Living in another city, away from home has its pro and cons.
Well, more pros and fewer cons, oh wait, or is it the other way around? Anyway,
once you’re adjusted, it’s pretty alright if you can compromise with certain things
like food, water, weather conditions and the people. There are other factors
too but chief among all is the need for shelter – A roof over one’s head. And incidentally,
that’s the hardest thing to find nowadays. Especially for a bachelor, a
spinster or both together.
First of all, people don’t trust young people even a single
iota. They seem to be damn sure that there’s going to be rave parties and naked
people and rapes and orgies and that they will one day bring the police down on
them. They seem to be particularly wary of engineering and medical students, I don’t
know why.
Speaking of trust, foreign students have an even tougher
time finding residence and only God help those who come from the Middle East;
their life is basically hell if they don’t find host parents or hostel accommodation.
People, at least in India are very wary of people from Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Iraq and Iran because to them, all these countries are synonymous with
terrorism. Anyone and everyone from this side of the continent is not
trustworthy and have basically come over to bomb the hell out of a railway
station or market. Now I know this sounds bad but wait, there’s more. They will
be refused gas lines, be kept watch over and be tracked just because some
maniacs are bent on creating hell on Earth.
Then, there is also the factor of the ‘Great Indian
Middleman’. The broker is an important piece of the puzzle that is home
searching. It is nearly impossible and high improbable that you will find
something suited to your needs without the help of a broker. If you do, you’re
in luck, but I wouldn't depend on it. The broker will charge around the same
amount as the rent, so you end up paying double. But is that it? NO! The
homeowner will take three times the rent as insurance in case you cause damage.
So if you’re a student without a job and nobody to support you, you’re broke.
The area problem is another hurdle that not many can
overcome. Rents differ from area to area and it is hard to find a suitable accommodation
which is near to essential areas and affordable at the same time. There is
compromise to be made most of the time.
Hence, as you will probably deduce from my first hand
experience, living outside is not as hunky dory as you presumed in your sweet
world of fantasy. So think twice!
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