Sunday, November 13, 2011

'Maid' of Honour

Aaah...'Maid' in India, this is one subject which has a timeless appeal to a smorgasbord of Indian women out there and always remain on their lips. Women of all sizes, shapes, colours, whether working, home makers, retired or young students, rich and middle class, will sure vote 'Maids' as the unequivocally the most dear topic to all of us.
The one word which can bring out a gamut of emotions from within us and will always remain an integral part of our inane complaints, feminine woes and heart to heart discussions.
I look around my ilk and sometimes feel that this breed (Maids) has become so indispensable that we women may just be able to live without our family/spouses for few days but we just cant live without THEM for even a day.
If it does happen i.e a day without our maid, it truly takes a toll on our mind, body and 'soul'. Yes, soul too!
No one can really make the 'soul curry' like my maid whips up, its incredibly mouthwatering and addictive too!
Ok..ok, let me not exaggerate here but the truth is surely not far from it.

I have always been wanting to write about this noble but unsung profession amidst us and dedicate a post to the 'maid' of honour in my life but never got around to do it.
But finally the trigger for this post was nothing else but a silly SMS joke I received from a dear friend and it went something like this.
'Guess which is the latest virus to have seized the women in Indian cities off late...... If you don't have this virus, you are truly doomed! Its the 'MAIDS' virus!

It is indeed true! If we don't have them in our lives our life has the ability to spin into a state of disarray and complete confusion.

If my maid reports on time every day, my days run smoothly a la freshly whipped banana smoothie on a pound of fresh out-of-oven walnut cake!
When she does report to work but late, to her it appears that I am forever looking over her shoulder and at times breathing down her neck.

All that notwithstanding, they are truly god's boon to us women kind and can really ease our lives and iron out all our silly worries. They are the best anti wrinkle solution available, better than all the Olays and Ponds of the world.

But alas, just like all good things come with strings attached, they do too.

This ilk needs to be treated with kids gloves and sometimes put on a pedestal too, but at the same time we must understand that they don't need to be worshiped.
They have to be treated as part of the extended family but at the same time not let them enter our personal space.
They have to be trusted and respected and at the same time ensure that the rope is not let too loose.
They have to be given holidays, increments and bonuses like we get but at the same time not allow them job jumps.
We know they are truly indispensable in our lives but cant really show them so.

They are the most hardworking and undervalued breed who get pittance for the work they do. For urban women especially those who go to work they are the biggest stress busters. I can relate to the maids just like any important organ in our body viz. hands or legs. Till the time its working we dont value them but when we get hurt or break a bone we suddenly become acutely aware of our handicap. Its the same with our Maids. When they are around, we really take them for granted but when they are not there our life comes to a grinding halt and take some time to get back on track.

Nothing can give me more stress than when I hear her announce her plans to go on her annual leave. Its more tumultuous than the most stressful situations at my work place. Also, the times when she occasionally falls sick which unfortunately happens to be the same day when we are hosting a party for a bevy of close friends, it sends the shivers down my spine. Its every urban woman's worst horror story.
All said and done, in spite of all her shortcomings and capacity to provide me a few rude shocks, I am happy with my situation because I at least have a maid. When I look around and my friends struggle to find one suitable maid, I think my self fortunate and thank god for blessing me with one. Touch wood!

All in all, MAIDS according to me are the ultimate 'Must-have Aids In our Daily Survival' kit and truly the Maids of Honour!