Waheeda had twelve children. When I met her she was expecting the thirteenth. Her eldest daughter was 14 years old and Waheeda herself was 28 years. So she literally had one child every year since her fourteenth birthday. Waheeda literally begged me to appoint her as a part-time maid. I was honestly hesitant looking at … Continue reading Waheeda- The Poor and Smart Woman #A-ZChallenge2018
Vaswani Uncle loved playing with kids in the park. I always used to find him in the park swinging some child or helping some child get off the slide. He had a scooter and kids flocked around him for a free joyride. He used to indulge kids with chocolates and ice creams. My son was … Continue reading Vaswani Uncle- The Alleged Paedophile #A-ZChallenge2018
Urmila Pishi was not conventionally beautiful. Her beauty didn’t adhere to the compliance of the Bengali matrimonial market. She was plump, dark complexioned, had specs and above all too educated. Nobody liked an educated working girl as a daughter-in-law in those days. Moreover, she was almost thirty years old and thus too old for the … Continue reading Urmila Pishi- The Rejected Bride #A-ZChallenge2018
Tanushree Boudi was a true domestic goddess. She was extremely beautiful, good Rabindra sangeet singer, good dancer, amazing cook, her house was well organized, and her kids always stood first in class and won medals for extra-curricular activities, she was also an amazing artist whose alpona used to impress everyone. In one word Tanushree Boudi … Continue reading Tanushree Boudi- She Walked in Beauty #A-ZChallenge2018
Rohit was nothing less than Lord Balaji’s messenger to me. If there is God then he is not in an idol but in human beings around us, whom we meet but never acknowledge as God’s blessing. Within few months of our marriage, a Telegu friend of ours advised that we do the Kalyanam Puja in … Continue reading Rohit- Lord Balaji’s Good Samaritan #A-ZChallenge2018
Queen was teased with this moniker by everyone. His name was not Queen but Badshaah (King/Emperor). However, almost everyone in the neighbourhood called him Rani or Queen. The name became so popular that he himself also referred his name as Queen. Or perhaps, he just found a freedom in that name. His heart belonged to … Continue reading Queen- The Trapped Soul #A-ZChallenge2018
Nani was a hunchback woman who used to come to our para(neighbourhood) every day. Nobody knew what her real name was. Why everyone called her Nani (maternal grandmother) that also was unknown. Nani had no regular job. She was not a maid in anyone’s house like the other women who came to our para. She … Continue reading Nani- The Hunchback Woman #A-ZChallenge2018
Mona was a live-in maid at my friend A’s house. She was around 12 years when she started working at their house. A’s mom had two sons and always craved for a daughter. While on a trip to her native village she found Mona in abject poverty. Mona had a stepmother and 13 siblings. There … Continue reading Mona- The Girl who was Traded #A-ZChallanege2018
Lady Macbeth is not her name. I gave her that name when I saw her washing her hand repeatedly. She is one of those women we see roaming aimlessly, wearing tattered clothes, talking to self all over India. They are known as the “pagli”. No one cares for them; no one cares where they come … Continue reading Lady Macbeth- What’s in a Name? #A-ZChallenge2018
Trina Looks Back 