Suman And Koka

Suman & Koka

I read a blog here about maids at Indus, and this reminded of the two maids who worked with me, and are more like my daughters to me to this day, thought they no more work with us.



From 1980 to 85, we stayed in a rented house,and shifted to our newly constructed bunglow in 85.Right opposite our house, are servant quaters,and there lived a family of mom and dad and their 5 kids.Two sisters among then ,Suman and Koka ( her real name was Kaushalya), came to work for us,the younger Koka being around 5, and Suman the elder around 9 maybe.Their main job was to take care of my elder daughter,who was just 4 years old,and very mischevious.





The elder one used to do odd jobs like dusting,sweeping the floor, and was very fond of gardening,and she used to love the plants in our garden.She would excitedly come and tell me, that this plant has had a new stem.Koka , 5, used to play with Radhika my daughter 4,and they soon became good friends.If Tom and Jerry cartoons came on TV, the 3 of them would leave everything and watch cartoons,with laughter echoing througout the house.




Since they stayed just oppostie the house, we could call them over anytime, and their mother was comfortable with her daughters in my house.Soon the grils grew up, and started to do other work like cooking, cleaning the dishes,moping the floors,and keeping our closets in order.They became a part of our lives.




In 87, my daughter Sita was born,on Valentine's Day.And the 3 of them would want to take her in their arms,and i used to get scared they would drop the delicate thing.So now there were 4 of them.Suman and Koka became so close to us, we used to tell everyone they are our daughters.And as our house is always filled with guests from abroad,and also my family visiting us often,they would bring lots of clothes for SK,and toys,and these girls changed from Rajasthani to Sindhis,wearing only Salwar Kameex and skirts and blouses,which no one wears in their whole family.





They were with me for 20 years.They knew each guests likes and dislikes in food,even if they saw the guest after many years.And they knew us inside out, and they knew what veggies i like and dislike.When the onions were expensive in 1998, they started to see Sanjeev Kapoor's TV programme and learnt how to make veg and non veg without onions.They were very intelligent,and our house was open to them, and not a thing was ever lost.




When we lost our Dad in 96, we all went to mumbai for a few weeks, and they took care of our house and Naughty our dog,and opened and closed the office upstairs,and slept at our house all those days.With them around ,life was a roller coaster,and we did not have a care in the world.




Their father retired,and they had to leave the quaters,and they moved far away,still they came for 5 years after that, travelling by buses,getting very tired,and we knew the seperation is near sooner or later.They used to say,we will not marry,but will remain with u forever.And we used to tell them , get married and go.Just for our own convienience, we cant spoil their lives,and keep them here forever.




Koka got married a year back,and is very happy with her husband.Her in laws dote on her,very simple village folks,and her every wish is their cammand.Suman stays at home with her mother,and two married brothers and a brood of kids.They keep calling us,as do we.




Koka's mother came to ask for some money for her daughters wedding.We had made up our minds already,and gave her a small gift of 10,000.But all my cousins and aunties and my family all chipped in, some giving amounts ranging from 2000 to 5000/- and we collected around 30,000 besides what we gave her,and more is still to come from other cousins who will visit in the near future.


One cant do without maids these days, and that too trustworthy.Life is heaven , if u have food given to u in hand, your whiskey, ice and glasses placed in place, along with the ashtray, yr shoes polished,what day i eat non veg they know, and make it,and all my guests from abroad were comfortable here knowing Suman Koka are there.And even after years, they know which guest wants what.




We have been blessed for more than 20 years with these wonderful girls,they were as good as my daughters,May God bless them.




KAMAL MAHTANI

Dear Kamalji
A nice write up on maids. Sometimes these maids are really a bless...........
I had one when I was in India for 9 yrs she use to do everything but after I left india no idea where did she go once during my visit to India I had met her. She was very happy as both her boys had grown up and working and had asked her to stop working and now she is just looking after the house, as her husband had left her when the kids were very small. And she use to struggle with her life but was a very wonderful lady and trust worthy.
Then I found this another lady when I was in Fiji, she too was just wonderful worked with me for 4 years she use to do all the work from cleaning to cooking etc etc...........nothing for me to do........even when I use to be in India for holidays she use to cook for my DH taking care of likes and dislikes. You are right such maids you really feel like doing something for them. For the Indian one use to help her in education of her kids. But the fiji one she had no one no wishes but just work and work..........but whenever back from India would give her something or the other, use to be very happy............after that no maids ................haha doing everything on my own, but sometimes u need someone to work but u don't get maids in all the countries.............

We too are blessed with a good help who works for my ils in Mumbai. She also knows all our relatives and their likes and dislikes...we just don't have to worry about anything when she is around.

But my help in Pune...she is double the age of the one in Mumbai...has been with us for almost 18 months...still she dosen't know our likes and dislikes...she is more keen in watching the tv than taking care of the family members...i tolerate her only coz she is honest...have not lost anything so far (touchwood) and is presentable. But workwise sometimes .

