anything else but clothes ! I enquired about the bundle of joy – their little grand daughter. In fact there were two bundles of joy – twins – fully capable of making similar cries at odd hours of the day without knowing who is making which cry ! That worked, my sympathies and empathies to them worked. They feel now I am one of them. They have a broad smile on their faces whenever I see them. More importantly I am able to see the Sun with no obstructions and no burden to my gate. Much  more importantly my wife became quiet on that front !!! 

I avoided a big risk of becoming life time enemy of them and also avoided the risk of seeing those unwanted clothes in every other opportunity they would get to display to us !!

This does not mean that one can adapt softer methods always. Kill mercilessly those bloody mosquitoes.   Stay away or chase away those troublesome stray dogs. Switch on air conditioner when needed, if the weather is unbearable, harmful and too hot and sultry – do not worry too much about the huge electricity bill – you can pay it through credit card these days!!!

And beware of especially that neighbor who barges into your house and becomes a threat to your peace of mind. I don’t have to tell you which side of his body you need to kick and throw him out of the house. Still my suggestion is try both sides simultaneously for a permanent solution !!!

Have a great weekend ahead , have lots of fun! Enjoy life !!!