Addressing a question

Where should you live? In the buzzing centre of town? Or in a quiet suburb, far away? Every choice calls for compromise

- SEEMA GOSWAMI

When I moved to Delhi from Calcutta a couple of decades ago, the most stressful thing I had to do was house-hunt. Landlords tended to regard single women with suspicion, and journalists even more so. And it didn't help that my rent allowance wasn't exactly going to land me a three-bedroom flat.

Unless, of course, I chose to move to Gurugram. Here my budget would get me a beautiful flat in a condominium which had a gym, a pool, tennis courts, and even a hair salon. I made the trek dutifully and was duly impressed by the apartment. But as I drove back, I knew that wild horses couldn't drag me back to live in Gurugram. I had to live in Delhi, a 20-minute ride away from all my usual haunts, even if all I could afford was a barsati flat.