31st
December, 2016. I’m lucky enough to share my birthday with a wonderful person.
My sister-in-law, Padmini. She’s just 2 years younger to me and we hit it off right
from the moment I stepped into the Ranganathan household. Today, her daughter
and my son are in a celebratory mood and want to eat out. To humour them, we
give in to the demand for what’s a censored item on our menu, relegated to a
once-in-a-month treat.
We
troop into Dominos Pizza and make our way to one of the tables. There’s one
woman I notice at once. She’s dressed in a black saree and green blouse, with a
black kitchen apron secured at the back of her neck and waist, a plastic cover
over her hair that’s drawn into a bun, with a black cap perched on her head.
She’s
just one of the staff in this bustling fast food joint and yet, she stands out for
the sheer incongruity of her presence. An OLD woman scrubbing the table clean of
food that youngsters half her age are having fun preparing or serving or
eating.
She
shuffles slowly around the tables, carefully collecting all the crumbs of food
leftover into one large carton box. She moves to another part of the room to
dump it all into a dustbin. Then she crosses her arms across her chest and
stands quietly in the area marked as “Handwash” for the next table to become
unoccupied so that she can clean it.
I watch
her for a while and the realization dawns on me that I’m going to write about
this. But then, there’s also this overpowering thought of wanting to know how
and why she is there because I sense there’s a lesson hidden in this chance
encounter.
As
she stands waiting for the next table to empty out, I walk up to her and gently
say, “If you don’t mind, can I ask you something?” The dour expression on her
face gives way to something like wonder and she says, “Of course, what do you
want to know?” I ask how she came to be working here despite the fact that she
looks quite frail.
In
the next 5 minutes, she narrates her life story – of losing her husband who had
a government job. Of having a son who, despite being qualified, did not wish to
find any job but instead, insisted on waiting for the father’s government job
that had been promised to him. Of not wanting to knock on the doors of either
her parents or her in-laws. Of working as a domestic help in four houses from 8
am to noon and then in the pizza outlet and dental clinic above till 9 pm. Of being
saddled with illnesses like typhoid and having had surgery for hernia that had
sapped at her almost non-existent strength.
And
yet, this woman says calmly to me, “I have lots of difficulties, but I know God
is there with me. He will take care of me always.”
As
I bid her goodbye, she smiles and says, “Thank you for listening to me,” and
walks slowly to yet another table. Indeed, as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa said,
“A tree laden with fruits always bends low.”
Hmm... Very touching
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shreyas !
DeleteThe case of the frail woman, unfortunately, is not an isolated one.
ReplyDeleteAnd ... my belated Birthday Wishes.
True, that...Thank you for the birthday wishes !
DeleteSo well worded.Realty of life.
ReplyDeleteThank you !
DeleteIt's always heartening to read and so easily connect with what you write Anu..Truly touching
ReplyDeleteThank you, Meena !
DeleteThis is what is happening all around Anu. Everybody wants easy and quick money without taking pain. Good one
ReplyDeleteYes, very sad. Thanks for the appreciation, Mule!
DeleteLovely anu... Very nice. Glad you met her, i have met her through you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vatsala !
DeleteTouching story. Congratulations on being picked by Blogadda!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much...that being picked is truly a surprise!
DeleteHow amazing is this!!!
ReplyDeletevery true! Such are the stories that make us realize how blessed we are and be grateful about it.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Thank you !
Delete