Mansi, a domestic help - part 1

Mansi, a teenager, is envious of the marigold flower glowing in her house's backyard. "They look beautiful", she smiled. As per her, their life is more effortless and with the blessings of nature, they get free food, sunlight, air, water. Even the bee is not shameful while arranging for pollination, a process humans feel too sacred about. Mansi is tormenting with the ideas of social customs and that they have to be followed without the availability of the resources in return. "More rules for those who have nothing". You are suddenly an outcast from the rest of the disciplined and obedient society if you show resistance. "Where are the toilets? Why do we have to defecate in the open? Why are our schools not having facilities for the making of the aspired man and woman expected from us?". She took birth in a family which has less hold on earning income, and a society divided into thousand layers, economically, socially, politically.

Mansi now works as a part-time domestic worker in a comparatively well-to-do middle-class family. She thinks that it's another world. Their house feels castle-like, as in a fairytale. The people there celebrate everything. They live in bigger space, concrete walls, fitted with electricity and roof to act as the godfather. They also have easier access to the medics. If someone is feeling weak, they provide them healthy nutritious food. If someone is feeling a heavy stomach, they are given medicines and consultations. They have so many books in their house! She cares less for the toys and shining clothes, but food and books! They wash their clothes daily and wear different each day.

Coming back from her school, she heads back to work. The marigold keeps shining in her house when she comes back late in the evening. Mansi starts her day early in the morning. She has to cope with the basic human activities in the morning, not easy in her case. The house doesn't have a toilet, running water and a bathroom. She walks to the nearby hand pump and heads towards the field. While coming back, she carries a bucket of water back to home. The hand pumps are newly installed in the area. Locals feel happy about it. Some feel that since the size of the community is continuously expanding, more permanent solutions should be on the anvil.

Mansi - part 2