A Happy Story #8- The Story of my Maid

Hello Everyone!

Here is another story of what a little act of kindness can do to a person. 🙂

Thank you Tanvi for sharing with us your beautiful conversation with your maid. It is truly a good reminder to be kind to people in all walks of life.

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Sharer: Tanvi
Website: tanvi10mishra

POOJA AUNTY! She is our maid.

She comes twice a day, ring the bell (regardless of whether the door is closed or open), takes off her shoes and enter the house addressing my mum, “Didi hum aa gaye!” (regardless of whether my mom is listening to her or not), does her work, finishes the small glass of tea and two biscuits/rusks served to her, and then leave the house addressing my mum again,” Didi hum jaa rahe hain!” (Regardless of whether my mum is listening or not).

One day I interrupted and asked her why she is addressing my mum whenever she enters or leaves the house. Her response, “To ensure that I am entering and exiting your house with your consent- being on the safe side from any questionable finger, because it is very easy to push the needy or a deprived person into the pit of suspicion and blames.”

I tried to assure her saying that “It’s been years that you’ve been working for us and we trust you. You have seen us grow. Your fear cannot happen in our house.”  She nodded her head in agreement and shared one of her many bitter life experiences.

A week ago her small grandson was seriously ill, and was admitted to a hospital. But the doctor refused to continue with his treatment until they could fully pay the hospital fee (Rs.1000). She didn’t have enough money and so she sent her young daughter to one family that she has served for 16 years and trusted the most.

The girl knocked and waited for someone to open the door for 2 hours, however, no one is opening and she only heard the people whispering from inside. So she left hopeless and with heavy heart.

They were forced to leave the hospital with the patient as they were not able to arrange the fee. The next day, when Aunty went to the same house asking for an answer, they lied and  blamed her daughter saying that she didn’t go there and that she must have gone somewhere else.

Aunty was highly disappointed with their excuse. It was a matter of rs.1000 only. She was also asked to leave her work and get lost! Her 16 years of dedication, hard work, honesty, and prestige was all gone for Rs.1000.  Thankfully, his grandson was able to recover and she got a helping hand from someone else. But she learned a lesson for her life, she stated.

We very often become ignorant towards the people who serve as our backbone. They work to make our life easy, but we sometimes take them for granted. We just forget that they are human too, with beating heart and working brain, and also get hurt with our inhuman behavior.

We don’t bother to share their sorrow, their pain, believing they don’t have these emotions. Why? Because we are paying them? But they are paying us back with their hard work and dedication to make our life smooth and easy, despite the challenges that they face every day.

I felt happy when Aunty told me this:  “I feel good when someone calls me Aunty, or addresses me with words like “Aap”, or whenever someone bothers to ask about how my family is doing?”

Sometimes it is very easy to make someone feel happy about their life, by just simple human gestures or little acts of kindness (which often do not cost us anything). Sadly, I have noticed is very hard to practice these days.

Show concern, affection, and respect towards the people who are working day-night for you. It will fuel them to do their duty with more energy, love, and dignity which is their equal right.

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