My friend started a topic which took me back many many years into my childhood. I have grown up with the most wonderful staff: loyal, dedicated and deadly honest. I know for a fact that if an armed robber was to attack us, they would without doubt act as our human sheilds.
There was Baijnathji, my dad's munim. He was the shopper, the bank and the man who lifted his eyebrows at us if we spent more of dad's money than required. On a rickshaw ride he would keep glaring at the metre, daring it to rise beyond his expectations. He would buy almost second hand fruits (to dad's distress) just so that he did not have to pay extra. The old man, would carry me double seat, duly cushioned for my young bums, all the way back from school, and my school being Andheri (e) and we lived in Juhu, A good 20 km ride to and fro.
His brother Bishambharjee was our driver. The car was his baby and we were driven everywhere without overtime. The finest memory i have of him was him, weeping, standing under his clothes hanging high in a rod... "arre Bimshamber's clothes are here, but where is Bishamber??" I am not being mean, he was high on Bhaang!!
Saraswati who took care of me for 9 years and had to retire because she was ill, whom I to date think of fondly. I unearthed a photo of her's and It made me supremely happy.
The one who I love the most, my surrogate dadi, my beloved Mania bai.
She came as my dadi's midwife and stayed on as her companion. And what a companion. They fought with each other like scalded cats blaming each other for getting burnt. The bad words that echoed would have had most people turning purple on the face. But underneath all that was a far greater love than a mother has for her child.
Maniabai was entrusted the house silver, spices, dry fruits, herbs, linen et al. Damn, she near had the entire house under her control. Maniabai had 3 huge Godrej cupboards, which she would clean with her discerning eye. Every sheet was as white as fresh snow, each sheet was darned and i think they were scared to rip. They were lined in a stack so perfect, one look could tell you how many double and single sheets existed in her inventory.
No chef trained for 10 years and armed with the most special knife could cut fruits like her.
I just spoke with her and at 87+ she is still lucid, and demanded I send her the photos taken with her and nephew, and since I have always had a healthy fear of her, I shall do so right away..
PS: She is so dedicated i know she will pass on only after my grand mother does!!
There was Baijnathji, my dad's munim. He was the shopper, the bank and the man who lifted his eyebrows at us if we spent more of dad's money than required. On a rickshaw ride he would keep glaring at the metre, daring it to rise beyond his expectations. He would buy almost second hand fruits (to dad's distress) just so that he did not have to pay extra. The old man, would carry me double seat, duly cushioned for my young bums, all the way back from school, and my school being Andheri (e) and we lived in Juhu, A good 20 km ride to and fro.
His brother Bishambharjee was our driver. The car was his baby and we were driven everywhere without overtime. The finest memory i have of him was him, weeping, standing under his clothes hanging high in a rod... "arre Bimshamber's clothes are here, but where is Bishamber??" I am not being mean, he was high on Bhaang!!
Saraswati who took care of me for 9 years and had to retire because she was ill, whom I to date think of fondly. I unearthed a photo of her's and It made me supremely happy.
The one who I love the most, my surrogate dadi, my beloved Mania bai.
She came as my dadi's midwife and stayed on as her companion. And what a companion. They fought with each other like scalded cats blaming each other for getting burnt. The bad words that echoed would have had most people turning purple on the face. But underneath all that was a far greater love than a mother has for her child.
Maniabai was entrusted the house silver, spices, dry fruits, herbs, linen et al. Damn, she near had the entire house under her control. Maniabai had 3 huge Godrej cupboards, which she would clean with her discerning eye. Every sheet was as white as fresh snow, each sheet was darned and i think they were scared to rip. They were lined in a stack so perfect, one look could tell you how many double and single sheets existed in her inventory.
I just spoke with her and at 87+ she is still lucid, and demanded I send her the photos taken with her and nephew, and since I have always had a healthy fear of her, I shall do so right away..
PS: She is so dedicated i know she will pass on only after my grand mother does!!
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