MB#84: 𝘼𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙘𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚.

[MemoirBlogthon #84] The final acquisition was marred by an unexpected challenge: the three partners of the construction firm were locked in disputes, causing them to repeatedly fail to appear for the joint registration. Waiting for over eight hours outside the Registrar's office, I was ready to file a police complaint, but my father, sitting patiently in the car, calmed me, insisting on resolving the matter amicably. This paternal patience led to the successful, timely registration on an auspicious day. This blog details how my father’s decades of civil engineering experience guided the semi-finished construction, securing us free internal design modifications and ultimately helping my parents begin a new, peaceful life in their apartment—a legacy of shelter and wisdom that guides our family's property decisions even today.

MB#84: Apartment Gruhapravesam, an Emotional Legacy of a House

The Registration Ordeal and Paternal Patience

The final steps of acquiring the property proved unexpectedly difficult. We went to the government registrar's office multiple times, spending several hours waiting. The three partners representing the builder (vendor) were scheduled to sign the document, but due to internal disputes, one or more signatories would repeatedly fail to attend, despite my constant efforts.

The situation was tense. At one stage, having provided large advance payments, I stressed the need to go to the police station to file an FIR, fearing the vendors had cheated us. My mother was deeply uncomfortable, waiting in the car for over eight hours, and humiliation mounted.

It was my father’s patience that saved the deal. Sitting silently and resting in the car seat due to his age, he advised me not to resort to any adverse decisions at that juncture, insisting the problem should be resolved amicably. He cooled me down, trusting that the managing partner would eventually resolve their issues. After our third failed attempt, the managing partner promised to return the money but asked for more time. Finally, the marketing manager, Shiva, tactfully brought all partners together, and the execution of documents was completed smoothly within an hour on a very auspicious day.

Guiding the Construction: The Engineer’s Expertise

After completing the registration, I encountered a fresh challenge. The two apartments were in a semi-construction state, and the residual finishing works were to be carried out by the builder. I was completely raw in apartment construction, having no prior knowledge.

My father, however, had decades of experience in civil works, from government structures to building his own independent house. He guided me in every aspect from a superior engineer's perspective, using engineering language that helped the supervisors understand the required quality aspects. Due to the vendors' earlier lapses, we successfully insisted on internal design modifications—like installing a door for a home office and shifting washbasins—at no extra cost.

Within four months of registration, the apartments were ready. We held two separate housewarming ceremonies (Gruha Pravesam): first for my parents’ apartment, and then, after a two-month gap, for ours. This marked the declaration that we had moved from a rented house to our new premises, celebrated with well-wishers and relatives over lunch.

The Legacy of Shelter and the Final Lesson

For my parents, who had lived in their own independent house in Vijayawada for three decades, moving into a spacious, well-ventilated apartment in a gated community was a true boon in their ripe age. My father established a fine-tuned routine, spending two precious hours every evening in the sprawling 8-acre greenery, observing children and interacting with other residents from his wheelchair.

Life went on smoothly until my mother’s abrupt death from cancer. My father lived alone for eight months after she passed, unable to bear the days without his companion. Time ultimately revealed that destiny is not in our hands.

Today, maintaining the two apartments is our routine. We honor my father's last will, which stipulated that if his apartment is sold, the proceeds should be distributed equally. When my daughter came forward to buy the apartment, all legal heirs unanimously agreed to alienate the flat to her at the original purchase price, keeping the property within the family.

When I see the apartment, I recall my father’s final lessons:

1. Every family must own a living space lifelong.

2. Never dispose of that building or apartment to repay debts.

3. Maintain the premises with utmost care, as good as you take care of your body.

The challenges and benefits of apartment living (noise, community, affordability) that I read about in articles on the internet today are precisely the points my father covered before we began this exercise, preparing me to reap the benefits and meet the challenges head-on.

MB#84: Quiz

MB84: Question During the registration ordeal, what adverse action did the author's father patiently advise him against taking?

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• A. Suing the bank for a loan delay.
• B. Filing an FIR against the builder partners.
• C. Withdrawing the advance payment.
• D. Changing the auspicious registration date.

MB#84: Quote

"A house is built by human hands, but a home is built by human hearts."