Buying a house

Ashwin Goyal

Nov 26, 2023 — 1 min read

Why not buy a house? It's what adults do, right? Nothing screams ‘I’ve made it!’ like a three-bedroom with an open kitchen.

At the sales office, the salesperson has his charm cranked up to ten. He shows me glossy brochures with happy families in perfect homes.

The amenities are out of a dream – a club with a shimmering pool where I could finally learn how to swim, a movie theater perfect for smuggling in my own popcorn, and a tennis court for uncovering my hidden athleticism. I think to myself, "Yes, this is it. This is what's been missing in my life!"

Then the cost sheet comes out, and I briefly lose consciousness. I swear I've never seen so many commas in a number before. As I hesitantly sign on the dotted line, the salesman grins widely. “Look at that,” he says, pointing at me then to the house, “Congratulations!” For a moment, I’m not sure who he’s congratulating – me for owning the house, or the house for owning me.

Taking a cold shower

Okay, I understand the science of cold showering, how the fear triggers the fight-or-flight response, makes the brain sharper and all that jazz. It’s great in theory, as long as my mind, the one narrating this, can overpower my body’s instincts. So, I’m there, all pumped up,

Gambling

He’s sitting at the table, cards in his hands, eyes locked on the deck. He feels the possibilities, a pulsing current under his skin, as the dealer slides the next card. Yes, yes, that next card is going to be his, for sure. The card flips. His heart leaps,