Lizard scares

A baby lizard on the lower kitchen wall was disturbing, but cute.

The whopper on the upper bathroom wall was anything but cute.

But it was the little teenaged one roaming my bedroom floor that played catalyst.

The bai who was scheduled to come once a week, has been fixed on a daily basis.

I don't like lizards. They may be the only reason I'd like to move to Washington.

First Impressions

It all began with a search for a house to call my own. But somehow, green walls greeted at every turn. Big spaces, airy windows - all went to nought because of green walls. But things were about to change.

While looking for my own little house, I reached the end of a little lane past a not so little pond and a very busy ironingman. Finally, here was a little box I could inhabit. Big windows, cute space, low rent, (over)friendly landlord-landlord wife, and importantly, white walls.

It was a done deal. There was no question. The person living there would leave - a girl journalist like me she was - and I would move into my own little white-walled house. The landlord promised a paint job once she left. "That's the right thing to do," he said, and I nodded smilingly.

One fine, rather sweaty and sunny, Tuesday morning in Kolkata, I trotted over to the (over)friendly landlord-landlord wife's home at the end of a little lane past a not so little pond and a very busy ironingman. Landlord-wife handed me a plate of sweets which quickly travelled down my gullet. It was time to collect my key.

Key in hand I walked down the stairs for a solitary look at my little box with big windows, cute space, low rent, (over)friendly landlord-landlord wife, and importantly, white walls.

But lo and behold! The walls were white no more. Tragedy had struck - they'd been painted green.

So now I'll be stuck in a green box home for the next year or so. Let the adventures begin.