We once had a cleaning woman called Anita, who came to help us with our domestic work. This is quite routine here in India although it's practically unheard of in my part of the world. The cleaning lady helps us to sweep and wash our floors every morning and wash our dishes and utensils too. Her husband Ram Lal had no job. He used to accompany her, sitting outside the house. He used to bring their baby daughter Gomti along too Gomti is the name of the river which runs through Lucknow. The name was perfect for this little girl, aged about two. She was very dark and had the cutest face I'd ever seen. Short black hair, really chubby cheeks and a nose like a little button. Not to mention the beautiful black brown eyes. I had two kids of my own at the time, Neil aged four and Mel aged two, but I became very fond of Gomti. Sometimes I used to give her biscuits. I found her very responsive and sometimes I talked to her in Hindi, but with my level of Hindi and her age, t
An Irishwoman living an East/West Life