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Back Meet Me In the Middle Save as PDF
Chapters (45)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. Acknowledgements
  44. About the Book
  45. About the Author

‘As soon as we settle the salary. The old owner used to give me eighteen thousand. But that was six months ago.’

Anu’s head started spinning even before the woman finished talking. She used to get ten thousand to teach! Maybe she should take up cleaning for a job.

The woman noticing Anu’s ashen face added. ‘See madam, nobody will work for less than that here. If you want to get only the floors cleaned, I will work for ten thousand. If you want cooking too, then eighteen.’

‘What about washing dishes and clothes?’

‘You have machines for that, no?’ the woman asked suspiciously. ‘If you pay twenty, I will run the machines for you.’

Now Anu got curious. She had to know how this alien land worked. ‘What about folding clothes and ironing them?’

The woman was now losing her patience. Anu was sure she had already labelled her a cheapskate and dismissed her off. ‘Here is my phone number.’ The woman expertly produced a small chit. ‘You call me. My name is Rathnamma. But soon. I have other offers.’

Vicky, bored with that wait, started tugging at her shirt. Anu thought of going back home but the state of it scared her. She made her decision. If they lived in a high-class place, they should be able to afford a high-class maid. ‘Rathnamma,’ she called after the woman. ‘Come back. You can start work now.’

Sanju would have a near heart-attack if she told him about her deal with the maid, but was there a choice?

11

11

Images

Rathnamma insisted that she go for a walk with Vicky while she worked her magic. Anu agreed gleefully. There was nothing worth stealing in their house. Also, Anu was sure Rathnamma owned a better TV and a laptop than them.

Anu could not believe her eyes after two hours. The house was sparkling. There was not a speck of dust and the woman had made their furniture look decent. Who knew stacking everything up and fluffing the pillows would make such a big difference. ‘Madam, my daughter has made Chapathis and Bhindi curry. I will clean your barbeque area and the patio tomorrow.’

Anu nodded, trying not to look too thrilled. Who was she kidding! That was not her—squealing with delight was her. Throwing caution to air, Anu almost hugged Rathnamma. ‘Thanks so much. You have made it look so good. It even smells good.’

Rathnamma looked a little bewildered with this display of affection. ‘Madam, I brought all the cleaning supplies. You have to give me six-hundred rupees for that.’

Anu felt a little sheepish with her over-enthusiasm. Handing Rathnamma the money, Anu asked, ‘Will you help me unbox these? I will pay you extra.’

Rathnamma agreed. ‘Five hundred per hour, madam. I charge more but you are still new.’ What she actually meant, Anu was sure, was you are poor.