The Ayah's Tale by Massey Sujata

Author:Massey, Sujata [Massey, Sujata]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

MENAKSHI

Chinsurah

Winter 1924

Julian's inquiry about seeing my family stayed with me for days. I was supposed to be allowed two weeks leave per year to see my family; Mrs. Millings had agreed to it in the job interview one-and-a-half years earlier. But so far, there had been too many complications for her to allow me to leave.

Now it was well past the end of my first year anniversary of working. The letters from home were not coming as often as they had—which worried me. We were a postman's family—letters were like food to us, always had been. Maybe there was no family news because they were struggling; had they no more funds for paper and stamps?

A week after Julian's question, I went to her while she was doing her morning accounts and asked if I could take leave.

"The week before Christmas—and coming back by New Year’s Eve. I know that you'll need me most after the New Year, when you all have the camping trip to the jungle." It was not a holiday, but a time Mr. Millings listened to petitions from the local people, and Mrs. Millings visited with Englishwomen whose husbands had remote postings. The children enjoyed looking for animals, although I'd had to keep a very tight rein on them the previous year we'd gone, in order that they didn't step on snakes or get lost.

"Christmas is a Christian holiday. I can't understand why you want to go just then—"

"I am Christian. That's the chief reason you hired me," I reminded her.

"Don't tell me why I hired you—you can't possibly know, and sometimes, I wonder myself," Mrs. Millings grumbled. "Very well, then, go if you must but certainly return before December 31st. You may pack a small bag—not all your things."

"What do you mean by that, Memsaheb?" I asked, trying to hide my elation at finally being allowed leave.

"Don't run away. So many of the servants go back to their villages for holidays and never return because somebody's sick or they want to get married or help with a sister's baby. I've heard it all before, and I don't want to hear it from you."

I supposed that if Memsaheb wanted me back, this meant she was satisfied with the work I'd been doing. So I bobbed my head and said of course I would return, and it would be with Christmas gifts for all. I was remembering my mother's needlework, of course.

* * *

The train toward my home wasn't one that used the platform I'd always been on before; it was entirely another direction from Calcutta. I checked and re-checked with the ticket agent and other passengers standing, to make sure I wasn't mistaken about this being the Midnapore line. I knew I couldn't afford to lose half a day of my precious break by getting on the wrong train.

As I waited, I recalled how anxious I'd felt that morning as I kissed the children goodbye, worrying they would make trouble for Baby Ayah during the day and wouldn't go to sleep without my stories.

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