Salute To an Unbelievable Human Being

She has always been there and she always will. Centuries of evolution have failed to wipe out her species, and with each generation increases her indispensability as the world gets smarter in science and techonology. The wisecracks claim, that come what may, her position in this world is one that can never get eradicated--and yet one that will never catapult her to the annals of the hall-of-fame! And the wisecracks havent been far from the truth. For since the stone-age, there hasnt been any significant remodelling in her mediocre job profile.

She works an 18 hour shift - wakes up unfailingly to the call of the alarm clock early morning, and embarks on her daily chores. There are no 'Sundays' and public holidays, no Christmas and Diwali break. Infact festival times are the ones, when she gathers the extra ounce of energy she manages to magically produce, and works overtime.

She never fails to make enticing aromas waft from the kitchen, and serves all her culinary delights in shining cutlery - which but adds a silver lining to the perfect dining ambience. She oversees the laundry to .... and with the eye of a hawk, especially on those indelible stains, which are all considered to be a personal 'challenge' for her to get rid off. And lo-behold, when one fine morning, the washing machine decides to take a break - not a soul in the household can get away without a dose of the 'I need that fixed immediately' !!!

She belongs to those, whose bathroom cabinet contains remedies for all times -- right from a bruised knee to the common cold. Besides, she also plays the role of an unauthorized-quack, who has home-made remedies for every little of life's problems.

She vacuums the entire house, with a song on her lips, and gets only a trifle annoyed, when the dog enters with muddy paws, and is compelled to do the job all over again. She is also very particular about neatness, and makes sure that her home is a pleasure to visit for all her guests. She enhances the interiors with fresh flowers every day. Small things in life no doubt, but which do make a difference, especially, when done with love.

She is always there to welcome you at the doorstep, with a smile, when you return home tired and hungry. And her evergreen face, displays a relentless eagerness to get you a hot cup of tea even before you ask for it.

She is perpetually the one to switch off the last light in the evening, and the first one to wake up to the call of the alarm-clock the next morning. Once again starts her 18 hour shift.

She rarely complains and she never gets paid. 'Overtime' aside, there aren't any monetary benefits even for her day to day labour. For that matter, there isn’t much gratitude expressed either, for all her accomplished tasks. And infact she has to very often be the prey to immature tantrums thrown, lest any of her tasks happen to be incomplete. For that matter, no educational institution recognizes her profession and no grades are granted for her superior quality work. She isn’t even entitled for leave and neither can she quit her job. And yet she continues working, and that too uncomplainingly......

I salute her, and I salute her unrecognized profession, because she is one of those, who make our world a better place. I call her a miracle-worker, a blessing in disguise, a fairy godmother and an unbelievable human being. The whole wide world, simply refers to her as: HOUSEWIFE. After all, she has always been there, and she always will !!!

~Tweety