It is Shab e barat. For which my mother’s maid took a ten day leave, my friend’s maid took a ten day leave, my mother-in-law’s maid took a three day leave.
Sakila, my maid, came on time this morning. While she was quietly going about doing her business my mother called.
“Has Sakila come?”
“Yeah mom. Why?”
“Its Shab e barat today. She didn’t take an off?”
“No. She didn’t.”
“You should’ve asked her to take an off na? You gave your driver an off on Rakhi.”
“Ma, I didn’t remember it was Shab e barat. And she always tells me when she needs an off.”
And then obviously all my reasoning was rather inconsequential,, as it always is to a mother, and after much ranting by my mother about her maid taking ten days off she thankfully realized she had to make that chicken curry. So we ended the conversation.
I turned to Sakila. Who had half disappeared under the coffee table to clean it.
“Isn’t it Shab e barat today? ”
Head popped out from under the table “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you take an off? It’s a festival no? For you?”
“Yeah.”
“Then? You should’ve asked me once. I don’t remember all the time no?”
The big bright smile of hers comes out. “But I am not going anywhere else to work today. Just your place. I like coming to work here.”
I wanted to hug her. And tell her I love her. And that I heart her.
Instead I ran to my bedroom and danced a little jig.
Now tell me, has this ever happened to you?
Filed under: The everyday stuff | Tagged: house, maid, manners | 7 Comments »