Originally Posted by Arunarc

Dear Kamalji
A nice write up on maids. Sometimes these maids are really a bless...........
I had one when I was in India for 9 yrs she use to do everything but after I left india no idea where did she go once during my visit to India I had met her. She was very happy as both her boys had grown up and working and had asked her to stop working and now she is just looking after the house, as her husband had left her when the kids were very small. And she use to struggle with her life but was a very wonderful lady and trust worthy.
Then I found this another lady when I was in Fiji, she too was just wonderful worked with me for 4 years she use to do all the work from cleaning to cooking etc etc...........nothing for me to do........even when I use to be in India for holidays she use to cook for my DH taking care of likes and dislikes. You are right such maids you really feel like doing something for them. For the Indian one use to help her in education of her kids. But the fiji one she had no one no wishes but just work and work..........but whenever back from India would give her something or the other, use to be very happy............after that no maids ................haha doing everything on my own, but sometimes u need someone to work but u don't get maids in all the countries.............

Dear Aruna,

Yes it is difficult to get good maids, and that too sincere and honest, and who treat yr house ans their own.One of the sisters got married and has a baby boy, a cute fellow, and the other sister dosnt want to get married, and works from hiome, putting saree falls and making a decent package.

We still keep in touch, and they are a blessing for us.Regards.kamal

Hi Kamalji,
My hats off to you n ur family for the great jesture to S&K..And again S&K deserve this too..i understand from what u have writtern that they are so kind and good hearted girls(woman now).You are so lucky to have them as ur maids....

Hello Kamalji,

Nice to have that kind of maids ( daughters.).I am really tired now of all these housekeeping and badly need one maid.I badly miss one.

Originally Posted by roopadadia

We too are blessed with a good help who works for my ils in Mumbai. She also knows all our relatives and their likes and dislikes...we just don't have to worry about anything when she is around.

But my help in Pune...she is double the age of the one in Mumbai...has been with us for almost 18 months...still she dosen't know our likes and dislikes...she is more keen in watching the tv than taking care of the family members...i tolerate her only coz she is honest...have not lost anything so far (touchwood) and is presentable. But workwise sometimes .

Dear Roopa,

Yes i can say we were lucky to hae these two girls work for us.They stayed bang opp our house in Govt Quaters, and her mother was cfomfortable with them working here, than in other houses, as there were no boys, so that was a bonus for us really.

I can understand yr problems,they are everywhere.

these days i have another advantage.I have my house on the ground floor, and first and second floor i have my office where ladies and gents work for the garment exports.

So when my present maid dosnt turn up, a few of the ladies go down and help in the household, so i am never short of working staff at home.

If i may, a few tips to keeep a domestic help happy, which i follow.Here goes

1) i have done their mediclain for 25000/- for a select staff of mine, whose yearly premium of around 400 i pay.so if they ever are hospitalized for any reason, they get the claim from the mediclaim.That is harldy 40/- a month.But the impression is that the boss is so good he thinks of our welfare, that they dont leave our work even if offered more in the neighbourhood.

One of the ladies on my say so, got her husband covered with her own money for 25,000/- and i pay hers from my pocket.

A few months back hemet with an accident, not serious but he got a claim of 4000 from mediclaim.They are so thankful to me for getting it done, though for the husband she had paid it.

2) I deposit 100 per child of the select staff in the post office recurring deposit.That too plays a big part in me retaining the staff.

Try out these and they will remain faithful for years, for u think of them and their kids furture.

At least it has worked in my case since the last 25 years.

Regards.kamal

Hi Kamalji,
I guess, your family was blessed to have these kinds of trust worthy people.
I am glad that you guys helped them during their marriage time and good to know that elder one is happy with her own family now.
Not everyone gets these kinds of good people.
I guess, its also from your side of love and affection which made them to stick on for years together...

Regards.

Wow Kamalji. It is hard to find employers like you and maids like Suman and Koka.

It was probably one of those rare occurrences where both parties were equally warm, honest, committed to helping each other in their own ways. Suman and Koka in lessening the burden of household chores for you, being honest in their behavior and taking care of all of you like a family member would. In return you gave them lots of affection, a better quality daily life than what they would've had otherwise and of course the money that their house probably needed so much. A perfect relationship where both benefited equally.

I can imagine one thing though; that the abundant love and affection that your family showered on them must be the thing they miss the most even today. One can earn money but to get warmth, affection and respect from another human is something that one can toil for but may never get. I am happy for them that they were a part of your family.

SS

Originally Posted by aishu22

Hi Kamalji,
My hats off to you n ur family for the great jesture to S&K..And again S&K deserve this too..i understand from what u have writtern that they are so kind and good hearted girls(woman now).You are so lucky to have them as ur maids....

Dear Aishu,

Suman whi is unmarried yet, came over yesterday to meet my Mom, and mom told her to make Karela's, and the poor girl toiled for a good 2 hours to make them.Sweet girl.We were fortunate to have them, as labour is very difficult in jaipur.Regards.kamal