Book Review: Maidless in Mumbai by Payal Kapadia

Lazy and ambitious people living in the metro cities that are totally depended on maids for every inch of work will definitely love this book because it explores the behavioral nature of urban maids and how people suffer when they fail in finding the perfect one. Well, the tone of the book is quite humorous…indeed!

Anu is a first-time mom in Mumbai, by profession she is a journalist. She has tough life post being mother and it becomes difficult when she finds no capable or credible maid coming to support her early mommy days. The story has been told from a new mother’s point of view. At one instance it has been mentioned subtly that men are lucky that they aren’t too dependent on maids for chores and fatherly duties.

Payal's language is simple and refreshing as she describes the protagonist Anu's life right from the day of the birth of her daughter to a year and a half later. Her writing style seemed a bit like Mrs. Twinkle Khanna.

At times it happens that a maid, who is in service at your feet for twenty long years, finally one day decides to retire or wishes to return hometown. That is the time when homeowners grow hostile against her and forget that long period of service. But it should not be forgotten that everything comes with an expiry date, even the maids. No matter how wonderful and marvelous people in our lives are, at the end of the day, human beings will have their breaking and parting points.

Experienced and endured mothers may relate with her (Anu’s) predicament at being a first-time mom. It may remind many of them their own experiences. If you want to read something light, funny and relatable to every Indian home, read this book.

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