It is the height of sloth for Zubir to pass my plants every day and observe them wilting.
My roommate, Zubir, is quite slothful. We have shared an apartment for the past two years, and whenever I leave, my plants are nearly dead when I return. It has occurred three times, and out of sequence.
I adore plants and have them spread over the house. There is a large peace lily, numerous succulents, and a hanging plant in the living area. In my chamber, I have two large fiddle-leaf figs in addition to medium-sized palms. In summer, the figs, peace lily, and palms must be watered weekly, while the hanging plant must be watered several times per week. I also mist the leaves with water to prevent them from drying out.
The first time Zubir tended to my plants was when I was traveling for three weeks with my girlfriend. I documented watering instructions for each plant. I anticipated that they would all appear relatively unchanged when I returned, so I was surprised by how worn down they were. The ends of the palm leaves were crunchy, and the white flowers on the peace lily had withered away. When I confronted Zubir, he stated that he had watered the plants “here and there,” but that he wasn’t responsible for them because he had other responsibilities.
During my previous absences, the condition of the plants was less severe, but they were nonetheless neglected. It was evident that Zubir had not sprayed the foliage. Likewise, the dirt in the pots was extremely dry. When I asked Zubir why he hadn’t taken better care of the plants, he denied neglecting them and suggested I hire someone to water them if I was worried.
I do not believe that watering seven or eight plants twice per week requires that much effort, thus I would not pay for it. It is the height of sloth to pass them daily and watch them wither.
Although they are my plants, Zubir benefits from their presence in our apartment. They are beautiful, light our space, and are beneficial to our health. I believe that he ought to assume some responsibility for their welfare. As well as being housemates, we are also good friends, so I’ll be angry if he lets them dry out again the next time I’m away.
The prosecution: Zubir
They belong to Shaneel, not me. When he’s away, I forget to water the plants.
I enjoy having Shaneel’s plants in our apartment because they are attractive and beneficial to the atmosphere. However, I have informed him that they are not my duty when he is gone for weeks at a time.
When he left on a three-week vacation with his girlfriend, I did my best to keep them alive. During the first week, I diligently watered each plant and followed his directions, but by the third week, I was quite busy and had a lot of stuff on my plate. I am employed in finance and typically report to the office. When I return home late after a hard day, all I want to do is eat and then collapse into bed.
Shaneel exaggerates when he asserts that the plants looked dreadful when he returned. He left on vacation during the peak of summer when the plants were already beginning to suffer. Any break from their pattern seems to destroy them, as the peace lily swiftly withers. I attempted to keep a close check on that one as much as possible, knowing that it is his favorite.
Before he left the following time, I informed him I could not be responsible for all the plants. He advised, “Do your best.” Then, upon his return, he determined that my best was insufficient and became upset with me. However, despite receiving my disclaimer, he chose to accept the risk. Is there anything else I can do?
I disagree with his assessment of my laziness. It’s just the reverse; I’m out of my apartment most of the time due to my busy schedule. When I am present, I do my best to remember, but when I am absent, there is little I can do.
I cannot guarantee to be as attentive to the plants as Shaneel because they do not belong to me. Since he’s had them for years, he values them significantly more than I do. When he is away, I forget to water the plants. I have a separate existence. I cannot be counted upon to water them according to his precise instructions. Shaneel should consider requesting another individual to care for them. Thus, he can assure the plants’ survival, and we can maintain our friendship.
