The Makeover

It was time that Sowparnika got a makeover for she had begun to look shabby. In fact I had been toying with the idea for over a year and had even started feeling guilty of not having taken care of her appearance and of not having updated her with the changing times. Now I know that it is practically impossible to be the leader when it comes to keeping abreast with what is in vogue, however my idea was only to give her a different look a look which entitled her to a place in the 21st century. It dawned in me that for the last quarter of a century I have been looking at the same pieces of furniture kept in the same position and this truth brought in me a strange feeling of living in a home laid out for the visually impaired. The urge to renovate came to the fore; but the thought of executing seemed a very scary proposition. The main reason for my wariness was the thought of tilting the well poised apple cart and the inconvenience that would follow.
I did not have to wait long for my idea to take shape, for dot on her 13th birthday; Sridevi came up with her demand for a spacious room with an attached bathroom. Those who know Sowparnika know that Sridevi’s room was bereft of a bathroom and as a growing child who would before batting an eyelid become an adult, her demand was indeed justified. She was at present using the room earmarked for Guests. With live in guests being a norm, she would invariably be thrown out of that room on a regular basis. Thus as parents we took a decision to remodel an existing room and make it suitable for her needs. It seemed so simple a task. What was planned was the breaking down of a wall and including some open area to an existing room. The other half of the open area, we decided would be incorporated into an existing hall. It was a miniscule of a job in the scheme of things, and everybody from the contractor to the engineer to the architect were in agreement of that.
I am not a brick and mortar person and hence the initial stages of the work were not very exciting to me. Moreover when the work began, I was more focused on my US trip and hence did not get into the nitty gritty of things. This scene changed when I got back from the US and by mid June I was totally involved and busy picking up things for the finishing touch. I don’t consider myself an interior decorator, but somehow I think I may not be exaggerating when I say that I have a good aesthetic sense. I attribute this to my interest in Mathematics as this always helps me to see symmetry and balance whenever it comes to placing furniture and artifacts. I dare not try anything dramatic, for I would not know how to come clean at the end. Hence the last two months have seen me entering and exiting various shops ranging from furnishings, furniture, electrical fittings, sanitary ware, and hardware stores and so on and so forth. Without exaggerating I can say that I have visited the chosen shop in each specialty more than half a dozen times. For some unavoidable reason I could not make it to Chennai and hence had missed out on the final finishing in 1985. This I felt was a second chance provided to me. It also seemed a wonderful era to shop what with the latest in everything being freely available. Thus I made full use of the scenario and kept flitting in and out of the house at the drop of a hat. For someone fond of window shopping, this seemed a God sent opportunity. Thus I purchased with glee, whatever I felt most suited my dwelling. At this point I must say that it was not entirely a cake walk, for I had to also please a teenager who had a whole set of ideas brimming in her head. What was cheese for me turned out to be just chalk for her. Thus I quickly adapted to her way of thinking and in a very ingenious way and after some willful compromising we reached our goal.
However I was in for some disappointment when I realized that I could not get the workers to perform on time and in the manner in which I wanted. I quickly learnt to endure this disappointment, however being a normal mortal, my patience began to run thin. I was promised that the total work would finish in 2-3 months and the truth now was that the work had entered its sixth month. I don’t know even at this point if I could boldly and surely say that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for in my scheme of things the end should have happened very long ago.
The final outcome definitely erases the frustration caused by the lackadaisical attitude of the people involved in the execution of the work. The bedroom looks beautiful with the fancy colours on the wall and the bright floral curtains. The walk in wardrobe is humungous and the dressing area is a dream of every girl/woman. As for the extension of the hall, it surely is picture perfect. With minimal furniture and an earthy atmosphere, it takes you back in years. The filtering of sunlight thanks to the pergola, gives it a well deserved aura. I had never dreamt of a niche like this when the work began, however I am more than pleased at the outcome.
No part of the house has been spared for if one area received a coat of paint, the other got a new set of curtains and the third some new piece of furniture. Thus I got to see that Sowparnika is refurbished and ready to welcome its long line of guests. I hope the workers will help me in meeting my deadline which is the 21st of August (as my Dad returns from the US on the 22nd). In the meantime I am left with just three days and there are a whole lot of loose ends to tie. I am expecting the liner today and am really hoping that he will keep his word. I need to go to Mat Bazaar and pick up some door mats and there are endless other chores to be fulfilled.
I was reminded of this saying in Tamizh, which when translated loosely means, “Try building a house, try getting your daughter married.” I had kind of rubbished this saying, with an attitude that both were simple tasks and the brouhaha was over nothing. After my experiences of the last six months, I realize that there can be no saying more accurate. If an inanimate object could bring about in me such a varied spectrum of emotions, I dare not think as to what my state would be when I have to execute the second half of the above saying. I fervently pray that I have the strength at that point of time.
In the meantime I invite all my friends to the revamped Sowparnika, which continues to exude the very same warmth.
P.S. Hope I have answered those friends who wondered loudly at my silence on the Blog front.