The struggle of finding a house in Delhi as a single Muslim woman

I am come from a small town in Uttar Pradesh and live in the National Capital to earn my bread. Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ CulturalIndia

Blessed are those, who don't have to haggle with landlords and brokers while desperately seeking a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, I am not one of the lucky few.

I come from a small town in Uttar Pradesh and live in the National Capital to earn my bread. And in over a span of five years, I have moved more times that I can count. But, each time I pack my bags to move into a new, unfamiliar abode, I dread the kind of questions I will be asked by my prospective landlord.

It's not easy finding a decent accommodation in a metropolitan if you are a single woman, earning peanuts. But, the situation gets all the more complicated if you are a Muslim, living on your own.

While growing up, I heard similar stories from people, while comfortably perched on my bed in my hometown. And more often than not, I dismissed them with a casual wave of my hand, labeling those who were lamenting as lazy pessimists.

Never in my life had I thought that I would end up going through similar interrogation and discrimination. I am not one of those, who suffer from the so-called minority complex. And I totally understand why some people feel the need to bring their guards up upon hearing the names such as Khan, Ali, Muhammed etc.

But, I am, what most people call a modern Muslim. One that does not allow religion to suffocate life. I wear clothes that don't shout my faith nor do I harbor radical thoughts. I look and behave as normal as anyone.

There are times when I have contemplated changing my name to escape this misery. Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ StaticWix

Yet, I am left squirming with embarrassment every time a deal is brokered. As soon as I mention my full name to the broker, I see a look of discomfort shadowing his face. I can very well see the dilemma he is in, deciding whether he should let me know that the landlord will not allow a Muslim to rent his place.

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More often than not, I spare him the embarrassment to say it out loud and fake a disinterest in the property. But, it leaves me seething inside.

Recently, I lost a pretty good apartment after I had paid the advance and the brokerage fee. When I asked the middleman why the deal fell apart, he subtly hinted that the landlord, until then, was not aware that I was a Muslim.

Honestly, what do these staunch house-owners think? I will most definitely not blow myself in their apartments. And there exists a provision of police verification that does a thorough background check before letting a tenant rent a place. But, in all honesty, it's not just the security these people are concerned about. And I can see that it's not caution, it's more to do with repulsion, so as to speak.

Anyway, moving to brokers, who are kind-hearted and secular enough to suggest my name to the owner of the property, insist that I don't get the lease made in my name. I am told to involve a person with a not-so Muslim name. And that breaks my heart.

There are times when I have contemplated changing my name to escape this misery, but I don't want to give in to the hate. And why should I compromise with my identity when I live in a secular country that bestows upon me the right to live freely and with dignity.

But, nonetheless, until I end up owning my house in the National Capital of India, I have little choice, but to put up with bigots.