Maid in Mumbai or Dirty linen?

So after begging, pleading and threatening for the better part of the last five years, Chrys agreed to buy me a washing machine. All these years we relied on our unpredictable maid(Marriam) to do the washing. She had this habit of going off on leave without any advance warning and turn up a few days later as if nothing had happened. I, while working a stress-filled full time job at the time, would be left to do the housework or beg other maids in the building to do it for the day. Inspite of being willing to pay them a tidy sum, some maids act like they are some superstars being asked for an autograph - it depends on their mood. Since Chrys wouldn't let me buy a washing machine my next solution was to keep a cook who could also do other housework in case the maid didn't turn up. That went well for a while till the cook got pregnant (must have had a power-cut or something - it was before 3G).

Marriam continued with her erratic schedule while I got a new (extremely chatty) cook. One fine day when Marriam didn't show up again, I snapped and sacked her on reassurances from the cook that she could get me a replacement. The replacement however refuses to wash clothes coz she works for up-scale households that own washing machines. She will only extract the clothes from the machine and hang them out to dry (thank you very much). So I finally put my foot down and bought the thingummy. Now the problem is that the new maid (Zubaida is her name... I kid you not) has (in her princess voice) told me that she will come to work at 8 AM sharp by which time the clothes must be washed. Which means I need to wake up at 6 AM and start the damn thing or put it in for delayed wash (which means more electricity consumption). Plus she will charge me the same money I paid Marriam even though washing is not involved... coz I'm being hung out to dry... literally.

Disclaimer: No names have been changed because their identity needs no protection... plus who would want to hide such lovely names.