To Sagarians

Early 2000s.

Lived in Sreeniketan Apartments, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi.

Owning a flat was a dream.

Internet, property dealers, nothing worked.

Sixty per cent (or more) in cash! Cash has usually a colour – black.

We didn’t have any!

We were averse to UP (Ghaziabad was notorious then).

Haryana was okay (had some relatives in Faridabad).

Delhi had first preference.

 

Enter my cousin, PKN Namboodiri.

He was member of a society under construction in NOIDA. He talked to the developer. There were two vacancies, one two- and one three-bed room flat. If interested, could pay equalization money and block.

I worked in private sector, not eligible for membership.

Wife was eligible; she became a member.

UP/Noida began tasting sweet! Wow!

 

Come mid-2003.

Proud owners of B-703.

A dream came through.

On our first visit, before becoming a member, the main gate was in the middle (no ‘gate’ as such, though, it was just a wide opening for trucks to enter).

In the centre, a huge pool for storing water for construction.

The gate later got moved to the side.

The pool became a fountain, which got demolished later. Now it is just the central park.

Difficult to build but easy to demolish, right?

 

We were one of the initial residents.

Electricity was through generator, water was hard, direct from the borewell.

Slowly more flats were occupied.

Then we evolved, slowly but steadily.

 

Together we loved, respected, joked, sang, played, cried, quarrelled, compromised, made friends with each other, and above all, lived full lives.

Made several friends, sat with them, discussed with them, made plans with them, compromised with them, …

 

2003 to 2023 – 20 years. Very beautiful, satisfying, and invaluable two decades.

 

Now, it is time to say goodbye for the time being.

We shall soon be moving to Kerala.

Sons are settled in Pune and Bangalore.

As long as B-703 remains with us, we are part of the family: Sagar family!

 

So, see you soon.