It had been a grueling day for Chandur at the office. Chided by his customers, frowned upon by his boss, sniggered by contemporaries and heated arguments with colleague had turned Chandur into a tempestuous person while leaving from office. Today was not one of his good days. As soon as he reached home, he witnessed a house in sheer muddle.
His 3-year-old son, had strewn toys all across the floor, drawn gibberish sketches on the beautifully painted walls, clothes hung for drying had been scattered all over, television blaring with colorful cartoons, intricately crafted expensive sofa littered with chips, biscuits, water and milk; all this while his son was deeply involved in exploring the mobile. Chandur flew into a fit of rage and screamed for his wife. She was in the bedroom engrossed in making question papers for the upcoming exams at school.
Chandur navigated through the hurdles while muttering to himself. He switched off the TV, snatched the phone and rapped his son on the buttock. His son wailed loudly and ran to his mother. She came stomping out of the room and fired at him. He was in foul mood and signaled her irresponsibility for the mess. She stoically retorted citing lack of time, busy schedule and his inability in finding a house maid. Chandur’s scornful face wore the look of frozen neanderthal. Rendered speechless, he simply turned around and walked away in silence..
Chandur had been in search of a full-time house maid ever since the couple were blessed with a baby boy. With an ageing father and ailing mother, he knew they would not be able to stand up to the demands of caretaking duties. His wife, a teacher, left to school early morning and retuned home late afternoon. With the kid and house chores keeping her occupied, a feeling of drabness engulfed her every time she went to bed at night. To make matters complicated, Chandur always complained of her inaptness to cook delicious food, compared to his mother’s cooking standards. She broached the maid topic with her husband at every given opportunity. And so Chandur’s quest for the maid began in all earnest and desperation…
The first time, he posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, highlighting his requirement for a full-time maid, he hoped to strike gold. After days of anxious wait, he started getting a few calls. The first call went something like… ”Hello! This is Sheila. I read your advertisement and am ready to work, but with few conditions. I will need a separate room, will require 2 days leave per month and break of 5 days during every big festival. Washing clothes will not be under my scope as I have back pain and will not work for more than 2 people in the house. My monthly fees will be Rs. 18,000. I expect gifts in clothes and kind during festivities and the family needs to take me out from time to time.” Chandur was rendered speechless. He felt like a waiter taking orders rather than an employer hiring an executive. The demands were unreasonable and the price tag too hefty. He received few more calls on similar requirements and demands. Just when all hopes seemed lost, an agent called and promised to arrange a maid at decent salary. Of course, his charges would be one month salary as fees. Chandur reluctantly agreed to the agreement.
After almost a week, the agent called him saying he had found a maid hailing from the neighboring state. He asked Chandur to join him on his visit to summon the maid from her house. Chandur duly obliged. He was desperate as days rolled by. After picking up the agent at an agreed meeting point, they reached her house. The sight grew a lump in Chandur’s throat. It was a ramshackle place complete with mud, hay and twigs amalgamating the house structure. He had never witnessed such abject poverty. The house barely seemed to stand on its own. It had only 1 room and was devoid of any furniture, save for the 2 chairs that were occupied by Chandur and the agent. He met the mother, who courteously offered water. The father was nowhere to be seen. Hemlata was standing in a corner, almost fearful. The dark- skinned girl looked thin, mostly fragile and barely seemed to have crossed her teens. Chandur had his doubts if the girl would be able to carry out house work, let alone handle the baby. The girl barely spoke. The mother, crying heinously, explained the financial difficulties they were in due to which the girl was in need of work. The girl knew house work, mother assured. Finally, when the time came to bid adieu, mother and brother shed tears. Chandur was cautiously optimistic. He paid the agents’ fees. Triumphantly, he reached home to his beaming wife. Mission successful, or was it!!!
Hemlata barely knew any house work. Nevertheless, they saw this to their advantage, decided to mold the girl and teach her the basics of house-keeping. But she would simply stand and watch as the lady of the house went about her chores. After about one week, the girl was yet to understand her responsibilities and seemed lethargic. She was far more interested in watching TV and surfing her phone. The couple, although frustrated, held back with patience. After all, she was the result of months of hard work. 2 weeks since she arrived, the girl was still a toddler at work. She was very slow, almost on purpose like, which irritated Chandur’s wife. They decided to have a sit down with her. They elucidated their expectation and her shortcoming.
Days later, Hemlata professed unwellness and sought to visit home for few days. Chandur caught the drift. Grudgingly they agreed and dropped her to the bus stand, with instructions that she come back after feeling better. After a fortnight wait, when they did not hear from Hemlata, doubts blossomed into reality. When they called up the mother, she said Hemlata had got job at a nearby house and she would not come back. Chandur dejectedly clenched his fists. His search for the elusive would go on.
He called up the agent and informed about the situation. The agent assured him that he would find another girl very soon. True to his words, 1 month later, Chandur received the call. This time Chandur instructed him to get the girl to Goa and he would pick her up from the meeting point after interviewing her. The day arrived and Chandur met them at the petrol pump. He was introduced to Kaviyana.
