“It is not super-human strength but years of experience,” I tell the young girls staying in the flat, where I work. They are taken aback when I single-handedly lift the heavy water cans. I used to carry steel pots, when I was a young girl. Our family lived in Pothanur. Those days, there was a lack of drinking water in our neighbourhood. I had to walk to a field, which was a one-and-half mile away from our house. We used to fill water from a pipe, there. And, I would carry back two pots filled with water. It must have strengthened my muscles.
I began to do house work from the age of 10. I was a wisp of a girl. But I cooked, washed dishes and took care of the babies of the big houses. My parents were daily wagers. You can imagine our financial situation. I have not been to school because they did not have the money to educate me.
I am 55 now. I still do the same chores, which I did when I was 10. I work in several homes in an apartment block. I have good relations with all the house owners. I make sure that the family I work for is decent. I will try working in a new place, for a day. If I feel comfortable, I will continue to offer my services.
My day begins at five in the morning. I have four sons and a daughter. The daughter has been married off. I prepare lunch and breakfast, and leave for work. I come to the apartment by nine, collect the garbage from each flat and take it to the common bin. There are four blocks in this building. I work in some of the flats.
There are many young working girls here. Some of them live alone. They are like my daughters. They hand over the keys to me to clean their house, when they leave for work. I wash their clothes and vessels, apart from the routine cleaning. They lead busy lives. Where is the time to look after the house? So, I also tidy their kitchens, book shelves and even make their beds.
I am friends with the other domestic workers in the apartment. We have a break at one in the afternoon. We are exhausted, by then. We have lunch and a quick nap.
My sons ask me to quit this work. They fear for my health. But I do not feel tired or old. Also, the financial situation in the house does not allow me to stop working. I will do my job as long as my health allows me to.
(Bhagi is a domestic worker.)
