Humar Resources

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hairavi Misra was hearing the complaint again this week. Her father-in-law (who had been a Chief People’s Officer at a large

MNC when he retired) was admonishing his wife: “Come and sit with me, let’s drink tea together! You women don’t know how to live!” Ma: “For 50 years, I have asked you to do just that!” To Bhairavi, who was cooking breakfast, she said, “At 75, he discovers joy in sharing a cup of tea!” Bhairavi smiled but her eyes also did not miss her husband Parmesh’s irritation. Nor did Ma miss it. Sighing deeply she said, “He will be like this till 70. Then, when the world has no use for him, he will ask you to smell the roses or drink tea.” Bhairavi watched Ma closely as she wiped the tray, giving seemingly unnecessary attention to detail. “It’s only a tray, Ma!” she said, to which came the reply: “If it is going out of our kitchen then it should be clean, isn’t it?” Then, smiling and half laughing, Ma said, “These are details which we fret and fuss over. These are unique to our role as care givers. The men will fret and fuss over their role at work. They find the detailing at home silly, just as we find their attention to their office exaggerated.” Bhairavi was surprised, and asked: “What about attention to the home?” Ma said, “All this is your American MNC nonsense. Don’t believe all that. They are not designed for this. Don’t force this role on them; they look best behind a newspaper!” Bhairavi laughed but the battle continued in her heart and head. The past two days had been stressful ever since Parmesh and her elder daughter Radha — who had come home for Christmas the same day — had an explosive showdown. Now, after just two days, Radha was packing to go stay with her maama (uncle) Hari. Bhairavi was the corporate accountant at Kenwa India. On the outside she wore an unquestionable image — sari but elegant, longhaired but smart, tall but docile — so that you did not notice her for anything more than ‘here is a good Indian woman’. Not that she...