Heera - The Maid

Heera - The Maid

The lockdown 1 of 3 weeks, first of its kind in country, was to finish in the next 48 hours. The lockdown had forced the support staff at our residence, barring one who stayed with us, to be on leave and be confined to their respective residences. This made me busy with household work for the whole day. The help who stayed with us had to be busy taking care of my senior in laws who are, though independent, yet in need of some support. While cooking food for 7 at home was time consuming the work that I disliked most was cleaning the utensils. My retired husband, who keeps searching for a part time job despite not having any financial needs, was only a moral support. I prayed for the Corona virus to vanish bringing the life back to normal & the one person I awaited most was Heera, my maid. Though I had always complaints with her regularity and quality of work, yet she was the one who was most awaited presently. Alas, no medicine or vaccine was in sight and authorities had only one thing left- increase the lockdown by another term! And lockdown 2 was duly announced just before the lockdown1 was over. Disappointed but understanding the situation, I readied myself for another 3 weeks of grind.

Two days in to the extended lockdown, on the morning of 3^rd day, I was preparing tea while most of the family members were still asleep; I saw a face with mouth and nose covered with a cloth. From the eyes alone I could recognize the person and I almost shouted in excitement- “Heera!! You?” Then it suddenly struck me, it is almost one month since lockdown and she must have come to ask for salary. She did not enter the house; I went to the door and saw her eyes had an expression of apprehension. She did not speak. She may not be sure whether she will get her salary, I thought. “How are you Heera?” I questioned, “And how is everybody in your family?” This broke the ice. I could see behind the cloth mask the cheeks widening and a glint in her eyes.

“All is good, how are you Didi?” asked Heera

“Good Heera. This lockdown is making life difficult for everybody but it is OK if we are healthy. So, you need your salary? Wait, I will get it” I turned and was about to go inside to fetch the money but a tinge of urgency in Heera’s voice made me stop and face her .

“No Didi not salary. I came to ask if I can start to work from tomorrow? Please Didi, I will come every day early morning, please” Heera was pleading, unsure how I will react.  I felt she was feeling insecure about her job, so I assured her, “Heera don’t worry, I am not looking for any other maid. Let the lockdown be over and then you can start working again”. On the face of it I was telling her not to start working but inside my mind her voice was echoing “can I start to work?”  I was happy about that but another voice was warning me about the virus being contagious. As if Heera read my thoughts” Didi please don’t worry, allow me to work. I will come early in…..” she was desperate and I was confused with her desperation. Why so when I am guaranteeing her salary and job?  Puzzled I asked her “Look there is a lockdown and police is not allowing free movement, how will you come?”

Heera wasn’t giving up” You know Didi I stay close by,just two streets away. And I will come early in the morning, that time there is no police, they go for change of shift Didi”. My fear of Corona took over “But Heera you have a family, your husband and son, both are not going to work, why do you want to come?This virus is not a good thing, I don’t want to take a chance”

No Didi I will come early in the morning, I will take a bath (she knew we had constructed a bath and toilet outside in the backyard for the domestic helps). Didi I don’t have anything to do at home. I get bored and I don’t know anything other than this work”. I was surprised. We always blame the support staff of finding excuses to avoid work and here she is asking for work! Though she was telling me in simple terms that she gets bored at home but she was reminding me of my university day when in psychology we studied that work has profound influence on the way we feel. People feel positive and fulfilled when they work. It immediately struck me why my husband keeps looking for a job even now, after working for forty years!

I agreed to Heera and she practically jumped with joy."Didi I will start from today itself”. I had to cool her enthusiasm by telling her to start the work from next day with the condition of taking a bath before entering the house and only to confine herself to cleaning the utensils. I could feel a slight disappointment in her eyes but still she was happy.

Heera started the work from next morning. The lockdown got extended but Heera was very regular. I too was happy with the utensil part off my head. I was impressed by Heera’s commitment, her surprising regularity. One day when Heera had left for the day, I was telling the help who stayed with us” Nandu, really Heera is a heera, a diamond”.Nandu was not so impressed and asked me” Why you say that Didi?” I could feel a jealousy there. “Look she came here without my calling and she is so regularand who does that in today’s world”. Nandu looked at me and whispered “Didi she doesn’t have a toilet at home and the public toilet is very dirty with no one to clean it. More than work she needs the toilet so she comes regularly!”

I was torn between the university psychology lessons and the practical life lessons!!!