“Open house” means “open mind”? Not sure, but how ever I am amazed watching those large manor like homes with sprawling lawns and without any slightest trace of something looking like a fence; which is common in Atlanta. Naturally, this calls for either cent percent virtuous and righteous human beings or better security system. Need not say, the latter is having prominence in US.
Weekends without any plans, call for some investigation in the pretext of “enriching knowledge”. There I came across those small 10 x 10 wooden boards that stick out of the lawns grinning at you with a gentle but stern caution “Alert! High grade security systems active”. The apparently innocent looking boards are the indication that the entire area of their houses, including the lawn and extended driveway is secured by security alarm system.
If anyone tries any hanky panky it will trigger the alarm or any other security systems around the home. It means they are taking all pains to let you know that their house is very much protected and all alarms are in active state. In short, you are being warned to “keep to your limits”.
In short – one of the most fundamental lesson to survive in US “If you are lost and want to seek help by ringing any random doorbell, you might land up in trouble”. The house owner may dial 911 as they have been obsessed with security.
I was pretty cautious about maintaining myself in single piece abroad and hence never mind taking lessons from which ever source. But alas ------
Some days ago my roommate was munching on an apple all through the evening walk and when she wanted to throw away the remnants. We are confused – “whether to touch the garbage bins by the side of the road along the sidewalk of these mansions or not?”. By chance if these are also networked with some security systems? Anyways, we thought of taking the risk and waited for a while as if some one is waiting to detonate the explosives. Thankfully, everything went fine and we sighed!
In the coming days, I have updated do’s and don’ts to lead a secured life in US from the other roommate who was a seasoned inhabitant here. To quote a few
a) Don’t gawk at their babies, don’t dare stroke their cats or dogs however cute they seem to be,
b) Don’t offer unwanted help – it’s an intrusion in their privacy,
c) don’t stare at their strange dresses etc…
I walk every evening for almost an hour or two. After a long day that’s the best way to unwind. Songs, nature and a peaceful walk around the society really helps to de-stress. Yesterday’s walk was especially refreshing as I had spent a lot of time at the society pool after the long walk.
Our apartment is at the second floor of the building. Which means I have to climb two floors. Added to this, there is a concept of “terrace flats” which is the floor that’s below the average ground level. In our building also there are a couple of terrace flats. Our apartment is on the third floor from the terrace flats. In short, I have to climb three floors.
After the nice walk, I came back to my home. I had the keys with me so that I don’t have to call someone from inside to open the door. My head was still bobbing to the rhythm of Justin Beiber’s Baby while I put the keys in the keyhole and turned it.
I tried it once, twice, thrice. The door didn’t budge. I thought might be I was turning the wrong way, so I did the same in the opposite direction. Something seemed to have happened to the lock, it was in no mood to open. I pushed, nudged, tugged at the latch but left with no positive result.
Finally with no other option available I called my roommate's number and asked her to open the door. She was wondering “How come you need someone’s help when you got an extra key?”.
After a few seconds I heard a door opening at the floor above me which surprised me a lot as ours is the topmost floor and it’s not possible for a door to open above. It took me some micro seconds after that to realise what a blunder I had made. I had miscalculated the floor as I opted a non conventional route which will force you climb one more floor instead of three floors through normal route.
With the enlightenment I ran up as fast as I could and closed the door at my back. I was looking as scared as a rat before a cat, while still trying to hold my breath.
When I narrated the incident to my roommates, they went into an infinite loop of laughter. I was lucky that I didn’t knock on the door while trying to open to the door, because that would have definitely raised the alarm and I could have as well ended up spending a night in the comforts of the prison wall.
