Recently I went to my brother’s place in Mumbai after of hiatus of almost a year. Every time Mumbai reminds me how it is so different from any other place in India; everyone is busy in their own life hardly any time for anybody. Survival is very difficult in Mumbai; however it has plethora of opportunities for all to make their own living, to grow, to rise and to fulfill one’s own dream.

My brother and Sister-in-Law expatiated till midnight about Mumbai, its life and every problem which they had faced since past one decade. Not being conversant with Mumbai I became a mute spectator listening to their every point with a Mug of Iced lemon tea. At the end of the conversation my brother concluded

“Every one can make a living here if one has a fighting spirit.” said my brother

Then there was a silence which made me believe that things are not as bad I think it to be.

“Yes, dear you are right, but only for people who are mentally and physically capable,” my sister-in-law replied seriously.

My brother smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

Next day I was woken up by a knock at the door. It was almost 11 am, my teammates in the office must be attending their calls or busy in the daily status meeting was the first thought that came to my mind.

“Can I sweep the floor,” the maid said.

“Give me your clothes too, I will wash them.” She again said and smiled.

I was surprised to see, an old lady in her late seventies. For a moment I was very angry, why my brother is making this old women work that too at this age, we have child labor laws in place can’t we have some similar laws for old infirm people too.

During lunch I was lost in my own thoughts, somehow couldn’t get over what I saw in the morning.

“What happened?” my brother asked.

“Nothing,” I replied, “actually little disturbed to see that old women, your housemaid” I said quietly.

Then there was a silence for few minutes which was broken by my sister-in-law.

“Yeah, even we feel bad, sometimes feel like adopting her, I wish I could” she said in an empathetic tone.  

Then my brother told me that she is alone, her children have deserted her so she has no place to go. She works at few places, earns her own living out of which more than half goes in her medical expenses.

Then my sister-in-law told me that she has a strong will power braving every adversity even at this age. She even misses her children, grand-children and recalls the day when her son told her to find a place for herself as his earning is not enough to bear her medical and other expenses.

 Since then life hasn’t been easy for her as people don’t employ her because of her age but she never gave up, today she works more than 3 places and somehow manages her every expense. I still remember how my brother praised her for being so diligent and meticulous in her work, not even once she gave any problem. Every month my sister-in-law pays little extra amount as a little token for her work.

Next day I got up a little early, I was reading the news paper when our old maid appeared.

I left my paper aside continuously looking at her emphasizing at her state while she was quietly doing her work. How can somebody do like this? How mean and selfish we have become, we can’t even look after our parents who took every pain in our upbringing, such thoughts had occupied my mind.

Suddenly she looked in my eyes as if she wants to ask “Are you going to do the same thing what my children did to me?”

I stood there almost numb for few seconds then my conscience replied “Certainly not.”

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written by Santosh, December 26, 2009

The frenzied pace in Mumbai is legendary and has a bearing on relationships besides social niceties.The stress at work and while travelling takes its toll on domesticity giving rise to major discord with the spouse and elders. More often than not the parents are isolated more due to default than design. The valiant senior citizens survive the others sadly perish.
Albeit all of the above the ten million Mumbaites still prefer to live and revel in Mumbai.

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written by Pavalamani Pragasam, December 27, 2009

Luckily my visits to Mumbai to my son's house have always been pleasant. Regarding aged maid servants, their wretched, neglected condition I think it is part of a sort of 'insentivity' that is engulfing the present age which is sinking into materialism and short-term goals. We are losing our old, precious values! Very sad, indeed! An age of increased comforts materially, but increasing number of creches, old age homes and squalor.

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written by mansi, January 06, 2010

Hey,

nice write-up
I have written a similar article in my blog....do have a look....
www.manzdesai.blogspot.com

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