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Malgudi Days - मालगुडी डेज - Episode 41 - A Willing Slave - आया
No one knew her name, from when she went, or came - for the family she was just ‘Ayah’*. A willing slave to cook and care for the three children, keep a stern eye on the other servants and to generally keep the house in running order - all for a pittance of a sari and a few rupees a month. The only sign of any family of her own were two hefty, sullen men in their early 40’s who would come to collect a part of her meager salary which she gave willingly. The story features ‘The Ayah’ and Little Radha (the smallest of the children) - their unique relationship where each indulges the other’s fantasy till one day when the Ayah leaves to becomes a willing slave for yet someone else. Everyone from eight to eighty will identify with this bitter - sweet tale. For the ‘Ayah’ forms an important figure in the Indian household. And for the Western world, our central character would be quite, quite unbelievable yet, about a Mother figurine.