Apartments! Ask anyone where they live, and they would name a prestigious apartment – easy to locate, security to guide the visitors, and with many facilities. But twenty years ago, the concept of apartments was very new. Independent houses, big or small, with the address bearing one’s name, were every owner’s pride. Independent houses have been replaced by tall apartments. Independent houses with a compound wall and a pretty garden are rapidly vanishing, not just in cities but in small towns and villages too. And the reason for this is obvious, population explosion and shortage of land! But for many people, especially the elderly who have lived their lives in independent houses, the apartment is just like the Central Jail. However, as the saying goes, we have to flow with the river! Accepting change is very difficult, but we must understand that some changes are for the good!
Tall apartment buildings, soaring up close to 50 floors or even higher, guarded by security sometimes overwhelming! Thousands of people reside in these apartment complexes, enjoying all the amenities like a swimming pool, gym, play area for kids, courts for outdoor sports, restaurants, parlor, walking paths, party halls, and so on. Imagine, one can enjoy all the facilities without going to a distant place.
Let me share my personal experience of staying in the apartment. Coming from the old-school ideology, I never enjoyed staying in an apartment as it reminded me of a jail environment. But since my children are all living in apartments, I started visiting them and slowly getting used to life in apartments. As I spent more time in the apartments, I started enjoying that life and looking at its positives for not just senior citizens like me but also working couples, kids, and adults of all ages. From safety to amenities, from plumber to electrician, everything is just a phone call away!
Staying on the fourth floor of a 17-storeyed apartment, it feels like a small township. My morning starts with sipping a hot cup of tea and enjoying the view of sunrise amidst tall trees from my balcony. It’s a real feast for the eyes and a perfect start to the morning. The line of tall trees with white flowers is the perfect China wall between ours and our neighboring apartment. The trees have grown so tall that it feels as if they are competing with the buildings to reach the sky to touch it and kiss it! The musical notes of the chirping birds are a treat to your ears. My mornings are beautiful indeed. Cannot miss mentioning the faint sound of the household chores and routine work of the neighbouring flat.
Then it's time for my morning walk, one of my favorites. The pretty flowers welcome me as I start walking on the walking path. The landscaping in the apartment is so beautiful. The greetings and warm smiles of people walking cheer you up – such a refreshing feeling. Most importantly, there is no fear of traffic, no honking, no dogs to chase you basically no tension.
A quick freshening up followed by breakfast is the next agenda. And then I am back to the balcony, but this time with a book. It gives me a feeling of living in a resort. Evenings in the apartments are full of life and buzzing with activities. You can hear children playing in the park, ladies walking and people sitting in small groups and discussing various topics from food to movies to politics to maids!
And it's time for us to slowly start getting back to our flats just like the birds return to their nests to take shelter. A post-dinner walk is very common as there is no safety concern. This is the everyday routine in my apartment. People mix, mingle with each other, and exchange their views. Of course, help is just a phone call away in apartments.
Festivals and celebrations in apartments give you an opportunity to collaborate, participate, and carry forward one’s culture. Accomplished senior citizens are invited to share their thoughts on Independence Day and Republic Day. Cultural programs are organized with enthusiasm. Not to forget the snacks and eateries which follow the event. It gives you a platform to learn about different customs, and cultures and bond with everyone in the community. May Day is celebrated by recognizing the hard work of the apartment staff and by giving them a small gift as a token of our appreciation. Festivals like Sankranti and Christmas are celebrated with equal fervor and bhakti.
During the Ganesha festival, a community pooja is performed for the idol of lord Ganesha. All ten days of the Dasara festival are celebrated by chanting Durga stotraes in large groups. The apartment is decorated with lights during Diwali. Come Christmas and it's time for a party, dance, cake, and dinner.
These are some plus points of apartment life. Again, it all depends on how one socializes with people and makes the most of what the community has to offer.
Like always, a coin has two sides. First and foremost, the prices and cost of living are very high. Also, most of the new apartments in cities are being built far away from the city. Commutation to other places is very difficult. Also, if the lift malfunctions, it’s a nightmare for the person living on the upper floors! To enjoy all the facilities, a heavy amount has to be paid for maintenance which keeps increasing every year. Also, when you are deciding to buy an apartment, you need to be very careful and check the documents to avoid any kind of fraud. So, choose your ‘Home Sweet Home’ wisely.
With scientists sending rockets to outer space, the day is not far from when we will start occupying other planets. I am sure that our scientist community will make wise decisions, not compromising nature. Don’t put too much load on earth. Don’t destroy forests for your greed. Don’t construct buildings on lakebeds. If you love nature, nature will love you back!