16 A home

"How much is the rent for a month?" Inaya asked the landlord. It was her fifth house in the day.

Inaya's phone kept ringing. But she ignored it, knowing well that Johan is going to be disappointed for lying. And it was indeed Johan. He has been trying to contact the girl for the past two days.

"You may answer," the broker said.

"It's fine. I will call back later," Inaya said.

"The rent is 15,000, must be paid before 5th of every month," Landlord said. The lady looked strict, with her orange bob hair and red lipstick that matched her red seater and white dress.

"Any negotiations possible," Inaya tried. She did not like that house. It felt too pricey for the way it looked, shabby, dirty, and old.

"No. Not possible," Lady said instantly. "No room for negotiations. You may leave young lady," the lady said, showing her hand towards the door, asking Inaya to leave. Inaya exhaled and smiled.

"Let's find another one," Inaya said to the broker and walked out of the house. The house was looking super old and ready to collapse any time. She gladly walked out.

"There is one across this street. It's a small house, though, one on the terrace, third floor it is though, you have to climb the stairs, no lift or anything. It's a small room with an attached washroom, a kitchen, a small living area, and a tiny store room. Then you will have the whole terrace for yourself.

"Take me there, let me see," Inaya walked along with the broker.

Inaya began to pant as she climbed the stairs. "Oh, this is hard," she said. She opened the bottle of water she was carrying and drank it all together.

"But look at the view," the broker tried to encourage her. It was on the third floor on top of a slope. The skyscrapers at the distance looked fantastic as if the matchstick boxes were arranged in an order. The colourful houses around looked pretty and shebclukd even notice the tiny streets and roads around that looked like the root of a tree going wherever.

"Did you like it?" Broker asked.

"We have not seen the house yet," Inaya reminded him.

The broker unlocked the door and took her in. The house needed a renovation indeed. Painting was necessary, and so was some plumbing as the pipes in the kitchen and washroom were broken.

"Looks like the kitchen sink and the bowl requires to be changed," Inaya requested.

"I will request that to the owner," the broker noted the request.

"What about curtains? Should they not put it for us?" Asked Inaya

"Noted," the broker said, noting it down in his tiny notepad.

"The house will look fine after renovation, I guess," Inaya added.

"Absolutely. So are you willing to take it? Pay the token?" The broker asked, feeling excited. This was going to be his first commission after a long break he took because of his health. And he is in a depressed situation that requires money.

Inaya stared at the view for some more minutes, making her decision. "Tell me, what is the rent and advance demanded?" Inaya asked the most important part.

"It's the biggest surprise. Only 7000 rent monthly, and as for advance, they are asking for two months rent," broker broke the news for.

"Then why did you not show me this first itself. I would love to take this," Inaya said, feeling excited. "But only if the renovation is done as requested," she reminded the broker again.

"Yes, yes, I have noted it all. I will meet with the owner and talk on your behalf, don't worry, but my commission, you must remember that. Half month rent," the broker reminded Inaya back.

"Yes. Don't worry about that," Inaya closed the deal. She took a deep breath.

"So you can give a token advance and book it. Or else the owner has the right to give it to someone else who pays first," the broker explained.

"Is 1000 enough?" Inaya took her wallet out and took the notes out. She counted and looked for some coins to round it to thousand.

"Yes, that's fine," the broker took the thousand in changes with him. He locked the house and walked down the stairs.

"Are you not coming?" Broker shouted from the second floor.

"Oh yes, yes, coming," Inaya hurried down.

He took her to the ground floor where the owner was living. He rang the bell, and the two waited. A little girl opened the door.

"Hello. Is nobody home?" The broker asked the girl.

"Mom," the girl shouted.

"Coming, coming," a short and stout woman hurried to the front door, wiping her wet hands in the red and white checked lace apron she was wearing. Inaya could smell meat in the air. She inhaled. 'Wow,' she thought. Her stomach growled, and everyone looked at her.

"I'm sorry," Inaya apologised and flushed red. "I have not had anything since morning," she tried to explain.

"Sit down," the lady invited them in, and they sat down on the plastic chairs in the sit out.

"This is the tenant. She liked the house and paid the advance. Here," broker said and handed the change Inaya had given. The lady looked at Inaya from tip to toe.

"You look familiar," she said. "I have seen you somewhere before," Inaya began to sweat.