Maid(less) in India

Maids….. whimsy superwomen (who if ever existed with the aspired qualities would have conquered Indian hearts and ruled Indian households forever; well the latter they anyway do) are the backbone of every middle class family in India. Anyone having stayed in an Indian house for a very short duration would have seen what trials and tribulations an Indian woman goes through juggling between multiple roles, hoping and praying to one day achieve a constant in her continuously changing maid universe. Besides providing a stable (?) support system, these whimsical girls and ladies also perform a very important function.… Gossip material…. They are the favorite gossip topic, not only amongst women but even amongst some men and kids! Each household, each neighborhood, each social structure has an abundance of maid stories. Why? Because dealing with them is a daily struggle! Each woman (and some men) has her own treasure box of the learnings that each new maid has given her; or rather I should say continues to give her on a periodic basis. I have always found it amusing how these girls and women, who are employed for making our lives easier, create a complexity in our lives that we wouldn't have thought of! Even when dealing with the biggest challenges with maids, I have found myself distancing myself from the situation and having a good laugh at the emotions and strategies that are at play.