Chapter 41
“Where does that opening lead to?” asked Niki. He points at the doorless threshold.
“The receiving area for guests.”
“Let’s go there.”
“Krap.”
They exit the main hall and land at a slightly wide corridor with a staircase on the right. On its left is the guests’ area with all its furnishings covered in cloth.
“What is that room on the left, K’Laura?”
“It’s a study room, K’Niki.”
“I see, where is the kitchen and dining area.”
“Through there,” answered Madame Laura, pointing to another room on the right with a Dutch door.
They enter and spend a short while in the study room, which houses a number of books in the different shelves. The table and chair in it have been covered too, to which Niki did not bother to remove.
“Let us go to the dining area khun.”
“Krap.”
Niki sees the same paper again as he walks past the Dutch door and into the dining and cooking area. The room is neat with two tables: one on the right, which is surrounded with chairs that can sit eight persons simultaneously, and the other on the left that can be used by one to prepare the ingredients of a dish to be cooked.
“That restaurant door with see-through mirrors, khun, that leads to the main hall.” said Madame Laura, pointing to the door by the dining table.
“I like that. In case we want something to munch, it would be easy to get them. Can we go to the rooms upstairs?”
“Krap khun,” said Madame Laura. They go out on the same way they enter and traverse the stairs.
“How many rooms are up there K’Laura?” asked Niki while they are going up.
“Four, P’. Two master’s bedroom and two smaller ones. That will be great for your family if you have two children.”
“It will be perfect. I have two kids myself.”
When they reach the second floor, Niki enters each room and checks them briefly. He did not remove the covering on the furnitures, nor did he bother to further examine the room’s interior.
“Now, I am starting to get suspicious of those taped papers. I wonder what they are for. A lot of them has been put in different parts of the house,” said Niki.
“That is correct, and that is what puzzles me too khun.”
“Are there any more rooms I should know about, K’Laura?”
“Just one – a basement room. It’s a home gym with weightlifting equipment and a couple of treadmill and stationary cycles. Do you want to go there and see?”
“No khun. I think I’ll skip that, but it is a good addition to the house.”
“As you wish. So, how is the house for you? Is this good enough for what you are looking for?”
“Yes, it is – more than enough actually. Though I may have to renovate some parts once we have officially moved in. It’s priced at 20 million Baht, right? Including the car?”
“Yes K’Niki. However, there is one thing that you should know.”
“What is it? Is there a problem with the house’s documents or titles?”
“No, not really. The documents are all good: they are intact and complete. What I am about to tell you is actually not a problem but detailed facts.”
“Which are?” Niki is surprised to hear about this new development.
“I have instructions to have this house transferred to your name once you have officially accepted it today.”
“Transferred? Not sold?” said Niki – flabbergasted. He thought from the beginning that he would be buying the house for 20 million Baht, but he was shocked to learn that he will have it for free.
“The proponent gave that specific instruction when he transacted with us regarding this house. He was also the one who stated that nothing is to be changed in the set-up until after it has been turned over to the new owner – which is now you, P’Niki.”
“Who is the proponent you are talking about?”
Madame Laura pulls out a contract from the pile of papers she is holding. “The proponent is Mister Remil Wattana: he is the owner too. Do you know him?”
“He is my cousin.”
“He named you in the contract as the next owner of this house, and once you have officially accepted it today, I will have its title and other related documents transferred to you.”
“Anyway, since I don’t find any problem with the house, and I already like its layout, maybe we can already conclude this?” he continued.
“Sure thing K’Niki. Let us go to the garden area. There is a table and chair there: you have a number of papers to sign.”
They proceed to the back of the house, exiting from the door in the kitchen area on the left side. After they sit, Madame Laura pulls out from the case file the key cabinet and a plastic envelope.
“This plastic envelope contains all the papers for the house,” said Madame Laura. She, then, pulls out a checklist from the pile of papers she has been holding since earlier. “Here, P’Niki, the keys to the house and the car,” she continued, returning inside it those she used during their tour of the house, and afterwards, handing the entire case to Niki.
“Thank you, khun.”
“Now, K’Niki, I will need you to sign these documents one by one, while I countercheck it using my list.”
Niki first signs the contract, which officially transfers the ownership of the house to him. After that, he signs at the land title document, the title of transfer of the car, the copies of the receipts of the land tax that were already paid, which recognizes him now as the one who will pay it henceforth. Finally, he places his signature on the items in Madame Laura’s checklist to acknowledge that he has received them.
“Okay khun. Now for the icing on the cake, I need you to hold the key case on one hand, and then the signed land title on the other, then, I’ll take a picture of you holding them – part of the process khun. Sorry for the inconvenience,” said Madame Laura.
“Nah. It’s okay. Should I be sitting or standing?” asked Niki.
“Whichever you like.”
“I think I’ll stand.”
“Okay. Ready khun. Smile as a happy new homeowner,” said Madame Laura, who, after the count of three, takes a shot of Niki. “We are all done K’Niki. Congratulations on your new house. May you and your family live happily here,” she continued.
“Thank you, Madame Laura. We will like this place for sure. Are you in a hurry? We can have lunch to celebrate.”
“Actually, yes. I have to get the documents you signed at the office and the Land Bureau for registration.”
“Okay. I’ll see you to the gate.”
When she has left, Niki gets to his car to grab his bag, and re-enters the house. From the lobby corridor, he makes his way inside the study room on the ground floor. He scans the books in the shelves. As someone whose pastime is reading, Niki sees the study room as his favorite spot in the house. A copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy catches his attention. He tries to pull out one of the three books that is part of it – Purgatorio. However, he cannot pull it out. He, then, presses on it, trying if the book will be pushed back. To his surprise, he hears a click. When he releases the book, the entire section swings open: The Divine Comedy and the four other books with it is only a thick board – about an inch and a half in width – that is hinged at one side. Inside the space it covers is a safe with a keyhole and what looks like a thumb print reader.