Jia was pressing her clothes when she heard the whistling sound, indicating that the person who takes the daily garbage had arrived. She opened the door and kept the carry bags of the waste materials outside. She saw that a new woman had come that day to collect garbage. She was a dark-skinned, tall and well-built woman in her forties. She was wearing a khaki coloured saree which was torn and untidy. She smiled at Jia and said, "Biwiji I am Geeta. I shall be collecting the garbage from your locality from now on."
As she smiled her teeth revealed that she chewed tobacco, and the profession in which she was had induced a very unpleasant smell from her body. Jia didn't say anything, just handed over her garbage to the woman. Geeta was perspiring a lot due to the heat outside and she asked for a glass of water. Jia fetched her water in a disposable glass. Even from the distance that she handed over the glass to Geeta, she could inhale the sweaty odour of the garbage collecting lady's body. Jia couldn't bear it much and hence went back a few steps to a safer distance.
Geeta drank the water in one go and said, "Thanks Biwiji, you are very sweet." Jia just faked a smile and didn't say anything. Geeta threw the glass in the garbage bag and left.
Jia was a young housewife aged 27, newly married and living with her husband Akash. Although the marriage seemed perfect on seeing from outside, a big problem existed inside. Akash was not at all good at sex and after a year of marriage Jia was starting to feel frustrated as almost every night Akash would bring fire to her loins, only to cum himself and leave Jia on her own afterwards. Akash worked in a big multinational firm and most of the days would return home tired. So, Jia's frustration only increased with time.
When Akash left Jia was all alone and with every progressing day she felt more and more frustrated. She wanted to have some company, a friend with whom she could talk, or share her thoughts. But the people of society were mostly bachelors and working, and Jia couldn't find anybody suitable to be friendly with, or even to start a conversation. She went shopping for a few days, watched movies but nothing could help her out.
Even on Sundays and holidays Jia couldn't find any happiness as Akash would take rest the entire day and also make Jia serve him even more, for example clipping his nails, making tea for him frequently etc. Jia really longed for some quality time but it wasn't there. Little did she know that a revolution was about to come in her life in the form of Geeta.
From then on Geeta visited everyday and collected the daily garbage. Jia felt that though Geeta was not a good looking person but she had an air of self-confidence. She was a very cheerful person and always smiled while greeting whenever Jia opened the door for her. Her cheerfulness made Jia jealous that a garbage collecting lady like Geeta was so happy, unlike her. Jia's frustrations started to show on her face. Geeta noticed that and one day she asked, "Biwiji are you alright? You don't seem happy to me."
Jia was taken aback by the question and also got angry. She said sternly, "What makes you think so?"
Sensing the sternness in her voice Geeta replied, "Sorry Biwiji, don't get me wrong. I just said what I felt. You are such a beautiful woman. Look at your beauty, you are God's special creation. But you always seem to be very lonely and unhappy. I am all alone in this world and hence I can understand that frustration. I have encountered these times but then I decided one day I will never be sad and always be cheerful and happy. I apologize to you if I have said anything wrong."
Jia couldn't say anything. Geeta was right and Jia was ashamed that she had noticed her frustrations. But what could she do if she didn't get the right support from her husband? Even though they were a couple Jia seemed to be all alone just like Geeta.
Geeta broke the awkward silence by saying, "Don't worry Biwiji, you will find happiness very soon. I will pray to God for you. See I am just a garbage collector. But everyday I tell myself that I am doing my bit towards the cleanliness mission of the government. Maybe my job is not the best, but it has dignity. So, I am happy."
Jia realised that Geeta was actually being very nice to her and hence her previous anger subsided. She realised that this dark-skinned, sweat-smelling lady was a good person at heart. She looked into Geeta's eyes and said, "Thank you."
Geeta smiled and said, "No need to thank me Biwiji. Now let me take the garbage."
Geeta took the waste bags and left, Jia was left in a chain of thoughts.
On a very hot day a very sweaty Geeta after collecting the garbage wiped her forehead with the pallu of her saree and said, "Biwiji may I sit for sometime here in your verandah? It is very hot outside and I will just take a few minutes rest."
Jia said, "Yes you may but don't you have more garbage to collect?"
Geeta replied, "No Biwiji, your house is my last for the day. I shall now go to the dumping yard and throw all the garbage."
The smell of the garbage that was kept in Geeta's bag outside was making Jia uncomfortable and hence she longer wanted to stay there. Seeing her uneasiness Geeta said, "Biwiji don't worry I won't be long. You may carry on with your work."
Jia said, "It is ok. You sit."
Geeta replied, "It is really very sweet of you to say so."