It may have happened to you at some time or the other. You start with one badly needed update or change or improvement to the house — and before you know it, you are in the midst of a major makeover.
For us, it started with a window — all of thirty plus years old, like the rest of the apartment. Slowly, over the years, the metal hinges of the window had become tighter and more rigid and we were unable to open the window completely. It didn’t matter much initially. We opened it three-quarters — and then half — and then less and less each year, as time and moisture and ingrained dust took its toll, until finally we just couldn’t push it open at all.
But, in one of our failed attempts to push open the window, we managed to push out a section of the window pane, and instead of ruing the broken glass (or repairing it), we said, “That’s enough ventilation for us!” And thus, an entire summer — and monsoon season — and winter — passed and we managed fine.
We had become good at making do.
And then, somehow, we made contact with an enterprising window maker. He sent us pictures and quotations and before we could study them too deeply, he was in the house, noting down the measurements and taking down the order: not for that one window that was stuck, but for every window that was showing signs of age and wear.
Soon the new windows arrived: sleek and sparkling, sliding across brand new rails. No more struggling to open the windows out to welcome the cool evening breeze in summer; no more wrestling to pull them shut during a sudden storm when rainwater splashed on us!
Just slide them this way or that and we were done! What a delight!
But as we admired the new windows, our eyes fell on the old curtains in front of them and we noticed that they looked shabby — especially now that the windows were gleaming!
“Maybe we should get blinds,” we said, and another study commenced: of blinds and sun shades and other apparatuses; and while we rejected the idea of blinds in favour of old-fashioned curtains, we made sure we got the newest ones on offer, all ready to hang as soon as they arrived on our doorstep.
With so much spanking newness around us, the rest was only a matter of time.
Out went the old clothes dryer; in came a clothesline that went up towards the ceiling and stayed out of our line of vision. Next, the washing machine didn’t “fit in”; then some of the old furniture was too tacky to retain; we could do with a change of upholstery, cushions, tablecloths, bedspreads; even the pots and pans in the kitchen …
You see how it went?
Getting a new look was getting to be endless!
Things really hit rock bottom — or should I say, the roof — when after all those changes were made, we found the walls and ceiling dull and drab and stained with damp spots, hand prints and furniture marks …
The painters were called in and suddenly, the entire house was in an upheaval all in one go, inside of bit by bit as it had been earlier. Cupboards were emptied and furniture was dragged out of the way and covered, we were shooed away as dust flew from scraping and cleaning, but at last the job was over and done with.
The sparkle practically hurt our eyes!
And yes, in contrast, some of the furniture still needs a fresh coat of polish and those tired, almost unrecognisable images in our mirrors could use a complete makeover at a seniors’ spa — but there is only so much that can be accomplished in an overhaul, don’t you think?
— Cheryl Rao is a writer based in India
