*WARNING -- PLEASE READ FIRST
This is a story set in the India. It involves nonconsensual activities and power inequality. As such, racism, abuse and rape are part of the story. If you are not comfortable with these topics, I urge you NOT to read on. Thank you. Please note: all characters are over the age of legal consent (18 years of age or over).
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Robert Hamilton was a mid-level executive for a multinational industrial conglomerate - you know the one, you see them sponsoring the Olympics or World Cup. But his life's goal was to leave the United States and work overseas. He had always been an avid traveler, but he figured the expat life was for him. Finally, at the age of 36, he got his big break - a two year posting to India. It was a dream come true.
So, one December, Robert found himself moving to India for his mega company. They had arranged for him to have a very nice four bedroom home on the outskirts of the city. It was block construction, similar to a townhouse back in the United States.
One of the terrific perks of an expat assignment is the domestic help. The company provided him with a car and driver, plus a small stipend for domestic help. The goal was for the stipend to cover a single domestic servant. Robert began the process of hiring someone who could cook and clean for him. Through his relocation specialist, he placed an ad in the local English-speaking publication.
The following week, he began interviews at his home. All of the candidates spoke perfect English and all were expensive, consuming his entire stipend (and some of the help were even more expensive so he would be paying out of pocket). None of them seemed like a fit - all of them were older, most in their late 40s. Near the end of the day, he met with an older gentleman, Sunil, in his late 50s who was only a cook. There had been a mix-up in his application. Robert instantly hit it off with the older gentleman. The bonus was that he was cheap and would only cost Robert about 65% of his stipend. At that rate, he could get a second person as a housekeeper.
As the day concluded, he had a cook who would start the following day, but he still needed a housekeeper. The relocation specialist conveyed that there would be nobody else suitably qualified. Robert wondered how in a country of billions of desperately poor there couldn't be anyone suitable.
The following morning, Robert asked his cook Sunil how there couldn't be a suitable housekeeper. Sunil told him, "Well, that depends on your definition of suitable. You will probably not find someone who speaks English. And you will probably not find someone your neighbors won't look down on."
Robert asked, "What the hell does that mean?"
"Have you heard of the caste system? Of the untouchables? Someone of the lowest caste that they are unworthy of your time, unworthy of the air they breathe. People in India hold them as walking trash - nearly the waste of a life."
Robert had heard of this. But he didn't put much stock in such things. He asked, "Do you know anyone who would work for the amount I can pay?"
Sunil answered slowly, "I do not. And I do not hold such opinions, however, it is very culturally taboo. However, I can make inquiries."
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Nothing more was spoken on the topic for several days. One morning in mid-December, Sunil told Robert that he had found several individuals of an undesirable caste who would welcome the employment. If it pleased Robert, they could all come the following day.
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The next morning, Robert woke up and set about straightening up. He did not want his future housekeeper to think he were a pig. Sunil showed all three in and Robert met with each individually, with Sunil acting as a translator.
Each of the three women were in their mid-40s with older children in their home -- they moved slowly and Robert wondered if they were lazy. Two actually spoke very limited English, but the third did not have any English skills. Unfortunately, two were "hygienically challenged." Robert was not impressed. He told them he would consider that evening and send word with Sunil. The three women left and Sunil took his leave to begin making dinner.
The bell rung and with Sunil cooking, Robert answered the door. Before him stood a most beautiful young Indian woman. On seeing Robert she lowered her eyes and spoke quickly in Hindi.
Robert had no clue what she was saying. He yelled "Sunil!" into the kitchen and the old man came running. Sunil took one look at the girl and Robert could see the shock in his face. Sunil began speaking quickly with the girl for several minutes who was answering him respectfully.
"Excuse me," Robert said. "But what does she want?"
"Sir, this is the daughter of the last woman you met this morning." Robert's thoughts returned to only hygienic candidate. "She would not marry the man her parents chose for her, so she has been thrown out and is now forced to find work. She is inquiring about the position."
Robert asked, "Do you know her? What can you tell me of her?"
Sunil answered, "Her name is Piya. She does not have much formal schooling. She is 19 and her parents had an arranged marriage for her, also to another untouchable. But she refuses to marry him. She has a reputation for being a bit rebellious and got into trouble when she was younger. But she is a hard worker. I have known the family for many years." Piya kept her head down, but was casting quick glances at the two men talking.
"How much?" Robert asked.
"Sir, if I may. That is now how you deal with them. You tell them what you will offer. They take the job or not. Piya is quite anxious for work and given her situation, you can get her cheaply."
