The true horror stories in modern Paris Part 10
If it was ever disclosed, my complete profile would reveal all sorts of minority groups, starting with my gender and race. I have been harassed on many levels throughout my life, but I lacked the stomach and power to carry out revenge. This was a blessing in disguise because retribution eventually manifested itself, which inspired me to share it on this blog. I quote many others before me that 'True horror is hidden within man'.
EPISODE 10
At last, I signed the three years contract. My new landlord, Patrick, was a French man, to my relief, and there was no sinister shadow about him. The air around him was light, in fact, a little too light, but I was pleased. He even spoke English as an extra bonus.
'So, you wish to insulate the ceiling? Of course, you can, though an unusual request.' I told him the hell my former neighbour from Hell Leila put me through.
>Episodes of NEIGHBOR FROM HELL LEILA
Yes,
furnished apartments would have been more straightforward and less binding (only one month's
notice required), but tenants come and go in Paris that it was realistic to
assume that they would be all noisy, one way or another. I needed the
freedom to insulate the apartment. Patrick nodded sympathetically and
wished me a happier life.
'Although
it is an empty apartment, I'll have
it painted for you, fixing all the holes on the walls.' I thanked him and felt
hopeful for the first time since I arrived in Paris. Patrick quickly
added, 'About the new restaurant in the
building you inquired about, your apartment is not located above it, so you
will not hear clients talk and laugh or even sing.' He laughed, and I was led to
laugh along, wondering what was so funny.
However,
this meeting made me calm enough to face the man sent by my former landlord on
the last inspection day. I did not want to spend a second unnecessary in
the cursed apartment where I had the brush with the underbelly of Paris, but
here is a brief update on the cowardly former landlord. The man he sent
me informed me that he had fallen ill and would have to
semi-retire.
His
condition must have been later aggravated by the new regulation binding the
rent to be compatible with the size of the property. My former landlord
owned many one-room apartments or studios in Le Marais, the most sought-after
area of Paris. He was charging the foreigners 'the hefty Marais price', but now he had to reduce the
rent to match his small-size properties. The small apartments market was
crushed, and it would have been a great time to buy one-bedroom apartments
because the price later picked up thanks to Brexit. The pro-Europe Brits
rushed to purchase apartments in France, and the price resumed the upward
trend. However, my former landlord might have sold his properties earlier
because of his illness.
Days
later, I moved in. I was puzzled that the dirty wall had not yet been
painted. Then a sweet voice was heard at the door. A senior French
lady had come to greet me. I shall call her 'Mme. HARMONY' because it was her favourite
word. She welcomed me and said her tenants lived here. She lived
elsewhere, but she would come by to look after her tenants. She spoke
some English and offered her assistance should I need it. I was moved by
her gesture and her smile.
Mme.
Harmony noticed the dirty wall with lots of holes. 'Oh, that Patrick. Never
looking after the apartment, let alone tenants. He gets away with it
because the landlord of this apartment does not live in France.'
'What? Then who the hell is he?'
'A real estate agent looking after the apartments owned by this old lady who trusts him too much. I know a friend who sold his apartment through Patrick but was annoyed by his sloppy job.'
I never saw Patrick again. It was better than the dark shadow of the crooks who aggressively sought to steal from me, but too much light air I sensed about Patrick translated into irresponsibility. It would not have mattered had it not been for the restaurant in the building. Patrick had omitted to inform me that its kitchen was located right below my apartment. I would not hear the clients like he cheerfully said, but I was to be exposed to the machines' noise.