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The world as seen by Saloni, a waitress. |
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A HAPPY ENDING I joined the Borivali Bar and Dining Hall last Monday. They will pay me Rs. 300/= everyday. I am expected to wait at tables for 6-8 hours everyday from 7 p.m. till the establishment closes. The job entails looking after and serving mostly male customers. I had no other choice as I have to feed myself, my handicapped younger brother (he is visually challenged) and my aged mother, suffering from diabetic nephropathy(kidney trouble), AND save money for my brother Satish's eye surgery. |
| One of the most strange things happened that evening! A rather tough looking man entered the bar. After a little while, he got up and began to talk to me. Although he looked about 6'2", full of mischief and very lively, I had my doubts about his "decency", as he began his "conversation" with an eyeful at me. He obviously liked what he saw, because he licked his lips and invited me to sit with him at the table. I politely refused, as I do not "give" myself to others. At least until now, I am a virgin. He was not disheartened at all. He laughed a small laugh, and then looked away and into his glass. |
| It is quite apparent to me that the short, dark, brooding chap has taken a liking to me. I wouldn't mind serving him, but I would like him to seek me out. Yesterday night, on an impulse, I left the bar after him, and followed him silently till he reached the bus stand. I don't think he realised that he was being followed, but one can never be 100% certain. He took a bus which had its destination written as ANDHERI: this suburb of Mumbai is about 15 kilometres south of Borivali. I may follow him home one of these days. 24th June. |
| I have seen him take the same chair and table every night for the last few weeks. He is rather dark, a little short, but he keeps looking in my direction whenever he can. Once he even asked his waitress to call me to serve him. Of course, my pal refused, and he did not ask again. He comes in at around half past nine, and orders his favourite brand of Kingfisher beer. He will remain in the same chair at the same table till eleven p.m., after which he leaves. I tried sending one of my bouncer assistants after him to see where he stayed, but my emissary was unable to follow him successfully. He came and told me that the man probably went away by car, since he could not find a trace of that guy within just a few minutes! He seems to be about 25-30 years old, and dresses in a simple pattern with a pant and T-shirt. His tips are just about the right quantity. He is certainly not lavish about tipping, or so Neha, my colleague who has served him a couple of times, says about him. |
It has been a long time since I found time to enter this in my journal...over 3 months! These three months have really been hectic, but on the other hand, there have been redeeming things too. I have not flouted my modesty and will never do so, as my roots are Indian, and Islamic, at that. Men have " touched" me intentionally or otherwise, but it has been a small price to pay. The manager increased my salary to Rs. 350/= per day after one month. Over the last three months, I have made over 25000 rupees, and have spent a large chunk of these in medical expenses for Satish(who got successfully operated) and mom's kidney medicines. Both are faring much better, Alhamdolillah! My own personal expenses have mostly been on buying new dresses, trinkets and jewellery (artificial, of course) and over my new habit (or is it an addiction?) of paan (chewing betel-nut leaves with added condiments and flavours, tobacco, lime and dates folded into a triangular packet). I ingest 7-8 paans daily, and each costs Rs. 5/=, so one can imagine almost 1000-1200 rupees are spent every month in this alone. Mom says she wants me to not have paan, but am I not entitled to spend money the way I want it, since I earn it? More later... |
| My school friends always said that my beauty in the whole classroom was a marvel! I studied in a girls' school, of course, and went to school and returned wearing the veil; so , although it may seem blasphemous, I was very vain, and grudged the fact that there was no one who actually appreciated my beauty, apart from my girl-friends and my family! So,it seems rather strange to have hordes of strangers actually muttering words like "sexy", "are you free tonight" and "wow" just near my ear as I serve drinks to them everyday. My sensibilities are getting offended, and I do not know if I will be able to stay chaste and avoid these advances from day to day.. |
| As I sit and write this journal entry, my mind goes back to my own chidhood days,when I used to have a carefree life. No food to cook, no home to clean, clothes to wash, furniture to wipe, shoes to polish, people to serve or enemies to detest! Such a lifestyle takes just 7-10 years, and then, POOF! it's all over! You are a teen, and then, an adult, and then, a whole list of responsibilities are thrust on you, and the fun of childhood is lost forever. |
| My mother made me eat a dollop of curd before I left the house for my job on the first day. It is considered auspicious to eat curd, jaggery, honey or sugar before exiting the house while embarking on any important mission.She did not even smile, as she had just recently been widowed, and it hurt me to see her shed tears on my departure. " Saloni," she told me with a heavy heart," do everything your boss tells you, but do not do anything that will bring our family name to shame. Do not allow males to touch you!" I said a silent prayer to Allah for mom, and left. When I left the house, I wore a burkha- a veiled dress that we Muslim girls wear. Just before reaching the bar, though, I removed it to expose my modest salwar-kameez. |
| I have always dreamed of becoming someone big. My father came from a backward, traditional Muslim family. He was 46, and died only a month ago from the evil effects of drinking alcohol. It was a dreadful blow to all of us, what with two other sick, invalid people in the family. I had to abandon my college, and take up a job fast, or else, how was I to meet the daily expenses incurred on my brother and mom.An opening was advertised in the Borivali Bar, and I applied. I got the job easily, because of my good looks, young age and proximity of my residence to the bar. |
 Hi, I am Saloni, your friendly neighborhood waitress. But I wasn't a waitress until recently. My papa used to look after all of us, that is me, my younger brother Sohel and our mom Suraiyaa. Sohel is handicapped, and mom has an unknown renal disease, which has shortened her life-span. |
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