Ek thi Padma

The title of the post is a tribute to a story called 'Ek thi Ramrati' by my favourite author Shivani. Ramrati was Shivani's maid and companion for many, many years. Any Shivani fans out there? They are notoriously tough to find.

Padma is a great find, there is no doubt about it. She is great with Adi. She loves spending time with him, can engage him really well (much better than I can, let me shamefacedly add), is not at all squeamish when it comes to cleaning up after Adi, though I can claim proudly that I do manage to do all the potty-related tasks myself. Yes, she is an awesome find.

However, if you look closely, she is immensely proprietary when it comes to Adi. So much so that she is liable to tell us (M and self) off if she sees fit. She doesn't do it openly of course. But in her own sing-song way, she will always express her opinion of the state of affairs. Sample this:

I am running behind schedule on making Adi's apple-sauce.

Padma sings:

"Aaj toh Mama apple banana bhool gaya hai
Mera baby toh bhookha hai."

Right. I immediately abandon all that I am doing under this attack and proceed to kitchen to prepare the meal.

M thinks baby is sleeping in the hall and does not kiss him goodbye before leaving for work.

Padma sings:
"Daddy ne baby ko bye nahin bola
Ab toh baby royegaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa."

A suitably chastised M immediately backtracks his steps and runs to kiss Adi who smiles contentedly and sticks his tongue out.

M and self are shopping at break-neck speed at Patel Stores. We pick up Pampers and wipes and proceed to pay.

Padma whispers loudly (ostensibly) to Adi.

"Mama Papa Adi ka oil nahin le rahe.
Ab Adi ka skin dry ho jayegaaaaaaa"

Ooh right, the bottle of baby oil is nearing its end. We rectify this situation at once and buy an extra-large bottle in order to pacify Padma.

This goes on through the day. Sometimes I get exasperated at this taanebaazi. Most of the time I am grateful that she remembers things that I forget. And above all, I am really, really, really happy that she puts Adi above all else, clearly way, way above M and self. Ah well, we are getting used to being meted out second-rate treatment by friends and family anyway (since the baby came along).

Had things been slightly (VERY) different and had I been a mom to an infant, part of a large joint-family and living in a congested mohalla in a small town somewhere in western UP, I have no doubt that this sort of gentle chastisement would have been part and parcel of my life. Under several pairs of eagle eyes belonging to various aunts and grandaunts, all in-law, it would have been given that we would be under constant scrutiny for our parenting style. Padma is bringing in a teeny-tiny bit of that flavour into our lives on a daily basis. And I like it, I do. Talk about being a sucker for punishment!

I know there may be people who would be offended at this...what can it be called...interference. But I am not. In fact I am delighted at the fact that she doesn't give a shit about what we may think of her as long as we serve the little 'Guddu Singh' well.

Of course, sometimes things are taken a bit too far. Whenever Adi refuses to breastfeed, she looks at me accusingly and asks if my supply is reducing!! Whoa there, lady, slow down!! Surely, I am entitled to a little bit of privacy in my own home. Or maybe not.

In fact, despite being of the same age as me, she behaves as if she is an old, old, old servant who has been hanging around in this house for donkey's years and has earned the right to say whatever she wants, never directly, always muttered, but communicated clearly nevertheless!!