I don’t ask her any further questions. Even though she’s my maid, I respect Mini a lot. She’s been working in my house for nearly half a year now and she’s the best maid I’ve ever had. She is soft-spoken, always clean, doesn’t gossip and she’s very honest. Despite her penury, I’ve never seen Mini ‘eyeing’ anything or being greedy.

What I admire most about Mini, though, is the way she is bringing up her children—both the younger daughters go to school. Simmi has studied till class 7 but dropped out because she wasn’t very academic. Nikki though—now in class 9—has been a consistent topper for the last five years.

While Simmi wants to earn money, Nikki wants to study further and aspires to be a policewoman some day. I know that Mini is saving every possible paisa to be able to send her for private tuitions—Nikki wants to score good marks so she can get admission at Kendriya Vidyala R.K. Puram for her final school year.

I haven’t discussed it with Mini yet and I hope she agrees when I do, but I’d really like to sponsor Nikki’s education, or at least some part of it. Even though government schools are free for girls till class 12, I’d like to pay for her books or whatever else she might need.

I realize with some irritation that it’s yet another thing I want to talk to Sid about—if only I’d get some time with him.

Sid’s a share-broker and for the last four months he has been extremely preoccupied at work because of an impending merger or at least that’s what I’ve understood. I have absolutely no understanding of shares, market movements or the bulls and bears that Sid keeps talking about. But I have understood that Sid is really good at his job. He is frequently quoted in business newspapers and magazines.

‘Would you like a cup of tea, didi?’ Mini asks.

‘I’d love a cup and please make yourself one as well and for the girls if they drink it,’ I say. ‘Give Cheeku some milk—I don’t think she drinks tea yet?’

I walk into the dining room and find both the younger girls standing by the main door—Cheeku is peeking inside the house while a sheepish Nikki is telling her off for doing so.

Dragon—finally awake!—stands by her room door and stares at the children.

‘Who are these urchins?’ Dragon asks.

‘Good morning Momji—they’re not urchins, they’re Mini’s children,’ I say.

Dragon pulls a chair and sits at the dining table still glaring at the children—Nikki looks uncomfortable under the scrutiny but Cheeku grins.

‘Why are they here?’ Dragon asks.

The question irritates me—my house, my maid, why is she so interested?