A good eight hour sleep refreshed Amay and it was a nice and sunny January Wednesday morning. Sunshine in winters was a hot favourite for him. Sunbathing was a pleasurable activity if it happened to be a Sunday. From the glass window of his room the sunbeams had given a very warm feel. For another 30 minutes he lay in bed just to soak in all the beauty of his room. It was serene, comforting and peaceful. He left the quilt crumpled and headed for a hot bath. Often he sang but the sound of water on his body was music for his ears. The stillness energized his soul. Noise irritated him even when it was minimal. For a long time now he lived alone in his bachelor pad and cooked his own meals. 

Weekly he preferred cleaning the house. Not all at once but bit by bit. Working from home always added to his bliss. There were days when going to the office was unavoidable and those days were welcomed half-heartedly. Amay was married to the house and he felt he cheated his beloved house whenever such days happened. After returning he used to visit every room and spend some 15 minutes each to make up for the lost time. 8 hours of work and two hours of commute to and fro helped him to notice the changes and newness but eventually he yearned to get back home. 

‘I am sorry again I have been away but now as I am back it is you all I want,’ Amay usually confessed. 

His bachelor pad was a 5 room den. One bedroom with attached bathroom and balcony, a kitchen, drawing room, storage area and a small room that can be utilised for a prayer hub or some indoor activity. It was on the first floor and there were two more floors. Complete strangers lived there and Amay, the lanky, curly haired with pink lips never bothered to interact with them. He was too absorbed in his tiny world. He hated books because he felt they consumed him. Travelling was a waste of time though he loved watching television and stuff on the web to broaden his knowledge of things. 

He is 55 years of age now and it took him 20 years to finally have a house of his own. When the men of his age were chasing girls, he was saving money. He shared the same house with three boys and split the rent. A metropolitan city is cruel to people from small towns but Amay was a tough nut. He never gave in to temptation as discipline got the better of him. It was the first ever move to be away from his birthplace and earn a living. It was something special as well as challenging. Amay loved challenges and living with three blokes was not an easy life. Amit and Sajan had different temperaments. There were nights when they even got their girlfriends but Amay stayed aloof. 

He worked in a pharmaceutical company and toiled his way up. It was a gradual ascent but dedication, sacrifice and hard work were his strengths. Sometimes he was mocked for his sincerity towards his goals. Guess he is still a virgin in the literal sense. This house gave him liberty, a sense of purpose and happiness. It was his first love. It caressed him on his tough nights and virtually hugged him on days of rewards. Days, months and years passed and he felt he belonged in this house. First Amit moved out as his job got him transferred and a decade later Sajan too went back to his hometown as his father got ill. Amay and his sweetheart had become inseparable and it was a big big relief. 

The landlord wanted to fill the house with two fresh faces but Amay just couldn’t let that happen. He bore the whole rent singlehandedly as he was earning good. This went on for some four years but last year it was his forever. He bought it and there is no looking back. All those hardships and struggles were worth it all. Nothing was shared with his parents. He was never very close to them and once in 5 years he has a prayer meeting in the house. It was a beautiful day from the very start as it was a Wednesday in January that he had finally got the house in his name. Today too it is wonderful and all memories are flooding back to him. Very lovingly he had named his house First Love.