Three weeks ago something happened that I would have never even cursed to happen to my worse enemy. My House burnt down before my eyes. Within a space of 30 minutes 23 years of my memories, hard work all went up in a puff of smoke without any warning.

All I can remember is getting up at around 7am smelling smoke going to my parents room and flames bursting out of the door when I opened it. I ran out of the house screamed at my neighbour to call the fire brigade before running to my Uncles house a road away or so. Running through the streets feeling like superman running around in my Pajamas. When I finally came back with my uncle and a few guys my house was already gone. As two fire engines came by I realised everything was lost. The place that was my safe place where I felt like nothing could bother me was gone.

All the fireman and the insurance company could tell me was where the fire started. Three weeks on and we are no where certain as to what caused the fire. Outsurance came took measurements with four contractors and their fire forensic guy also came in. Now with all the interviews I’ve being through I don’t know if Outsurance are following procedure or trying to weasel their way out of rebuilding the house.

People trying to be sympathetic say we will end up with twice as much as we got but what some don’t realise I was comfortable in that house. My family had come to a realisation after over R130 000 renovations that our house was complete and perfect for us. The R130 000 was just the cost of material as all of the work was done by my father and myself. For the first time in my life I felt I accomplished something in my life. Within 30minutes all the sense of security was lost. Something I can’t explain or even begin to understand myself.

The support from family and the neighborhood was immense but still this event has left me lost. For me even though I wasn’t employed and still looking for a job my home was where I was safe answerable to no one because what I did in my house was my business. I am now in a weird phase where I cannot think what’s going on just carrying on with life while the fate of my house lies in the hands of the insurance company.

Hopefully all this would be resolved quickly and this will be a new start to my life whereby I get a new house plus my career kicks off. Hopefully I will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and become the force I want to be.

Keshiv Singh