Our Mindset Episode 26
One thought dominated my mind—I had to ignore Mangu, Mami, and my husband. I just had to finish my work, take my children, and go to work every day. I packed my lunch and went to Bhabi’s house. She was happy to see me. She had two Jersey cows and said, “If you can’t do weeding, then pluck chilies. I’ll take care of feeding the cattle.”
She handed me a basket and a sack. “Hold the branch, pluck only the thick chilies, don’t pick the small, tender ones. And never pluck chilies without holding the branch, or else the branches will break,” she instructed.
This was my first time doing this kind of work. My father had an acre of farmland, but we always grew sugarcane. We had planted peanuts only once. Bhabi advised, “It’s your first day, so take breaks while working, or you’ll get too tired. You have to come here daily.”
Plucking chilies was easy. I thought, I’ll keep working like this. I’ll use my husband’s earnings for household expenses and save mine. I’ll go home early, water our field, and one day, we’ll grow our own crops. I focused on my work with determination.
Just then, Bhabi asked, “Did you inform your husband before coming?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Then just look toward the pomegranate orchard.”
I turned to see three people standing and watching me—Mangu was saying something loudly to my husband, while Mami stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at us. I couldn’t hear their words, but from their expressions, it was clear they were talking about me.
It was expected. Would they really like it if the wife of their farmworker went to work in someone else’s field?
At six in the evening, I returned home. Mami was waiting for me. “You can handle farm work, right? Then from tomorrow, work in our field for the next five to six days. There’s bud pruning, trellis tying, and corn planting to be done. We need only one worker, so I’m asking you.”
I replied, “I’ll come if you pay me a daily wage.”
She agreed.
I worked as she instructed. I was happy—not only was I earning, but I was also learning how to cultivate crops. Every day, I counted my earnings.
The thought of money kept me from feeling exhausted. I woke up at dawn, cleaned the house, bathed the kids, cooked, did the dishes, and got ready on time for work. I eagerly awaited Sunday—it was payday. But everything I had planned, I had planned alone. I had three bosses there. Would they let me do as I wanted?
On Sunday, I was thrilled. I kept telling my husband, “Don’t spend my money. I want to save it all.”
That day, Mami didn’t come to the farm. Instead, she called my husband to meet her. Even as he left, I reminded him, “Bring my money when you return. Don’t spend it.”
My husband had no bad habits—not even chewing betel nuts.
My work at Mami’s farm was done. From the next day, I had to work at Bhabi’s place. To prepare for the week ahead, I cut and stacked firewood until six in the evening.
When my husband returned from the market, he had bought groceries but didn’t bring my money.
I asked him, “Where’s my pay?”
He replied, “Mami said she’ll give it after she gets her pension.”
Hearing this, I was furious. I had been so happy all day.
At that moment, I decided—I would never work in Mami’s field again. She was smart. She had found the perfect way to get back at me for working at Bhabi’s farm.