Paranoid?
Let me tell you a little story: -
I went Melbourne last year for about 3 months and arrived in June. Other than spending my time shopping, I usually stay home doing housework and cook. One day, on our way back from the video shop, which is like the next building, we saw a notice right outside our apartment. It’s a Lost Notice. Someone lost his/her house keys and gave his/her contact number as well as address, so that the finder can return the keys. DUH?!?!? HOME ADDRESS??? LOST YOUR KEYS AND YOU GAVE YOUR ADDRESS??? Then, what we realised next was the owner of the lost keys lives in KL’s apartment. This means that he gave access to his own apartment as well as access to the building. You see, you’ll need a security key to get into the building.
Anyway, the next day while KL was in school and I was at home preparing lunch and I hear a knock on the door. Knowing that KL was in class at that time, I quickly assume it’s one of his friends living in the same building. But, it’s still early; those party animals should be still in bed. Anyhow, I looked thru the peephole. *Gasp! It’s this strange unkempt large Aussie man. He looks like a drunk or even a homeless man. Definitely not someone who lives in the building. He wore this blue-checkered flannel shirt with faded jeans. He’s got a messy and really untidy beard and hair. Well, I was really scared. He then tried to turn the doorknob a few times and then got disinterested and left. KL came home about an hour later and I was relieved.
The next day, while KL was at home with me, there was another knock on the door. My heart missed a beat. We realised it was 2 Aussie Police and we opened the door. They asked if we have seen any suspicious man yesterday in the building and KL told them about what happened the day before. They said that the residents in the building complaint about a suspicious character in the building trying to open the doors. After giving my brief description of the man, they have confirmed it was the same guy and told us to be careful. THAT’S IT?? HUH?? Well, nothing anyone can do now right?
Alright, I still think about it pretty often every now and then. How dangerous was the situation. This trip to Melbourne however made me more nervous. KL has moved to another apartment. But, it seemed to have more security features than the previous one, but because I was very unfamiliar with the apartment, I was very very nervous.
On the morning of 12 August 2003, KL woke me up to go with him to the carpark because there wasn’t any spare key and he had to go to school. After returning back from the carpark, I became paranoid and checked over and over again if I locked the door and if the window was locked. I soon fell asleep but had a nightmare. I dreamt of the drunken unkempt man with his blue flannel shirt and faded jeans. I woke up, took the biggest knife in KL’s kitchen and place it under my pillow and fell back to slumber. I tell you, when I woke up, I thought I had dreamt it all. It was only when I saw the knife under my pillow, I realised I was that paranoid.
I feel silly thinking about it now. But what else could I have done?