Maid um miyaa

Here we go! One more Diwali! Crackers, sweets, new clothes, guests, rangoli. Yes, that was the good part! Buildings catching fire, houses partially and completely eated up by fire caught due to the mishandling of crackers, burnt body part due to carelessness, fire-extinguishers summoned. All this is on a very global front but what happens at home is a personal secret, secretively shared with everyone.
My maid seems a little discontent and disturbed these days. Holi came and went away, Dushera passed by without any festive mood but here come diwali- the festival of lights and inevitable noise pollution! She, the maid in question arrives early morning banging at the door and waking me up from my sweetdream, barging into my room ready to tell me the tall tales of 'dakshees' she received from the various kind-hearted people for whom she cooks and cleans. One is the richie rich who lives in a lavish 17K rented apartment bang opposite to my apartment. He gave Rs.200 and 1/2 kg sweet bought all the way from Delhi. Another is where she was generously given a entire month's salary as the 'bakshees'. Yet another one where she received a saree and cash and sweets. I was wondering... Is she trying to make me jealous by elaborating very efficiently what others gave and making me look down upon myself! I guess that was a very good trick to bring in me the competitve spirit. But I have to take second and third and fourth opinion from my roomies to satisfy the competitive hunger I felt rising deep inside me. So, I went and asked them if they feel the same internal pull and everyone clearly stated their unwillingness to participate in the marathon to famedom among the maid community. There was a sudden dip in my desire to elevate my position and I sulked back in bed trying to recollect the dream and wondering about methods to go back to it. The maid wasnt satisfied with the ice cold response and the cold revolt began. She demonstrated her frustration and irritability in numerous way, firstly by refusing to wash the utensil which she generously and self-willingly used to clean. She talked less and had a long face and thoughtful mode switched on everytime she entered our apartment. I missed her 16-teeth-prutruding-outward-smile. She asked Poornima to get anklet from her hometown as she was leaving for home and enquired everyday if it was going to be bought and brought! Her daughter was in dire need of it and it seems that she had treatened with suicide if the anklet was not made available at the earliest. Poornima returned without the object of desire but the responsibility to buy one was passed over to Ashwini who was on holiday as well.
The news that Poornima arrived without the anklet left Archana shattered but she managed to postpone her daughters' suicide attempt for a few more days. We bought her a saree and she immediately rejected it when we delined to offer her money on top of this. She complained that the saree is worth Rs. 100 and clearly mentioned that it was way below her standard but yet she would take it if and only if extra money was 'wishfully' and 'willingly' given.
The match is still going on and Ashwini's arrival is awaited. If she brings the anklet then the peace and calm of the inhabitants can be restored or else.....