Budhoose met Sidhan, his friend, on the road.
'Long time no see!' Sidhan exclaimed.
'Yeah, I was sort of busy' Budhoose said.
'What is up?'
'I am building a new house'
Budhoose smiled.
'Wonderful! Tell me about the
new house. Is it big?'
'You know Sidhan, I wanted to
have a large house. I actually
wanted to beat the Windsor castle
and the Lalith Mahal Palace together.
But unfortunately there is not enough land”
'How big is the house anyway?'
'It is only a six bedroom house
with attached bathrooms and dressing
rooms for all bed rooms. Garage for
two cars and a separate
quarter for the servants'
'Oh, that is great!'
All doors and windows are of
teak and mahogany. The floor is a
mixture of Italian marble and German granite'
'I am dying to see it!' Sidhan said.
'The kitchen is air conditioned'
'Oh my God'
'The taps are all gold plated'
'Oh, Budhoose! You are splurging!
How much have you come with your new house?'
'Just you wait, Sidhan. Don't be
in a hurry' Budhoose said.
'Have you got the compound landscaped?
I am sure you are going to get
done by Mr. P K R Menon'
'Unfortunately, Sidhan, I have not
come to that. Or else I could
have shown you that'
'Have you finished the paint job?
You know it takes a lot of money and time'
'No, no, not yet Sidhan'
'Have you finished the marble
and granite work?'
'Oh, that contractor is very slow.
He still has not started that work'
How high is the roof? You know,
Budhoose, you should have a high roof.
It will keep the house cool and quiet'
'Sidhan, I thought of getting it done
by that Premachandran. But then he does
not have quality machinery and I think
I well get it done by Mohanan Nair'
'Who is doing the brick work? I know
some one who does a good job of it'
'I thought of getting it done with
finished granites. But then it takes
too much time and I decided to go for
marble blocks. It works out only
slightly dearer than granite blocks.
But I still have not got those blocks'
'How did the foundation go?
Who did that?' Sidhan asked
'That guy Sathyan is a lazy bone
and has not turned up so far'
'Oh, were are you going to have
your house built?'
'You know that large vacant
plot near the post office?
I will have my house there'
'But, Budhoose, that whole land
belongs to our Mamachan Muthalaly.
How did you get it?'
'If you pay money you can get any thing'
Budhoose laughed.
'How did you come to so much money?'
Sidhan gaped in wonder.
'I still have not got the money.
One day I will get it and then I
will have the house'
'But Budhoose how will you get so much money?'
'I was just dreaming. If I get the money
I will have the house made
by Charles Correa'