Bik Een Part II

Bik Een arrived on a hot January 2006. The whole family including little Ilena waited anxiously at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Rudi went to look out for her. And came back worried because he could not locate her. Suddenly, two Indonesian ladies appeared next to us. Bik Een was here! Her agent had brought her through. She looked very happy and we responded to her cheery disposition. Ilena reached out to her. It was quite amazing.

On the way back, we did not want to overwhelm her, so we let the children ask her the innocent questions children put forth. Bik shared the room with Ilena and Irani and quickly settled in.

Our life was never quite the same again. Ilena was 'little boss' and we never thought we would find someone really 'Mother Goosy'. Our priority were the children and family areas, we would take care of our own rooms. But Bik Een quickly took charge of the younger children, cleanliness and a bonus - the garden. Passionfruit, ciku, guava, herbs and more bloomed. The neighbourhood commented how Bik made sure the children got on their buses everyday and faithfully waited for them every afternoon when they finished school.

Bik, in turn, was very proud that she was a maid with full legal papers, and treated like one of the family. She went to the surau and followed us on outings. Nanny Mc Phee was the first movie we took her to. Life was tranquil. In the beginning we cooked together, then gradually I cooked on weekends and Inas took over desserts. Bik became more and more adept and creative in the kitchen. The garden herbs worked wonders! Bik's sambal became her trademark!

Eight months later, Ikesha arrived, a healthy bouncing 3.3kg baby! And she became the apple of Bik's eye. She could do no wrong, was totally pampered and adored by Bik. It was up to me for all disciplining. While I assigned and made up homework for Irani and Ilena, Bik made sure they completed all of it. The girls learnt to count and throw rubbish the right way from Bik, Bik learnt English from the girls. We welcomed all the girls' friends with strict rules, which Bik enforced and reported any possible incidents! Bik immediately chided kids who were a tad rude and the kids from the neighbourhood complained to the girls especially Irani about her strict Bik, and I liked it that way.

Then suddenly, in 2008, Bik often became ill. And one day she fainted at Mid-Valley mall.

Doctors were baffled by her condition and weight-loss.

To be continued.