Radha

Two year old Avi’s excited chatter trickled into the kitchen. That’s how he always welcomed Radha, our daily help, as she came in every morning. On the dot. Avi had quite a few questions for Radha. Which was attended to with warmth and affection. And Radha embarked on her mission. Of sweeping and swabbing which she did meticulously. She was a true professional. No chit chat, no gossip. But that did not apply to the cherubic Avi. As she worked through her chores, she did answer to Avi’s queries.

Radha was a dusky beauty, with a cheerful disposition, and a pleasant nature. Her work was good. Sometimes, when in dire need of money, she would ask to borrow an amount. She would repay it with her pay over the next few months. If she wanted a raise, which was at the end of the year, she asked for it. She was firm and reasonable. She worked in quite a few homes to make ends meet. Her day began at 5 in the morning. She commuted by bus to reach the homes she worked at. Her own household chores were done before she left home.

Radha lived in a small two roomed house. It was her very own. Built with her hard earned money and help from the government. All around were people like her. It was a colony of daily wage earners. Early mornings it was bustling with activity. All getting ready to leave for their places of work. Some like Radha to homes of people spread over the city, some to construction sites, some to restaurants as cleaners, still others to bus stops hoping to be picked up for some temporary work. In the evenings and late into the night, sounds of drunken brawls would pierce the silence of the night.

Her family comprised of three daughters. The eldest was married with a little boy. Radha had requested her married daughter and son-in-law to live with them. I was a little surprised. I wanted to ask her. But something prevented me from doing so. The other two were chipping in, to add to their household income. Life was difficult. But Radha plodded on. Giving her children a roof over their heads, food on the table, basic education, in short a secure home. I did wonder about her husband. Since she never mentioned, I was not one to probe.

Radha called up one day to inform us that she would not be coming in for a day or two. She seemed upset. I was worried. I enquired. She said she will talk about it when she comes home. I left it at that.

True to her word, she came in two days later. That is when she related her story.

A friend of her brother, happened to come across a man who resembled Radha’s husband in a home run by nuns. The brother met this man. It was Radha’s husband! He was picked up from the streets, a few months ago, by the nuns. They found him in a drunken stupor. He had been with them since then. The man recognised his brother – in – law. He expressed his desire to return home. Radha’s brother came home and related everything to Radha.

Contrary to the expected conventional response, Radha outright refused to welcome her husband home. She told us of her herculean effort to distance her husband from alcohol, during the first decade of their marriage. It was futile. And then, one day he disappeared. The family and neighbours searched high and low, a police complaint was lodged, all to avail. Her in laws blamed Radha for their son’s disappearance. Radha hoped he would return. He never did. Life moved on. With danger lurking all the time.

A pretty young mother with three little girls, she and her little ones, were an easy target for the hawks. She said it was a nightmare. Something she is unable to wipe out from her memory. (The presence of her son-in-law at her home, gave them a sense of security. I now understood the reason behind her request. ) It had been an uphill task to bring up her three girls all through their teens. Now they were in their twenties. Fairly independent. Though meager, they were earning for themselves. Radha was content with them. The heavy burden which had been hers to carry, all alone, was slowly easing.

In her words, “I have just sat down and am about to stretch my legs. I am a human being. I am no saint. I have no intention of bringing him home. Where was he when she was bringing up their daughters. Where was he when she was trying to protect her three little girls and herself from the hawks who were always hovering around? I know, people aren’t going to speak kindly about me. They never have. So, it’s not going to affect me. I’m ready to face any punishment God might mete out to me. I am tired. Very tired. “

I sat there listening to her. I was at a loss for words. Here I was, cribbing about problems which paled into insignificance when compared to what this brave lady had faced. All the time she worked for us, I had seen a cheerful, positive, and upbeat person. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of the hurdles she was overcoming every single day. Never ever heard her complain.

Why look for role models among the famous? We have so many ordinary men and women to look up to. I sure started to admire Radha. I started to look at people around me with new eyes. All of them must have had their obstacles which they overcame and moved on in life. We have no right to judge people. We don’t know what they have gone through. If Radha had decided against accepting her husband, it was to be respected. Not criticised.

Radha rose in my eyes. She had a mind of her own. She was a self-made person. The decisions she took were not influenced by people around. I’m sure her daughters will follow the path their mother had taken. That is empowerment. Don’t you think?