The exchanging of glances between Usha Tai and the strangers went for few minutes. No one knew how to break the ice. Finally Mahesh arrived from behind. He was whispering to someone in his cellphone. It looked like as if he was eager to keep the phone down soon. He was in his thirties but his hair had almost turned silver. He wasn't as tall as the young man standing near the door. His potbelly made him look few years older than what he is. He always carried two cellphones , small silver Paan box and few documents with him.
He glanced at the two parties staring at each other. He excused the couple and stood in between of them. The couple cringed as they stood few inches apart. The girl almost hurt her hand due to this shuffle. "Tai, meet your new prospective tenants - Jasmine and Zain.", he introduced with beaming smile. Usha Tai looked stunned. She dragged Mahesh inside to corner where the new prospective tenants couldn't hear..
"They are Muslims. How can I rent my flat to them? I told you I wanted pure vegetarian tenants. That was most important criteria." she whispered grimly. The couple looked at them with suspicious eyes. "So what if they are Muslims? Don't be racist.",he teased her. Tai looked at him sternly. If she had no company, she would have definitely hit him.
"I am sorry. I am sorry. They are Muslims ! You get that. You will be in better position. You see these guys have least chance to get rent anywhere in Mumbai. They are ready to pay any price you quote. They will accept all your terms and conditions.", he convinced her calmly. However she still had doubts. "What will my late husband will think? He has never rented the flat to any Muslims in his life. He will curse me surely. What about society? You know how they are. They will find another reason to mock me.", she said solemnly.
Mahesh had to do something to crack the deal between them. He had been trying to rent this property badly. He was known as best property agent in his area. His commission was being stalled by never ending demands of this old lady. He sulked and wondered how he could convince her. He didn't want to leave hefty commission he would get from this deal. "Don't worry about what people say. You know that song right - Kuch toh log kahenge. Logon ka kaam hai kehna (People will say something or other. It's people's business to say something.) Why do you care when you will get good rent from them?", he said calmly.
"You will say all these things to convince me. How will I trust them? What if they don't pay rent properly?", she asked adamantly. "I will make sure they pay on time. You only tell, you have met several people for rent. Most of them were making too many demands. I will take guarantee on these people. You will get good rent and that too on time." he said confidently. Usha Tai thought deeply. It was getting too hard to find a tenant over few months. There was equal probability that they may agree or not agree . She prayed for them not to agree. She agreed to Mahesh with heavy heart.
(To be continued)
He glanced at the two parties staring at each other. He excused the couple and stood in between of them. The couple cringed as they stood few inches apart. The girl almost hurt her hand due to this shuffle. "Tai, meet your new prospective tenants - Jasmine and Zain.", he introduced with beaming smile. Usha Tai looked stunned. She dragged Mahesh inside to corner where the new prospective tenants couldn't hear..
"They are Muslims. How can I rent my flat to them? I told you I wanted pure vegetarian tenants. That was most important criteria." she whispered grimly. The couple looked at them with suspicious eyes. "So what if they are Muslims? Don't be racist.",he teased her. Tai looked at him sternly. If she had no company, she would have definitely hit him.
"I am sorry. I am sorry. They are Muslims ! You get that. You will be in better position. You see these guys have least chance to get rent anywhere in Mumbai. They are ready to pay any price you quote. They will accept all your terms and conditions.", he convinced her calmly. However she still had doubts. "What will my late husband will think? He has never rented the flat to any Muslims in his life. He will curse me surely. What about society? You know how they are. They will find another reason to mock me.", she said solemnly.
Mahesh had to do something to crack the deal between them. He had been trying to rent this property badly. He was known as best property agent in his area. His commission was being stalled by never ending demands of this old lady. He sulked and wondered how he could convince her. He didn't want to leave hefty commission he would get from this deal. "Don't worry about what people say. You know that song right - Kuch toh log kahenge. Logon ka kaam hai kehna (People will say something or other. It's people's business to say something.) Why do you care when you will get good rent from them?", he said calmly.
"You will say all these things to convince me. How will I trust them? What if they don't pay rent properly?", she asked adamantly. "I will make sure they pay on time. You only tell, you have met several people for rent. Most of them were making too many demands. I will take guarantee on these people. You will get good rent and that too on time." he said confidently. Usha Tai thought deeply. It was getting too hard to find a tenant over few months. There was equal probability that they may agree or not agree . She prayed for them not to agree. She agreed to Mahesh with heavy heart.
(To be continued)
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