The Cowboy Mansion

So, it has been more than a month since my last blog… I sincerely apologize to my readers who were eager to read and know what happened next in my quest to find a home!

Fact is, I was a little upset as my last blog didn’t attract a lot of readers… and as I mentioned: For a writer, the best form of accomplishment is REACH of his/her writing!

When you do something with passion, you put your heart and soul in it and when the outcome is not as expected, or when it is underwhelming, then you literally cannot measure the extent of disappointment!

So, I’ll admit, I was upset, demented and hence, was not in the ‘right’ aura to ‘write’!

I did a lot of self-introspection and came to a very valid conclusion –You shouldn’t seek external validation in any endeavor that you take up!

I wanted to start a blog to express myself through words. I wanted to share my experiences and learning. If along this journey of what I desire, I receive love & support from my readers, I’d be elated! But, that should not become the sole reason behind my writing! That’s how greed creeps in!

So, having said that, I shall continue to write, continue to share my life experiences with zero expectations!

So, let’s resume from where I concluded the last time…

I was still at my AirBnB accommodation and was still searching for a long term accommodation. I was very upset and scared, but I could not let these feelings deter my goal! I was constantly sending requests to each advertisements as soon as the same was published! Many requests were rejected as they needed a Deutsch speaking roommate! Many were rejected as they needed students and not Expats like me! But, I had to keep trying! (…as if I had any other choice!)

Finally, after a couple of days, I got a response! It was for a place on sharing basis. Let’s call the ad publisher – Mr. X.

Mr. X. messaged me that he would love to rent his place to me. They were a total of around 9+ people – mix of people from different ethnicities, professions – all staying together in peace and harmony! They were all vegan and they loved to go on weekend trips together as one big family. He said he’d be more than happy to rent his place to me. He was a musician and said, he really likes Indian music! I think, he even said he’d been to India!

This was like a very overwhelming response that I received! For a moment, I was startled! I saw the pictures of the place, and the address was also close to my workplace. So, I thought, let’s schedule an appointment! Ray of Hope, after all!

I called Mr. X. He was an old man in his 50s, very warm to speak to. He explained the route to come to his place. Since, I have an eidetic memory in reaching places! (SARCASM), I requested him to email me the routes to reach his place.

I am quoting his response –

1. Take the train line XXX at Bonn Hauptbahnhof.

2. Exit at the train stop – ‘ABC’. Walk down the stairs and up the road to its end.

3. Walk over to the other side of the passing road and turn left.

4. 200 meter on the walk over to the other side of ‘DEF’ Straße.

5. The house on the corner is our place with lots of chimney wood in front.

6. My old little truck, a forklift and the red transport car.

7. At the entrance, there is a light globe on each side.

I was so happy to finally find a place which is close to my office, seems to be taken care by a very warm and welcoming gentleman!

So, on the day of our scheduled appointment, I called Mr. X. to confirm that I will be there as per the agreed time. I took the train and got down at ‘ABC’ stop. This ‘ABC’ stop was too calm and to be frank, that made me a bit ‘less calm’!

Such an empty platform on a weekend afternoon! I was thinking, that if this place is as deserted as it is now, on weekdays too... then I will be in a soup!

Nevertheless, I had to reach the place as soon as possible. To be frank, his elaborate email to reach his place didn’t help! I started the Maps too. I missed a few lanes, took a few wrong turns, but ultimately I reached! At least, that’s what I thought!

So, I was at ‘DEF’ Straße but his house# was nowhere to be seen! The place was beautiful! Trees, open fields, empty streets, no hustle-bustle! This kind of ‘Beauty’ petrifies me!

Anyway, there was no turning back now! I called Mr. X., indirectly hinted that his email + Maps didn’t really matter as I am still lost! He now gave me instructions at the most granular level possible and that did help. As I was following his route, I was coming close to a ‘Mansion’ like house…

The gate opens, a man in a loose open shirt comes out of it. That was Mr. X. He was ‘old’ as I thought. But he wasn’t the ‘kind’ of old that I thought! He was lean, and his dressing made me feel he wanted to look young! Rugged jeans, open shirt, folded sleeves.

He came close to me and introduced himself and I am already nervous and panicky. He asked me to accompany him inside. As I entered the gate, I saw a big truck, pile of woods on the side, muddy ground, and I saw the house… and there it was – The Cowboy Mansion!

As I approached the house, the vibes didn’t feel good. I am not superstitious, but I do believe that Universe gives us signals sometimes and we shouldn’t ignore them!

I IGNORED THEM!

As we entered the house, he pointed towards an area in the ‘living room’ if I can call it that. He said, this is my room!

The place was a hoarder’s paradise! I was barely able to walk without bumping into things! It just didn’t feel right. The house felt more like a ‘warehouse’. I was already suspecting if anyone stayed there except for Mr. X.

Mr. X. was another worry. His gestures, his gait – everything was a bit odd. As a woman, we can easily identify the ‘look’ & ‘gaze’ that isn’t right. So, I knew I needed to get out.

So, I gathered courage and asked him, where are the other roommates as I’d like to meet them. He said, all were out! Now, that was a big RED signal. Not a single roomie was home!

He then showed me a name plate sort of a thing with 9-10 names, stating these are the people who stay here. His way of talking was so spooky. I already had chills and was so scared! I think he didn’t even blink! He constantly kept staring at me and I was constantly thinking of a reason to get out of this place.

So, I told him I liked the place and would get back to him, but I needed to leave as I had to meet a friend. He went berserk! He said I cannot leave as he had made food and intends to eat with me as I am part of his family now! The way he spoke was so weird and I could sense some really wrong intentions there! That statement was enough for me to run!

I was already walking backwards and trying to justify that it is really urgent that I see my friend and we can catch up some other time. I told him that I’d call him soon. As I was walking, I did not move my eyes away from him as I had to be aware of his move!

All I kept thinking was what if he closes the gate! He was old but was way stronger than me! So, I just kept walking while he was trying so hard to convince me to stay and have lunch with him! I literally brisk walked towards the gate and as soon as I was out, I didn’t even turn back and kept walking with all my energy.

As I mentioned the place was like a desert! No sign of any person, no cars, no buses! I was so scared. What if he is following me, what if he stops me! That day, I felt the need to have taken self defense classes! I didn’t look behind until I reached the train station! It was empty too – surprise, surprise!

Next train was in 30 minutes! Such a great instance to prove that time is relative! Those 30 minutes felt like hours! I kept looking at the road to ensure I do not see Mr. X., at the same time, was thinking to devise a Plan B. if I see him!

This was the kind of adventure I didn’t sign up for!

Finally, the train arrived and I got in to never ever return to his place! I deleted his contact after sending him a message that I would not be able to rent his place.

To this day I sometimes think:

What if I was wrong? What if he was a genuine person? What if he was telling the truth? What if, there were people apart from him who were staying there as he said? What if my impressions about him were wrong?

But, these are the kind of questions I don’t intend to find answers for! Sometimes, the best way to answer a question is to simply not answer it!

This was by far, one of the most enthralling ‘escapades’ that I ever had and I surely don’t want to have an experience like this, ever again!

But, I could not let this episode stop me from finding my nest… because, I haven’t learned to give up! My quest continued and I hope you all would love to know what happened next! I will write about it very soon…

Until then, like I always say – Stay Happy, Stay Safe!

This pandemic is testing humanity and we cannot give up! Let’s do what we can! Help, Contribute and Empathize. Do your bit, no matter how trivial.

Your efforts could be like a ‘drop’ in the Ocean, but do not forget – these ‘drops’ make the Ocean!