It was one of those days when the maid didn't come for two days in a row. The result - an overflowing sink and not even a single clean plate to have food on. I was tired after work and yelled at my brothers for not having cleaned the vessels at least today and in walked my cook. Before you write me off as a rich bitch with numerous maids and cooks at her service, let me tell you that in Bombay you don't get one woman to do all the jobs even if you want to pay her more. A cook doesn't clean and a maid doesn't cook.
One brother decided to help me out with the dishes. This was unacceptable to my cook. Seeing my brother doing the dishes she called me aside and told how what I was committing was a serious offense and how from where she comes from, men are never allowed to do the chores. She advised me that my brother is older to me and it was disrespectful on my part to tell him to do the dishes. I of course told her she wasn't living in the real world if that's what she still thinks. I told her that both me and my brother are people and whoever is free and able to do a chore does it irrespective of our gender. I told her to practice the same at her home. She stared at me like I had fired her from her job.
On another day my cook was telling me that she didn't make it to work the previous day because her daughter had come of age and hence she had to be around for her. She went on to tell me that she had to be around to ensure that her daughter didn't touch anybody or anything, and that no body touched her either as that's how a girl is to be treated during the days she has her period. Apparently, her daughter was given a corner to sit in and was not allowed to do anything religious. The opinionated person that I am I told her that her belief was baseless. I reasoned with her saying if God only gave us women a menstrual cycle, why would he consider us dirty during this time? She fiercely answered saying it was all in their books. I told her that her daughter lives in a world where women do not stop themselves from doing anything for any reason whatsoever. She just looked at me, unable to believe my ignorance.
Whenever my cook sees that I'm free she loves to come up and chat with me. These are just two instances of interesting conversations I've had with her. Although most times I get irritated with how much she has to talk all the time, I also realized that she is my reminder of the dichotomous society I live in. Just when I think people's outlooks have changed and that we live in a world where we are free to express and practice our own rights and ways, sense or nonsense, I'm reminded that there is this group of people who still live unrealistic and senseless lives.
But then I also think to myself, little am I able to change the mindsets of the so called modern parent of today who thinks it's wrong if their child has an inter-religious relationship, how then can I change the mindsets of the not so modern? We have such a long way to go.
One brother decided to help me out with the dishes. This was unacceptable to my cook. Seeing my brother doing the dishes she called me aside and told how what I was committing was a serious offense and how from where she comes from, men are never allowed to do the chores. She advised me that my brother is older to me and it was disrespectful on my part to tell him to do the dishes. I of course told her she wasn't living in the real world if that's what she still thinks. I told her that both me and my brother are people and whoever is free and able to do a chore does it irrespective of our gender. I told her to practice the same at her home. She stared at me like I had fired her from her job.
On another day my cook was telling me that she didn't make it to work the previous day because her daughter had come of age and hence she had to be around for her. She went on to tell me that she had to be around to ensure that her daughter didn't touch anybody or anything, and that no body touched her either as that's how a girl is to be treated during the days she has her period. Apparently, her daughter was given a corner to sit in and was not allowed to do anything religious. The opinionated person that I am I told her that her belief was baseless. I reasoned with her saying if God only gave us women a menstrual cycle, why would he consider us dirty during this time? She fiercely answered saying it was all in their books. I told her that her daughter lives in a world where women do not stop themselves from doing anything for any reason whatsoever. She just looked at me, unable to believe my ignorance.
Whenever my cook sees that I'm free she loves to come up and chat with me. These are just two instances of interesting conversations I've had with her. Although most times I get irritated with how much she has to talk all the time, I also realized that she is my reminder of the dichotomous society I live in. Just when I think people's outlooks have changed and that we live in a world where we are free to express and practice our own rights and ways, sense or nonsense, I'm reminded that there is this group of people who still live unrealistic and senseless lives.
But then I also think to myself, little am I able to change the mindsets of the so called modern parent of today who thinks it's wrong if their child has an inter-religious relationship, how then can I change the mindsets of the not so modern? We have such a long way to go.
