BY ANIL SWAMY 

 

 

MY wife, practices Gandhian styled austerity and had decided not to engage any domestic help, ‘Bai’ or ‘Maid’ (in sophisticated language), as post retirement a decade back, we settled in our new life. Helped by gadgets for washing vessels and cloths, we started ‘Cleaning and Mopping’ the flat very regularly, enjoying ‘Fun and Fights’ initially, on lacunae in our work but soon we excelled in ‘House Keeping’ as professionals. Many of our retired friends found us crazy and advised against it, so we deliberately never publicized it. A new family had shifted in our locality. The young man in late thirties, having roaring business, would always quite confidently boast his success. Along with parents and a kid, they were friendly, would greet all with a smile, were Globe trotters and would replace their cars every two years with latest model. For them, our 2019 model car was quite boring. We defended politely ‘It’s almost new, as we couldn’t use it during lockdown and now, we don’t even travel much out of town by road. What do you do? They were curious. ‘Nothing’ we confirmed. We spend maximum time every year with our daughter, taking care of her kids’. Back at home after the morning walk or Tennis, we indulge, every day in ‘House Keeping’ and collaborate to cook an early lunch and with a Temple visit in the evening, wind up our day with an early dinner. ‘What a waste of time’ couple said, flashing a tiny smile on our ridiculously simple routine.

 

Three months ago, we returned home after a long and extended trip to UK and US and wife had a ticket to Sydney for a month, for niece’s wedding. We were in a tearing hurry to unpack, repack coupled with Housekeeping, having time just for cooking. Once, while the new family was leaving for Shirdi, by road and I just then, in my Shorts and Tee, stepped out of our flat for dumping the garbage, holding a dust bag and a broom. To match the exchange of Good Mornings, the young man extended his arm for a Handshake. I had to withdrew my hand, as I had been cleaning and held a broom. Both stared at me and with a crooked smile and sarcasm and quizzed me ‘Did you for sure retire as General Manager of a PSU and Aunty as the Dean of a University?’ Stupefied, I nodded in confirmation. ‘Uncle’ he said ‘I doubt it, as you both don’t look or behave like that. You must maintain the gravity, status and dignity of your posts’ advising me further ‘never try to save on smaller luxuries, but must live life King size’. Enjoying their banter, I enquired ‘how to pass time dear’? Together they chorused, ‘you can help the society by giving jobs to at least three persons, sleep peacefully, have quality life, no cooking, housekeeping, washing, cleaning and shall have sufficient time to be creative’.

 

‘We haven’t enough for these luxuries and what we save on them, we spend for educating, two poor kids every year, which is quite satisfying’. ‘Arre Uncle’ he suggested ‘you should at least take membership of some premium Club and spend the day, soaking in the luxurious ambience, in glittering company of city’s elites, rather wasting time in mundane activities like cleaning and mopping. He advised me further ‘You retired with loads of experience and must pay back to the society by being creative’. ‘Agreed’ I opined. Sympathetic to us ‘I have many friends who would happily utilize your experience’ he said. His wife intervened politely ‘Think it over Uncle’. Later, when we met again, I told them ‘we have thought it over’. ‘What’? They chorused, forgetting previous discussion. ‘We definitely love to contribute to the society’. Their faces wore a mask of question mark. ‘We wouldn’t work for money, but certainly contribute with our Housekeeping’ my wife taunted them ‘regards Clubs, it’s impossible as we neither have your class nor a suitable wardrobe to mix up with elites’. Fed up of our silly attitude! they walked off and don’t even disturb us anymore. “mai akele Yu hi maze me tha, mujhe aap kis liye mil gaye”.