Our flat is opposite the Institute. I have always had very short commutes but this is the absolute shortest. I haven’t counted the steps yet. By the time I think of it, I am already at the gate of the Institute.
It’s three bedrooms. Two of the rooms have two single beds with attached baths and the smaller bedroom, one bed and a balcony (where we are drying clothes on the line). We have designated the main bath as her bathroom.
The building has a security system that requires a code to enter the building and there is also a caretaker, Krishna, who is always about. Our house keeper, Nada, comes every day and doesn’t speak a word of English. She comes in with a hearty “Namaste'” and gets right to work sweeping the floor, washing the dishes and cleaning the sinks.
The land lady, Ritu, only rents to yoga students. This flat was her in-laws who lived here with the parents of her father-in-law. When they died they were going to sell the place but Pandu, secretary at RIMYI, and another person over there, convinced them to keep it and rent it out since it is so close to the Institute. They have been renting it for three years.
There are ceiling fans in every room, no air conditioning. All the floors are marble and spotless. The beds are as hard as a park bench. The kitchen has a microwave and a double burner cook top with gas that is piped in (no canister). The water guy will deliver a five gallon jug directly to the apartment and install it for 70 rupes. Ritu has a list of cooks and rickshaw drivers that can be called from the landline. There’s wifi in the apartment, too, which makes it easy to stay in touch.
Besides the location, the best part is that yogis who have stayed her before have left props and the flat has ample space to practice, which I have every day so far.
