Pages

Powered By Blogger

Total Pageviews

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Tale 61

She worked as a domestic help in Mumbai
Hailing from a lower Middle class background she had a husband who had no sense of responsibility of household or making a living...
He carried on with his job as a mill worker lethargically pushing himself to work somehow and blowing off the money he earned on alcohol 
Their first son was born...
He refused to offer any help in the hospital...
This made her realise the harsh  reality of life ahead...
She cried a lot, the nurses in the municipal hospital helped her gain back the confidence...
She came back home with some determination...
She did not have the privilege of getting pampered in her maternal home since her parents were no more and her brothers survived on agricultural produce in whatever little land they owned... 
There was no question of fighting with her husband...
Since she had no one to fall back on if he disowned her... 
She continued working with an infant in tow...
Carried him to work till he started going to school... 
By then her husband lost job in MUMBAI MILLS STRIKE...
Pregnant with their second child she decided to use her culinary skills to support the family...
Working as a cook she earned better then before and had much more sustainable income...
Second child was a daughter...
She was happy to have her, now confident of raising them well she enjoyed the struggles of earning a livelihood. 
She had three kids by now...third being her own husband who did nothing but eat while sitting idle in the house...
Pregnant third time over she thought of aborting the baby but the husband came to know...
The male dominance surpassed her logical thinking and she decided to keep the pregnancy...
Another daughter was born...
With three children in tow she secretly got the family planning operation done...
Over the years the girls grew up to be intelligent and matured..
First son however was not academically inclined... 
He took up a small job in a courier company...
Elder daughter completed an MCom joined a BPO got married to her colleague...
They jointly earn to pay off the loan of their small flat in Virar...
Youngest girl is completing her course as a Nurse... 
She aspires to get a job in Nursing abroad...
All the kids are determined to give rest to her mother...
Our hero mother however still works as a cook in urban households understanding the importance of being independent till her health permits...
The father is suffering with dementia and doesn't leave home 
However the kids as well as the mother treat him with care 
They understand what being human means and that doing good is the only way to be... 
This is also a closely knit positive family...
Seems just like another maid story...
But a winning one it is...
Happening routinely around us... Often ignored...
Nevertheless no less inspiring... 
#notsotinytales
- Prajakta Sathe.

No comments:

Post a Comment