Inspired by her friends, my mother started a new tradition in our home last night. She invited the family of our maid Madina to come home for dinner. She had earlier sent dad and me off to buy all the groceries and special food was prepared for them. We all ate together and had a lovely conversation as well.

This is the first time we have ever done anything like this in our family. It felt surreal to see Madina’s whole family sitting on our couch and eating with us on our dining table. This was specially significant for me as I remember having bitter arguments with my mother as a kid about why our staff couldn’t use the same utensils and furniture as us! It would always end in her crying and then I had to back down. So you can imagine how amazing it was for me to see my mom organize this Diwali dinner on her own initiative.

Madina and her family at our home for dinner

It was also a humbling experience for me and made me realize anew what a privileged life we lead. As we spoke to them I learned more about their family and realized some of their struggles. They bought a small home a couple of years back, but the terms of interest were so high that they now owe back as much money as the value of their property itself! Local money lenders often exploit the poor in this way. They are thinking of selling their home as a result. Their elder son could not go to college so he could help pay the loan. He now works late into the night to earn a meager wage. Husband is a laborer. Son has an aptitude for computers but the family is too poor to afford one. Younger son is in the ninth grade but looks tiny for his age. Turns out he almost died of typhoid last year. He was smiling the whole evening. –

This is our other maid Meena. She lost her husband nine months ago in a car accident. She now works in six houses to support her family. She told me she makes food for her own kids in the morning, then cooks in six houses all day, then returns home to cook dinner for her own family again. She said on most days she has no appetite left after being around food the whole day! This brave woman earns Rs.25,000 a month through sheer hard work. I’ve never seen her frown or complain. Could it be that the great teachers we are all looking for are working in our own homes? –

As I drove them home I realized how far our maid lives. It took us forty five minutes one way in our car, and she comes without one, managing with public transport or depending on her husband to drop her. She comes early morning and goes home in the evening. I feel if more people visited the homes of their domestic staff and realized the context of their lives, they would not be so quick to judge them for being late or for other things.

On our way back home my mom commented that she had always been invited by Madina for festivals like Eid and the marriage of their daughter. She and dad attended these events to their family’s great delight. Mom said it had never occurred to her that she had never invited their family over to our home! Isn’t it amazing how the hearts of the poor can be so large! They are certainly not poor in love, generosity and spirit. Mom said she felt content and peaceful after having them over for dinner. It was clear that we received more than we gave last night.

It looks like this is the beginning of a beautiful new tradition in our family, which I hope we will only enhance as time goes on. It touched and opened my heart in many ways. I’ve asked their son to send me specs of the computer he needs and I’m going to see how we can arrange that for him. It doesn’t take much to make a big difference in someone’s life!

– Written by Nithya Shanti here and republished with permission in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan