LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR

Everything we needed for our house-warming ceremony was in place. It went according to plan, except for the part where the cow and its calf had to be coaxed to get inside the house. It would have been a monumental task if not for our neighbors. From water to recipes, well wishes to gossip, they shared everything with us.

Life is peppered with moments of smiles and tiffs. Our stairs are attached to the neighbors bedroom wall. The steps i took in my Woodland boots were amplified into missile strikes. Needless to say, the old man, his faithful and awful wife cursed us, and made sure we heard it. This was just the start of it. 

An innocent looking dog tugged at my mum's saree. It struck a cord with mum and soon it was a regular visitor for lunch and dinner. The dog proved her bitchiness by giving birth to litters of eight, twice a year. All the yapping and yelling drew the neighbourhood children; more curses followed in the night. However, all was well during the day, with fake smiles and almost true gossips.

Some from those litters grew and started a family of their own. A few chose our house to do so. The mother, two daughters, a father, and around twenty pups; the ruckus was accompanied by stench. Sterilization followed. A short lived peace was achieved, and before the newly weds/new negihbours could make it to the bed, the dogs beat them to it.

The breeding season was on, it was the summer, and dirty secrets were out in the open. The dogs refused to believe that "Doggy Style" was to be done in private. The kids on vacation, along with their posh cousins from Bangalore, stood in silence and disbelief. At the end of their holidays, they knew how they that the birds-bees-stork was just not true, why the bed in papa-mama's room rocked and a whole lot of questions on male-female anatomy for the teacher. All of this was OUR fault. We had failed as good neighbors in teaching our dogs the basics of PDA (public display of affection).

Yes, the scenario did change when mum bought a car. "Could you please drop my kids? May i use your landline? How about donating your gas cylinder for a day? Do you have a 1000 bucks to spare?" Of these, the gas cylinder returned after two days, and the money lent rarely found its way back.

The saree aunty and Tupperware aunty were not far behind. My mum ended up with more sarees than occassions to wear them, and more Tupperwear than food. Thankfully, we managed to convince the papad aunty that all of us, including the dog, had undergone bypass surgery and considered deep fried as Enemy of the House. 

A new family moved in, with their same-as-my-age daughter, opposite our house. She was cute, and i did steal a few looks on the pretext of drying the laundry. However, it was discovered that her room's window on the first floor was strategically placed to look down our bathroom on the ground floor. In the thick of her board exams, she had got the sight of my naked bum. That was the end of her burning the midnight oil. The family never walked in front of our home and the poor lass shifted her room.
Parking wars were altogether a different affair. Any tree with a shade was booked for parking. The owners had the last right. The make and model of the car decided who should park first. For a few years, it was the Alto vs Swift. The matter was settled when a neighbour bought an Audi Q7. The meek put the gear in reverse and beat a retreat. The competition grew during Diwali and Mahalaxmi pooja. More the sound and glitter, better the rumor and loads of free publicity. Desperate Housewives met Gossip Girl and peppered with Akshara and Bade Acche Lagte Hai, served hot.
But, the neighbours did more than the needful whenever tradegy struck. A sick child or a dead old timer. Some offered coffee while some ensured hot meals reached on time for the mourning family. I will always be greatful for the love and support i received.
My neighborhood is just like yours. We fight, squabble and listen intently when others are fighting. But, in the end, we look out for each other. We know you will do the same.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.