Save the Olive Ridleys

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Life 'maid' hard

If I start listing the havoc created in a nuclear Indian family (with a baby/toddler and working mother) when the maid doesn't turn up or abruptly quits, I could write an entire book and perhaps extend it to a Volume 2. Why is it so difficult for the average well-mannered family to retain maids? Why do they stick on for years in homes where they are yelled at, given stale bread to eat and not allowed to use the bathroom? And here, Abhi is ready to give bonuses twice a year if the maid just looks after Ditu well, never mind if the washing-up is done in a hurry or the house isn't mopped clean.

Am waiting to greet my fourth maid in as many months... Now I have to go through the entire 'house-training' rigmarole, teaching her how things are done here and if I am lucky, not having to remind her about it every day for the period she decides to stay here.

Keeping my fingers crossed that I get a pleasant lady, who is half-way decent to my baby when I am not here and who can cook and clean passably.

And, God, can she please stay for six months at least? A year sounds too greedy to wish for!

P.S. I believe the maids have a sixth sense about important projects/deadlines/meetings at work... believe me, that's the very day they will announce their 'resignation'.