Life in the absence of a maid

A couple of stressful months have passed since the departure of the live-in maid. My hopes of getting my favourite help L from Kerala immediately were dashed when she kept postponing her trip to Madras. I guess she needs to finish some chores back home but now she has promised to come in November. I wait like a "vezhaambal (hornbill) for rain". This note finds me terribly exhausted trying to be the superwoman - cooking, washing, mopping, and the numerous unlisted chores that are needed to make a home presentable while keeping a job with unpredictable work hours and the equally unpredictable commute.

The kids, after the initial enthusiasm to help, groan at the mention of mundane chores. Mira would rather cook than do things she can actually do. Right now, I have a temporary cook to do dinner so that the kids dont have to remain hungry till I return.

Meanwhile, we enjoy life as a family more without a stranger eavesdropping into every conversation or watching every action of ours. The kids keep us entertained with their comments on life as they see it.

Yesterday, after watching the latest Shahrukh hit "Chennai Express", Mira tells me: "Amma, the good kiss is between noses (as in the Hindi movies) and not between lips (as in some bad English movies)!"

And recently when V and me fell of the bike (but without much injury, save for some aches and pains), the kids were concerned. V, who likes to talk sentimental, asked them: "What will you do if Appa and Amma die? 

Pat came Mira's asnwer: "We'll go to Jessy aunty's house.

Jessy aunty is V's cousin, who has come to live near our place. And the kids love going there to see her and her college-going daughters. 

As for Ash, he is getting very materialistic. He tells V: Appa, if you are alive when I am in Class 10, please get me...." That is another 5 years.

And this time, on a trip to their grandparents' place in Kerala, granpa asked Ash to massage his feet. 

"Our rate for massage is Rs.3000. Since you are my granpa, I can bring it down to Rs. 2500," quipped Ash.