Sunday, January 7, 2007
Laxmi disappears yet again
So Laxmi took her monthly salary as promised on the 4th. She hasn't reported to work since. She again complained about the money and that she would want to do my entire work. I refused again and kind of scolded her for bringing the same issue month after month. I told her I could not let Kala go since she does a good job and is need of money. Laxmi was not happy. She hasn't come since. I have decided not to let her work with me again in case she decides to come back. In the meanwhile Kala and myself are doing Laxmi's work.
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2 comments:
Dear Aradhana,
Thank you for starting this timely and much needed blog. I admire your courage to take the bull by its horns- or- as this situation might be better explained- to take the rose by its thorns. Though my current experience with the subject of your blog makes me wonder (bitterly) if you are not being too optimistic, and taking the thorn by its rose.
Imagine a maid who comes in at 8am on Monday, 9am on Tuesday, 5:30am on Wednesday, and then asks for leave till next Monday. However, she assures you that she will find a "replacement" for you for all these five days.
The replacement for Thursday and Friday is a twelve year old, monkey cap wearing, scowling, boy. The replacement for Saturday is the boy's mother. You are eager to meet the replacements for Sunday and Monday, but alas, they/he/she don't/doesn't come, and when asked about this absentee replacement, the boy's mother says philosophically, "you are angry because you have to do your own work for just two days?"
Your geek husband leaves his brand new shiny laptop and washes the dishes instead. You wash the clothes. You cook at 2pm and eat at 4pm. Whereupon you begin the cycle of washing dishes again. The only good thing that comes out of this work and late lunch are that you are tired and full till 9pm, and don't need dinner.
Sometimes I feel that S and I are poor Naga farmers, toiling through the day and eating a frugal late lunch, and then sitting down to massage each other's aching feet and discussing the next day's chores. If we had a couple bamboo flutes, I am sure we would play sad tunes late into the night.
Well I can go on and on. But I need to go sweep the floors now. So I wish you best of luck in this journey called life. Remember that your role in life is to give (salary, shawl, hot tea, access to your gas connection, advance), and be pleasantly, quiveringly surprised when you infrequently receive the meagerest. Nobody promised you a rose garden, honey.
I thought your bai's reporting time is hilarious! I cannot tell you how well I can relate with the description.
This is how it typically works with me-
Bai reports at 8 AM
me: Not acceptable...come to work earlier
Bai now reports at 9 AM (God knows why!)
me: No! Doesn't work.
Bai thinks "To hell with her!" or hopefully (sigh!)"I will delight my customer"
Next day, Bai rings the bell at 5:30!!
Baion ki jai ho! :))
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