Nanny, oh no!

What was really sad about the episode was she left after the toddler had finally taken a liking for her. Specially after the five-month-old snob had initially refused to acknowledge her presence. But this bai from Sawantwadi refused to be snubbed. And yes, she transformed him. He gurgled and laughed out loud when she called him. And then the bombshell.

Oh well, c’est la vie. Back to square one. The hunt begins. Word spreads. The woman from Flat number 301 is on the lookout for a bai. The security watchman starts sending maids. They come in various size and with various attitudes. If one is chewing tobacco, the other’s nails are filthy. If one’s husband is a regular wife beater, the other is deaf in one ear. Then there are some who insist on their transportation costs being covered. Never mind the money offered for the job. Please take care of the conveyance which is suitably jacked up. The search is now narrowed down to a distance of 100 metres from our residence. The eligible women, unfortunately, were not child friendly.

Colleagues offer help. They suggest maids in their areas. Neighbours pitch in. Relatives offer to look after the little one. As for a creche. No way.

Eureka. That’s when we hit upon what we thought was a novel idea — to contact hospitals and doctors. They would know and they did. But as luck would have it, the best of the ayahs had been already taken. As each evening passed by, I would be at the phone calling agencies and ringing up homes for destitute women. Were we being finicky? Certainly not. Met nuns and appealed to parish priests. Yes, we will definitely let you know, they assured us.

Just two days left to return to work. Something has to work fast. My maid who washes utensils and is eight month pregnant herself takes pity on me. She volunteers to take care of the child for a week. And the child likes her. A little more relaxed, we keep up the search.

Then one day the doorbell rings. A lady who speaks English, Hindi and Konkani, who seems soft-spoken and seems to like children, was at our door. Is she the one? Don’t know yet.