Blame it on
poor health, but having not left the house for many days deprives you of many
things. These stories I intend to write are one of them. It's been almost two weeks now that I am
house arrested for this terrible lung infection I have. I always wanted a
vacation, just not of this kind.
And for the
promise I made to myself, I had to dig up stories from past. Well, the thread
must go on! Another incident which knocked at my door last week is related to
my household help.
She seems
to be in her late thirties going by the stories she has told me. To the naive
eyes, she won't look a day older than 25. A mother of four, and a wife of a
construction worker she has a lot going on in her life. She is unlike some of
the people I came across from her trade. I, along with many Indian ladies, have
had both good and bad experience in terms of house helps. They can at times be
pain in neck. But if there is some good karma in your kitty, you would find one
who is nice.
My karma did
not seem so great until few weeks back. After my last experience with another
help, who was great and motherly, I stopped comparing. I just knew you don't
get lucky twice.
But she was
no trouble either. She was punctual, regular and honest. I must admit I was bit
reserved with her. There was a lot going on in my life and mornings were mostly
contemplation time for me. In a way, she never had a reason to open up to me.
Few weeks
back I caught this terrible cold I mentioned earlier. Things got so horrible
that I skipped office, spent entire day on my bed, had temperature and was
coughing and vomiting all the time. I had my brothers with me on weekends, but
weekdays I was alone the entire day. In their defense my brothers didn't even
know the extent of problem.
One day I
was coming back from hospital with all the nasty x-ray reports in the
afternoon. This female, after getting done with the first shift of her work,
was going home for her afternoon break. We met at the society gate and
exchanged pleasantries. She got to know I was sick. She said all good things
people say when they meet someone who seems helpless.
The
difference was, she meant it. I came home, changed and having no strength left
for food, dozed off on the couch. At around four, somebody buzzed the door
bell. Mustering up the courage to face whoever it was, I was in for a surprise.
She was there. Usually she comes at around eight in the evening. First thought was, since she knew I was at
home, she wanted to get done with the errand early. I was about to say
something to the effect of she should come back at the usual time when she
asked if she can do anything for me. I didn't get it for a minute. She
explained that she knew I would be home alone and that I needed to eat and have
my medicines, she thought of stopping by to ensure that I do it.
I really didn't
know what to say. She came in, saw that there were no plates in sink, meaning I
have not really had anything after she left in the morning, made me have a late
lunch and asked twice about my medicine. When she left, I again had no clue how
to thank her.
Next day
onwards, it was a routine. On days when I was alone, she would visit me twice, before
and after her afternoon break, besides her regular schedule. She made sure I
was fed and had my medicines on time. This routine continued until my mother
visited me.
A female
who is not so close to me had my back at a time when I needed. She took out
time from her busy schedule when some so called best friend thought whatsApp
messages to ask why I was not coming to office were good enough. The time spent
at my place meant time spent away from her kids, but she did it nonetheless.
And guess
what, she was not supposed to do it. She had indebted me in a way I would not
be able to repay. A gesture out of blue,
a memory for life.
What did
this incident teach me? Not to lose faith in humanity. When someone can go out
of their way to help, to support someone
not expecting it in their wildest dreams, hope, faith and humanity have a
hearty laugh and make the days little more brighter.
How did she look?
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