Second home I

Discovered upon arriving at my grandma’s house that a potential tenant was coming over to view one of the rooms that had just a few days ago been put up for rent. My grandma had decided that that would be the best thing to do as one of my aunts had recently just moved out into a new house, and she thought it would be nice to have another girl in the house. Our neighbour (who apparently already had a few years experience at being a landlady) willingly volunteered to help, although actually I think all she wanted to do was just to make sure grandma got a fair deal, as knowing her she would agree to any request the tenant makes, probably even lowering so much of the initial start-out-rent that she would eventually be paying the girl to stay in the house.

Neighbour : Oooo this girl ar she’s a student… just called up this morning (she had taken the trouble to help grandma put up flyers and notes advertising the room wherever she felt appropriate) to ask when she can come over to see the house… so I told her tonight also can lar if she’s free.
Grandma : Of course she can come over tonight. All thanks to you ah souh (auntie), took so much trouble to help us.
Neighbour : No lar… don’t mention it…. It’s not so much trouble lar… I’m used to doing these things already (unless I am very much mistaken, she was referring to her own experience. If i remember correctly, she had been renting out rooms from her house ever since I was little kid)

The tenant arrived 10 minutes later, a sweet-looking girl around my age studying in UTAR about 20 minutes walk from our place. She came with a guy, and upon spotting him, the first group of rules that she (neighbour) immediately laid down for her was:
1.No boyfriends visiting the house
2.No boyfriends IN the house
3.Definitely no boyfriends IN the room

After making sure she understood, she was allowed a tour of the house, including a trip up to the room in which she would be staying.

Girl : Urm… is there anything in the house which I can use ?
Grandma : Sure.. I guess it would be allright if you….
Neighbour : (Interrupt + loudly + with fierce look) Why don't you just let us know what it is in particular in the house that you would like to use. Then we will let you know whether you can use it.
Girl : Err… ok... (eyes glancing hurriedly around before coming to rest on the huge tv + astro decoder in the living room) like.. urm… can I watch the television ?
Neighbour : Watch the television ?!?! (Very loudly and sounding as though she was asking for the moon) Definitely not.
Girl : (Ignoring neighbour, turning to grandma) You mean even if you guys watch, I still can’t sit and watch together? (looking very pitiful)
Grandma : Of course you can watch the television if you want to. I never watch it anyway. You can watch all you want. Just treat the whole place as though its your own home. (smiling)
Neighbour : (looking at grandma while shaking head)
Girl : Ok... urm… (thinking about what to ask next) do you all go out of the house very often ?
Neighbour : (rolling eyes) Can I just know why you are asking this ?
Girl : Oh no… no… er… I…er… just… wanted to know...
Neighbour : Well if you MUST know, she does NOT leave the house very often. She’s at home most of the time... so you don’t have to worry about being left alone in the house... IF that’s the reason why you’re asking...
Girl : No i err... (looking very uncomfortable) i think i'll go up and urm.. have a look at the room again.

By now she seemed to have figured out that the less she asked the better. She still liked the room anyhow, although I had a feeling I played a major role when I got through to her that this fierce, intimidating lady who was doing the interrogation didn’t actually stay in the same house.

Girl : ….. actually, I like the room very much…
Neighbour : Then you might want to pay the deposit first.
Girl : but still… I would like to think about it somemore first… before…
Neighbour : (interrupt) Then I guess we’ll see you again some other time then.
Girl : But I’m worried also… that some other people might come and urm... decide to take this place when I leave…
Neighbour : Well then let me assure you now that I cannot guarantee you that wouldn’t happen.
Girl : !!!

She paid up her deposit that very same night, all the while reassuring us that she would be moving in as soon as possible.