Chaos as the order of nature

Here’s a story that’s bound to charm anyone who doesn’t believe in keeping their home impeccably clean all the time.

I was on my way to pick up kiddo D for her dental appointment when I received a message from bubbly friend RC. I ignored it at first, but then my phone started buzzing with a deluge of messages. I pulled over to the curb and checked. So, her friend is coming to Kochi on Monday and she thought it would be a good idea for us to meet up. The friend was to arrive in two days. As per my plans I would be able to meet this friend, N, comfortably since my meetings that day were supposed to wind up early. Well they say 'Mann tracht, un God lacht'. This time around the laugh was on me - courtesy D. She decided to stay back and made me drive her all the way back to college (120km) on Monday morning derailing my carefully laid out plans. I applied for half a day emergency leave at office which eventually turned into the full day leave as traffic in Kochi decided to have the last laugh.

Hence I was late to meet N. I explained to him that I had to switch the cars too as the one I was using for long distance trip was terribly unkempt. That's when he narrated a story - A story about the need for a little bit of chaos in life.

This happened when he was in his early 20s, right after college. N was staying alone in his dad's apartment and it was kept about as well as you'd expect for a freshly graduated young man. The house was well furnished, but the furniture has been moved around with no order, logic or usability. The floor was spotless but clean clothes were sometimes lying on the chairs or thrown across the table. Books were scattered on the bed and spilled over onto sofas and tables. Large luggage trolleys were left lying around. Tastefully set curtains were pulled aside in a tacky way. You get the grift? The house was a mess, but the occupant was perfectly pleased with it.

One day his Dad called to inform that potential buyers were coming for a visit. My dear friend was least bothered, and in his defense, the couple came a little earlier than expected. The house tour was uneventful; the man chatted with N about his education and job, and then left. The house was sold at a good price. And guess what? The buyer said that the visit had brought back memories of his college hostel days - and that's what made him want the house so badly :)