I had never imagined, that disposing garbage would become a ticklish issue for us some day. Three decades ago, in New Delhi,there was this system of the Jamadars coming every day, to clean the toilets and pick up garbage for disposal.(I am not aware if that system still exists).They formed a union and a specific number of persons would be allotted a number of houses for cleaning.
The man who used to come to our house was around 25 years old and a non-stop chatter box.His work was very clumsy and irritated me but I had to put up with him.One day,his detestable behaviour confounded me and we ended up quarelling over a trivial issue.I was so vexed and upset, that it led to my husband pushing him out of the door forcibly and ordering him to leave. He left muttering and to my dismay, a group of his people had gathered outside within minutes, hurling abuses at us. I was distraught at the state of affairs! They accused us of beating the man.(Imagine our plight if my husband had really beaten him !).We remained behind closed doors, not willing to come out and face the sudden animosity that had developed between us. The crowd left, shouting that no one would work for us hereafter.
From the next day, began the onerous task of disposing the garbage.Till that day, we had no idea where they were taking all the garbage. Anyhow, now we had to take the task upon ourselves. Those days, New Delhi was a much cleaner city and one could not find litter on the roads as seen today.So, my husband set out to spot the nearest dumping yard, which happened to be almost a kilometer away. The disposal could not be done in the day time,since we wanted to avoid the stares of servants & jamadars in the area.. Thus my husband donned the role of bread-winner in the day time and garbage disposer after dusk!
"Operation Garbage" would take place only at night. The plastic bag containing garbage would be placed in yet another presentable bag and carried by my husband, as though he is delivering a parcel at some one's place or going shopping ! He would walk down the street stealthily, to avoid the prying eyes of our captious landlord.Why all this was done in a hush-hush manner God alone knows! May be we wanted to shield our embarrassment !
My husband would drive on his scooter to the garbage dump after dark every day and hurl the bag with great expertise!(thanks to his bowling ability in cricket).Unlucky times, his clumsy handling would land the garbage bag near someone's door and he would immediately take to his heels (in which case he would be chased by stray dogs for quite a distance). We have to thank our stars, for those were not the days of terrorist attacks, or else he would have been arrested on suspicion!
Sometimes a visitor or a close friend who came to our house would be promised a lift back home and he would be most lovingly requested to carry the garbage bag to be thrown on the way in some dumping yard.The scene would be reminiscent of Karan Johar handing the gift hamper to his star guests at the end of his programme! I am sure the poor friend would have regretted his visit !
Two weeks later,we were jubilant over the arrival of my brother to spend his holidays with us.My dear brother would not have guessed what was in store!My husband in particular, leaped with joy, since then onwards my brother would be the pillion rider carrying the garbage bag. This arrangement went on smoothly for a week, by which time the Jamadars' group came to us to apologize. They said that we were "good madrasis" and we should forgive them for the man's odious behaviour. And we heaved a sigh of relief !
The man who used to come to our house was around 25 years old and a non-stop chatter box.His work was very clumsy and irritated me but I had to put up with him.One day,his detestable behaviour confounded me and we ended up quarelling over a trivial issue.I was so vexed and upset, that it led to my husband pushing him out of the door forcibly and ordering him to leave. He left muttering and to my dismay, a group of his people had gathered outside within minutes, hurling abuses at us. I was distraught at the state of affairs! They accused us of beating the man.(Imagine our plight if my husband had really beaten him !).We remained behind closed doors, not willing to come out and face the sudden animosity that had developed between us. The crowd left, shouting that no one would work for us hereafter.
From the next day, began the onerous task of disposing the garbage.Till that day, we had no idea where they were taking all the garbage. Anyhow, now we had to take the task upon ourselves. Those days, New Delhi was a much cleaner city and one could not find litter on the roads as seen today.So, my husband set out to spot the nearest dumping yard, which happened to be almost a kilometer away. The disposal could not be done in the day time,since we wanted to avoid the stares of servants & jamadars in the area.. Thus my husband donned the role of bread-winner in the day time and garbage disposer after dusk!
"Operation Garbage" would take place only at night. The plastic bag containing garbage would be placed in yet another presentable bag and carried by my husband, as though he is delivering a parcel at some one's place or going shopping ! He would walk down the street stealthily, to avoid the prying eyes of our captious landlord.Why all this was done in a hush-hush manner God alone knows! May be we wanted to shield our embarrassment !
My husband would drive on his scooter to the garbage dump after dark every day and hurl the bag with great expertise!(thanks to his bowling ability in cricket).Unlucky times, his clumsy handling would land the garbage bag near someone's door and he would immediately take to his heels (in which case he would be chased by stray dogs for quite a distance). We have to thank our stars, for those were not the days of terrorist attacks, or else he would have been arrested on suspicion!
Sometimes a visitor or a close friend who came to our house would be promised a lift back home and he would be most lovingly requested to carry the garbage bag to be thrown on the way in some dumping yard.The scene would be reminiscent of Karan Johar handing the gift hamper to his star guests at the end of his programme! I am sure the poor friend would have regretted his visit !
Two weeks later,we were jubilant over the arrival of my brother to spend his holidays with us.My dear brother would not have guessed what was in store!My husband in particular, leaped with joy, since then onwards my brother would be the pillion rider carrying the garbage bag. This arrangement went on smoothly for a week, by which time the Jamadars' group came to us to apologize. They said that we were "good madrasis" and we should forgive them for the man's odious behaviour. And we heaved a sigh of relief !
