“I have to move back to my home city, Nasik since I had been laid off and was not getting another job here in Mumbai. When I told my landlord this, inspite of serving the notice period, he created quite a furore and wouldn’t let me leave easily. His demands were that I not only stay and pay for the notice period but also for another 3 months--basis some vague clause in the contract--and that I can only move out when he has found a new tenant. And after that he demanded ridiculous amounts of money from me citing reasons such as dirty walls, chipped balcony floor tiling--things which were already there before I moved in. It was so stressful dealing with him,” says Devyani Ahale, Mumbai.

But the story of Pramod Bapat, 73, who was Devyani’s landlord is something else and very distressful. For Mr Bapat, this flat is the sole source of income. He retired from a private job and so besides his savings and PPF, he didn’t have much reserves of money. But this flat is what kept his monthly household income going and with the pandemic and lockdown etc., things became a nightmare for the old couple.

“My flat gave me an income that helped me support myself and my wife. My children are all settled abroad and because of the flat, I never needed to ask them for any money or be dependent on them. Devyani has been out of job since last November, and it came as a shock to me that she wanted to quit with one month’s notice. How am I to get a new tenant now? People are not getting jobs, are not moving cities at this time, how will I get any money to sustain myself. I understand Devyani’s situation but will someone think of me and my old woman at home?

If this money stops coming in, I am going to be doomed. I already have to dig into my savings for some health expenses, so was living on a tight budget already, but how much more can I cut back? Am I not supposed to have three square meals a day also? If I don’t find a new tenant soon, I will be forced to beg my sons for money...it is almost as if begging for alms. I am not a beggar!!!

This lockdown and pandemic has taken away my source of income and respect with it. I have been trying to find a new tenant and have given ads, contacted brokers but there is no activity happening. This flat which was my pride earlier has become like a stone tied around my neck threatening to choke me to death.

I am afraid that I won’t be able to demand a good rent also this time around and might have to compromise there also. Why do I have to see such days in the fag end of my life. I want to leave this world without worried not as a pauper or a loser who had to sell/rent his flat at a loss.

I feel utterly helpless and cheated and depleted of any energy and enthusiasm. Day and night, all I am trying to do is find new tenants for my flat. I had thought that after we both pass away, I will leave this flat in my son’s possession, but now it seems I will end up cheating him also out of this, if I am forced to sell it to keep the monthly expenses of food and ration going in my house.

What cursed days these are--I wish I die sooner than have to face accusatory glances of my wife and son for not being able to provide for them. They must already be thinking of me as a loser and not trying enough!” says, Pramod Bapat, distressed, and helpless.