After another visit, during the monsoon season, we experienced heavy rains and flooding that left us feeling we could no longer bear it. This time, we made the definitive decision to demolish and reconstruct our home. There was a unanimous family consensus that the new house would be exclusively for the family, with no portions or floors constructed for renting out to others.

The first house was not built in the best way, so we decided to hire an architect who was also a builder. Fortunately, one of our close friends had a relative who fit this description. He had constructed our friend’s house, and having seen the quality of his work, we felt confident that he would do a good job for us too.

When things align, they tend to move quickly. Within a week, we had met with the architect, viewed some of his recent projects, and discussed our requirements regarding the house’s size, layout, and space needs. The initial plan he generated appealed to us, and after a few minor modifications, we approved the design following a family discussion. By the end of the year, the plan was submitted to the appropriate authority for approval.

The approval came through faster than we had anticipated, and with such a positive start, the process seemed to get even smoother. We found a flat for rent less than 50 yards away from our construction site, and the landlord was an exceptional gentleman. We moved in swiftly and could even see our house from the balcony of the rental.

However, in our eagerness, we ignored the sound advice of our architect, who had strongly recommended that we stay away when the old building was brought down. Watching the demolition of a home built with so much passion, love, sentiment, and happiness is one of the most painful experiences. In our misplaced belief that we had nerves of steel, we stayed to watch—and it proved to be a mistake.

Our family priest suggested an auspicious date in March for the ‘vaasthu puja’ to lay the foundation. Finding a suitable date was not easy, but luck seemed to favor us. The priest advised that the old building should be completely demolished before that date and, from then on, the new construction should only rise. However, the demolition could not be completed in time, and combined with the emotional turmoil of watching our house come down, tensions escalated into anger, frustration, and arguments. Eventually, things settled down, and the puja was performed on the appointed date.

The lesson learned was profound: never witness your house being demolished, even if it’s for the purpose of building something better and more modern. It requires a strong heart and the ability to transcend the attachments to material possessions.

And so, the construction began…

To be continued… 66 - How and How Not - Part 6