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Being memsaab

When Bhaskar left the Air Force what I missed was being called "memsaab" by the domestic help- most colonial, most inappropriate but sigh !!
Coming to the civilian life was getting used to being called "boudi", "kakima" and a rare "Didi".
When Baba first went to leave me at my own first "home" in Pune, he was greeted by Kaushalya - our live in domestic help. She actually taught me how to cook, keeping a vigil as I graduated from lighting a stove to gas- learnt to boil milk and use a cooker. The story that became a legend was when I cooked Chingri Malaikari straight out of a Lila Majumdar recipe book, and the page turned and I ended up grinding three times mustard than required ...Bhaskar cried buckets and my pet cat ran away for days after tasting that "eye watering" delicacy.
When Baba was leaving his instructions to Kaushalya was "Baby ka khyal rakhna" ....Kaushalya being used to the fauji culture looked here and there wondering who the "baby" was , till she realized that the "baby" being referred to was none other than me...the 'naya memsaab'!
This morning as Baba rocked like a baby , I reminded him of this story ...how the baby has changed.....how he is the baby now who needs to grow up, be on his feet again and learn to walk to his freedom....again.
Ah life! Never ceases to throw challenges..."The child is the father of man" and then the father becomes a child again...and for me being a mother has just doubled up!

Comments

  1. Abhishikta29 December 2014 at 10:03

    Ah! Such a 'you' wala post! Welcome to optimism :*
    All shall be well :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. amrita29 December 2014 at 10:21

      yes...tomorrow will be better than today .

      Delete

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