She was plump, well past her 30’s and seemed to have a swagger. As moments ensued, Chandur was discomforted. The girl would not answer him straight. He inquired if she knew proper house work – cleaning, washing, care taking etc. The girl replied, she knows what to do and nobody needs to tell her. He inquired if she could take care of the baby. The girl replied curtly, that is not within her scope. Even before Chandur could plough further, the girl demanded to be given perks. She also said that like all employees, she will need 1 day off in a week. Chandur could not believe the girls audacity. At the bustling petrol pump, he was on fire. There was no way he would hire her. He told the girl as much and turned his attention to the agent. He demanded his fees be paid back. Blasted him for not inquiring about the girl beforehand and wasting his time all this while. The agent profusely apologized and guaranteed to find another girl. Chandur sighed, the wait went on!
Almost on cue, the agent disappeared. He would pick Chandur’s call miserly to only inform him that the search was on going. Sometimes he would neither pick the call nor revert. Chandur now had a double task, finding the house maid and also finding the agent. His mind was mired in a maze of complications. He took the matter in his hands; rather than waiting for the agent to come back with any news. He started inquiring with his friends and relatives. One such contact led him to a maid providing establishment. The demands were so steep and strict, Chandur thought he called an adoption center. The desperation did not seem to end..
Eventually, after months of tireless running around, he finally got a breakthrough. He heard of a willing maid through his relative. He decided to visit the neighboring state and get the girl. Suffering from Polio, Snehalata limped on one leg, but assured Chandur that she could do house work despite her physical state. Chandur had his qualms. By now, his trust in maids had diminished. Yet, he got her medicals done and hired her.
To his surprise, Snehalata homed in seamlessly. She would get up early morning, help in the kitchen, take care of the baby, clean the house and wash clothes. Chandur had hit jackpot. Although she would limp around the house, she would do all jobs with finesse and barely displayed laziness. She would get up even before his wife and start preparing for breakfast and lunch. His kid quickly adjusted to the pleasantness of the maid. Chandur was so impressed that he hiked her salary after only 20 days’ work and told her to handle his parents’ home downstairs as well. Snehalata readily agreed. The laughter and cheer were back on the faces of the inhabitants.
One fine day, when he came back from office, he saw his wife sobbing. Snehalata was sitting in the kitchen, crying. Chandur could not comprehend. Only yesterday they had all gone out for dinner. What transpired within 24 hours! He checked with his wife. To his horror, his mother was accusing the maid of stealing, when Snehalata had gone to tidy her place. When he spoke to his mother, she was largely distraught. She called her a thief and accused her of stealing Rs. 1,000/- Chandur was a deer caught in the headlights. He did not know whom to believe. On one side, his mother was certain of the crime committed, while on the other side the maid flatly denied the accusation. His wife was leaning towards maid, she did not want her to be upset and leave the house. Chandur’s distress had increased tenfold. He cursed his rotten luck and tried to pacify either parties. After this incident the maid behaved reclusively. She would drag her feet and talk curtly to Chandur and his wife. Though Chandur tried to placate her, the damage had been done.
Few days later, the maid complained of stomach ache. Chandur took the maid to the doctor. She was advised 2 days of rest. Chandur knew the writing was on the wall. He was twitching and turning in bed, trying to avoid thinking of the maid leaving. Meanwhile, the maid recuperated from her “illness” and began to work, sans any enthusiasm. She completed 1 month in her job.
One day Chandur was having his tea at home. Suddenly, his kid started crying out loud. At first, Chandur was perplexed. His kid never cried unless in agony. He ran to his mother. She saw his forearm had turned bright red. Upon inquiring his finger pointed to Snehalata. Chandur caught the whiff of the matter. He cornered the maid and asked her accusingly, did she pinch the kid? Snehalata bowed her head and nodded affirmatively. Chandur’s rage knew no bounds. He asked her to immediately pack her bags, he would drop her to the bus stand right away. Only when his wife pointed out that it was dark already, the plan changed to drop her off the next morning. He was disgusted with her and wanted to get rid of her at all costs. Chandur paid her salary and dropped off the maid to the bus stand at dawn.
He called up the agent and asked him to either hand over his money back or to find him another maid on urgent basis. The sullenness was back on his face. The fights at home were back. The kids’ messiness around the house returned with gusto. With passing days, Chandur’s hope of finding another maid dwindled. He felt helpless. Probably, realizing a tad later, he accepted the new way of leaving.
Few months later, as he walked home thinking of all his troubles, he saw his wife grinning. At first, he thought she found a maid. Then she broke the news. She was pregnant with 2nd child. Chandur was dumbfounded. He wanted to run away from the scene. Thousand questions arose ubiquitously. But he only hugged his wife tightly and closed his eyes imagining himself floating in the clouds.
Next morning, wife was suffering from backache, but willed herself to cook for her husband. As she tip-toed to the kitchen, she heard noises. To her utter surprise, husband was bossing over the kitchen, albeit bit clumsily, busy in cutting the vegetables. Silently she embraced him from behind and held onto him tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Chandur turned and kissed her forehead. With deep eyes, he said, “From today, I’m your maid and I shall take up more of the house responsibilities.” Hearing this, wife burst into tears.
