She hardly knew to read and write, but was an excellent cook. She was in her late teens. She had never seen face of school, but was well aware of what was the fashion of the season. Her name was Babli. She was the domestic help of the senior advocate whom I was assisting. Since my boss had office at her residence, I got a chance to meet this interesting character. Babli was tall,  had dark complexion and a slender frame. Her face was full of pimples. She was the daughter of my boss’s maid and was brought up at my boss’s farm house.

            Surprisingly, although she was working at an advocate’s residence she did not even know how to read numbers. If Babli was home alone and some one called up on the land line, she would rudely say, “Sahab nahin hey. Aap baad mein call karo” and bang the phone. If the person on line asked for fax or cell number she angrily reply, “ Bola na baad mein phone karo”. The callers when called latter used to complain us that our receptionist is too rude. We used to tell them that she is not our receptionist, but our maid servant.

            Babli used to be so engrossed in domestic chores that she hardly got a chance to step out of the house. She used to hand over to me the money for buying stuff like bindis, powder, lipstick and ribbons.

            Babli was also partner in crime to my boss’s teenage daughter Tina. They used to share their love lives. Babli used keep our boss in dark as regards the frequent home visits of Tina’s boyfriend and would also ensure that the couple got requisite privacy.

            In the absence of my boss Babli behaved like the Princess of marquee. She used to watch T.V. programs of her choice, eat expensive dry fruits from the kitchen and sing and dance to the tunes of loud film songs.

            The court vacations were approaching. One evening Babli told me that she was going out during the vacation. “With whom?”, I asked in a teasing tone .She blushed and told me that she was visiting her mother at the farm house and then was going to Khandala with her boyfriend. I did not bother to ask her boyfriend’s name.

            As scheduled Babli visited her mother but never returned. One morning my boss said to me, “These servants try to avoid work all the time. That stupid Babli was having an affair with our driver- Salim. See the courage of this girl, she even told her mother about her relationship. Hence her mother resolved not to return her to Mumbai. I have even sacked Salim. Ramu our office boy will look after the domestic chores hence forth.”

            After two weeks I received a call from Babli. She asked me to return her twenty rupees which she had given me for buying powder at the hands of her relative who was visiting Mumbai shortly. She also told me the reason for not returning. Our office boy Ramu was wooing Babli for a very long time. But Babli did not respond as she was in love with Salim. Being aggrieved by the fact that Babli did not pay any heed to his advances, Ramu called up her mother and told her about her affair. He also poisoned my boss’s mind against Salim. Thus, Babli’s love story came to an end.