Mark
31-10-05, 05:55
Four families share the woes of staying together
Web posted at: 10/31/2005 7:15:13
Source ::: The Peninsula
Members of the Indian families from Kerala outside their sharing accommodation in Najma.
Doha: Abdullah (not his real name), an Indian from Kerala, runs a small shop in a souq. He lived peacefully with wife and two children staying in an old house in Najma until a few months ago when the landlord suddenly announced he was increasing the rent from QR2,000 to QR4,500.
His monthly earnings were not enough to pay more than double of what he was paying as rent, nor could he send his family back since there was no one to take care of them there.
Since convincing the property owner not to raise the rent was not a practical option, Abdullah thought of sharing the accommodation with other families and for that he sought the owner’s permission. The owner did not object.
Abdullah spread word in the community about sharing accommodation being available and soon got the kind of families he was looking for with whom he could share the house while ensuring some privacy.
Now, three families, one with a small child, are sharing the accommodation with Abdullah and family.
Abdullah had a makeshift kitchen constructed so that two families, including his, could share a kitchen each. Some other minor adjustments were done and the house was able to somehow accommodate all the four families. Luckily, there were two bathrooms in the house so two families could share one each.
Since none of the four housewives works, they use the kitchen by turn. But at times that is not possible as their husbands want something cooked or tea made at the same time, so they share the kitchen simultaneously.
Privacy is indeed a casualty, but the families, only two of which, including Abdullah’s, have children, are somehow managing.
Web posted at: 10/31/2005 7:15:13
Source ::: The Peninsula
Members of the Indian families from Kerala outside their sharing accommodation in Najma.
Doha: Abdullah (not his real name), an Indian from Kerala, runs a small shop in a souq. He lived peacefully with wife and two children staying in an old house in Najma until a few months ago when the landlord suddenly announced he was increasing the rent from QR2,000 to QR4,500.
His monthly earnings were not enough to pay more than double of what he was paying as rent, nor could he send his family back since there was no one to take care of them there.
Since convincing the property owner not to raise the rent was not a practical option, Abdullah thought of sharing the accommodation with other families and for that he sought the owner’s permission. The owner did not object.
Abdullah spread word in the community about sharing accommodation being available and soon got the kind of families he was looking for with whom he could share the house while ensuring some privacy.
Now, three families, one with a small child, are sharing the accommodation with Abdullah and family.
Abdullah had a makeshift kitchen constructed so that two families, including his, could share a kitchen each. Some other minor adjustments were done and the house was able to somehow accommodate all the four families. Luckily, there were two bathrooms in the house so two families could share one each.
Since none of the four housewives works, they use the kitchen by turn. But at times that is not possible as their husbands want something cooked or tea made at the same time, so they share the kitchen simultaneously.
Privacy is indeed a casualty, but the families, only two of which, including Abdullah’s, have children, are somehow managing.