On a regular February afternoon, a woman in Urban Company’s indigo-blue uniform came knocking on this reporter’s door. 

“We are from Urban’s Instahelp,” she announced. “The company has launched domestic-worker services at Rs 99 per hour. If you help me with your number, I will give you a discount of Rs 100. Our three visits will then cost just Rs 198,” she said, ready to note down details.

A month later, the same service—three one-hour sessions of cleaning, doing dishes, or ironing—is........

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