A year ago, an incident occurred that forever changed my perception of everyday interactions. As a 25-year-old man standing 5’9″ with a moderately fit physique, I led a relatively routine life with some regular exercise and a balanced diet. This story revolves around our long-time housemaid, Sheela aunty, who has been working with us for almost six years. Sheela aunty, in her mid-50s, was a woman of striking features, with a dark complexion, perfectly shaped breasts, and long, thick hair that she oiled regularly.

Our conversations were usually limited to mundane topics, such as my college life and the food at my hostel. Sheela aunty worked at three to four houses daily, starting with ours to finish her work early. During the monsoon season, she began arriving half an hour earlier than usual, around 7:30 am, when I was typically still asleep.