Thieving Recovering(?) Drug Addict Flatmate (a retrospective)

I know I promised more information on my former gay Indian flatmate, but then I realized that theres really not much more to say about him. He was gay, he was Indian, and he was annoying. He would regularly ask me to eat with him, and to go out, etc. And we did go out a few times along with this Polish guy. He was creepy and would come on to me regularly. There was also a time when he was crying in the kitchen because of something the leaseholder said to him and I just pretended to be asleep so as not to deal with that shit.

Anyway, the better story here is the recovering drug addicted flatmate. He was from Sri Lanka. Been in the country for maybe five years, though. Actually, all of these Sri Lankan guys had been in London for at least 3 years, I'd say.

In any event, this guy came in after I was there for maybe 6 months. And within a month, I'd move out. Largely because of him.

He was a really obnoxious, agressive guy. Not in a physically theatening way, but he would push himself on everybody.

I guess the first example of this is when he asked to borrow my tv. Now, nobody has ever asked to borrow my television before or after him, but his explanation was reasonable (as far as tv-borrowing goes). Basically, he said that he has a tv, but its still at his old place and he wants to play his PS2.

I couldnt understand why he didnt just bring his PS2 to my room and he could have played there, but...I figured he had his reasons. And besides, he was going to get his tv soon. He said so himself. Any day now. He'll be getting his tv back.

Couple weeks later, he still had my tv. Finally, I asked for it back. He gave it but...it made several trips back and forth during the following couple weeks. He would ask for it, I would reluctantly agree, a few days would pass, I'd ask for it back, and then the next day he'd ask for it again. This would repeat for some time.

One time I finally said that no, he can not have the tv. He became rather argumentative and said that I have a computer so I can watch tv on that, and that it would be the last time, and how bored he is, et cetera.

It was really really painful. He would also come in and watch tv semi-regularly. This was often late at night which I didnt mind, but it bothered my obnoxious roommate. So its tough to say whether this was a good thing or not.

Oh and he also borrowed money. And not in a nice way. One time he asked for 50 pounds. I had a job by this time, and he asked me right after work, so I wasnt thinking and agreed.

He didnt need the money that second, so said he'd be back in a little while for the money. About an hour later, he comes back and by this time I had time to think. I didnt want to give this guy £50. I didnt have £50 to spare. So I agreed to give him £20.

He wasnt happy with this and argued for some time. "You said I could have £50" and so on. I told him I couldnt afford it. I also asked what its for. He said it was to get medicine for his girlfriend. It was probably to get "medicine" for himself, though.

Anyway, just as I was about to take the £20 back from him, he agreed that borrowing £20 was enough, and left. He paid it back in two £10 installments. He for more money a week later and I flat out refused. This seemed to put an end to it.

One day, he was asking how much money I was making and this sort of thing. He revealed that he found a job in an off-license for like £3/hour and that he used to manage a supermarket but was fired because he got involved with drugs.

So I was sympathetic to his problems, but borrowing tv's...its just bizarre.

There was also a time when I was on the computer talking to some random Asian lunatic...trying to get something going with her on MSN...and he sat right next to me and read every message. He was in the room to watch tv, but thought it would be ok to eavesdrop on my MSNing. It wasnt. But what could I say? The guy was unwell.

There were also a few times when he would come in late at night to watch cricket or something. "His" country of Sri Lanka was playing. And he would take his shoes off...he was coming from work...and just the worst smell you can imagine. It was really hard to endure.

He also stole things. For example, he kept asking to use my mobile charger. I had no problem with this. Well, I did because it was every single day but...it wasnt so bad. But then he started to using it without asking. He would come in and take it while I was out. And not tell me about it. So I was looking for my charger and it was in his room. Completely ridiculous.

Food was another big problem. He considered any food in the kitchen to be his. Thats not even an exaggeration. He ate all of my food. Quite honestly. Didnt ask. He also ate the Polish guy's food. And everybody else's, presumably. I had six frozen hamburgers and he ate all six of them. He left the box, though. I guess he was hoping that I wouldnt notice. Why would I leave an empty box in the freezer though?

And he would cook these hamburgers on my George Foreman grill. And not clean it. The thing was absoultely filthy. So one day, I took it out of the kitchen and kept it in my room. He wasnt happy with this. Asked if I could put it back in the kitchen. I said he has to start cleaning it. He said he would. He didnt, really. He'd wipe it down a little after he would cook one of my hamburgers on it, but it wasnt what anyone would consider "clean".

This all happpened within about a month. The Polish guy had left during this time too. So naturally, I went to the internet to find a new place to live. I found a place literally across the street.

And this tv-borrowing guy asked me why I moving. He had to know it was because of his insane behavior. But I said that I dont want to have a roommate.

Tune in next time to find out just how incredibly shit this next place was.