“Yesterday is a pile of rubble. Today is a pile of opportunity. Life takes a new dump each morning” ―
Troy was aghast to see the car move jerkily and climb up the walkway. The driver was none other than Roan who lived on the second floor. Troy had heard Penny, the neighbour assure that Roan was a careful driver. Troy waited in eagerness to hear Roan's explanation about the incident. Troy was the first to know of all the happenings though it was a mere balcony that jutted out of the wall into the open expanse in Mirraw Street. The colony consisted of independent bungalows, but of late the owners had begun selling their houses to the real estate agents and builders who built beautiful flats.
Penny was a narrow balcony, the French kind of balcony that we normally call a 'Juliet' balcony with a metallic barrier placed in front of a high window. Penny had metallic baluster, spindles between elaborate metallic network. Penny often felt suffocated when people tried to stand on her. Penny was just to add grace to the high window. She would often look at Troy and exclaim, "Troy, I can feel your hand reaching out for me whenever I lookout for help, it's a deep consolation. I certainly wish I could move, and stretch my tired balustrade which seems crumbling crustily when am filled with people"
Troy and Penny's owners were Anglo-Indian. Penny's house belonged to a French National named Lisa who had got married to an Indian. The house was actually Lisa's grandmother's possession. Now Lisa lived with Dheeraj, her mother Chloe, and her two little children. The house was big to clean but small to live. Troy was named by his owners Sam and Simran who loved the small independent house in the colony. When they stood on the fifty feet carpet area of the balcony for the first time, they could see the beautiful hills and the majestic sky. They felt victorious and decided to name the balcony Troy instead of calling it a balcony. Penny was almost inconspicuous in size and Troy had lovingly named her Penny.
Troy felt sad about his dilapidated state, the considerable space was used as a storehouse to store unused things. He told Penny, 'I Wish it were Diwali or Christmas every day as all this trash on me would be given away’. Penny looked at Troy's gleaming eyes and smiled as Diwali was around the corner. A little away from Penny's home lay a newly constructed building. The homes had a large balcony. There were three for each house, a small one called the dry balcony where they placed their washing machines, it was almost a squared one like Troy. The other two were large, elaborate to plan concepts, themes and many more. They were enclosed spaces that open just like a part of the house. While the balcony in the bedroom was a little smaller with intimate seating area, the one in the hall was almost a private garden. Many of the residents had rolled a lawn of false grass amongst the potted plants to make it attractive. Troy felt it was opulence but named it 'Magnificent'. There were many new constructions going on in the small colony. The old tiny bungalows were dilapidated and the owners definitely wanted to move into the large complex buildings with round the clock security, play space and walk area. They wanted to celebrate festivals and welcome the new year with their age groups. Troy never minded being a balcony, he loved his role when Sam would say, 'To me, life is enjoying a cup of coffee with my partner late night sitting here in ‘Troy' Simran would smile and keep her aspirations at bay even while she shone in the brilliance of 'Magnificent'.
One of the days, a group of builders visited Mirraw street. They scrutinised the properties for their new venture. At the far end, the presence of two new constructions had motivated the people in the colony to contemplate over the idea of moving to a newer place. The builders met Dheeraj, Sam and their neighbours. They elaborated their scheme after promising each family two flats in the new construction. An additional flat meant a lot to the people. They were also given the choice of choosing their flats. Sam loved the idea of an additional balcony. A balcony with a garden space substituting the green space, the roses and pomegranates and curry leaf in his independent house would mean optimum use of space with minimum work.. Lisa felt happy that they would leave the French look and go to a bigger home with a superior balcony, perhaps with the intricacies of an Italian one, something similar to the ‘Palazzo Cusani’ in Milan. The builder convinced Sam, Dheeraj, Lisa and the neighbours that the balcony could be converted into a patio which would be accessible to the guests and kids. The builder promised various roof options for the balcony such as umbrellas, pergolas, rafters, and awnings to make it special. The deal was signed the next day and the demolition of homes began the next week.
The people whose homes were going to be knocked down were given temporary accommodation. Troy and penny feared the loud machinery, but who could stop the future. Penny was the first to shriek and change into a rubble, Troy’s rubble fell close to Penny's debris. The wreckage was accumulated to build the foundation of the new building after recycling the material. The new homes were ready within a year. The housewarming was a grand affair. That night when people left. Sam walked on the balcony, he could see the expanse of sky and the beautiful hills once more, it was pleasant, luminous and much more beautiful, he felt triumphant and cried out, “ I feel victorious, Samira, let’s christen this place as Troy’
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