Things have been going from bad to worse ever since my husband decided to have a democratic method of functioning at home. That he believes in cornering 50% of voting rights, magnanimously distributing the rest between the three of us in the ratio of 20:15:15, is another matter. The hitherto successful system of authoritarian rule had been discarded for a system, which has led the household haywire.
No sooner is a member berated for an errant behavior, the rest gang up and called for a ‘healing touch’ to assuage the hurt feelings of the anguished party. They also demand adequate compensation from the perpetrator of the heinous act. In most cases the offender is truly yours. As a result I am always under debt requiring all sorts of ‘financial aid’ from the richer members.
If it is his way of getting back at me for my past autocracy, the spouse is having the last laugh ever since the family voted for democracy. For every little matter that I try to sweep under the carpet, there is an outcry for a presentation of a ‘White Paper’ at the breakfast table. The expenses and budgets are scrutinized with an alarming regularity. No longer am I able to feed my overfed ‘Piggy’ with the leftover cash after the shopping spree without someone pointing out the irregularity. The word ‘Scam’ comes up with a dangerous frequency.
While I never really imagined a day when I shall be forced to seek mandate on the proposals regarding the purchase of my kitchen arsenal, I had definitely visualized some encroachment into my domain. Whether it is the destination for our next holiday, an outlay of the next budget or the installation of a new gadget, each matter has to bear the stamp of approval from the ‘Home Parliament’. There are no appointments, no portfolios; everything depends on the crucial count of votes. The only cabinet I can boast of is the one in my kitchen.
Since I have never been diplomatic, my brash comments often attract a lot of brickbats. The spouse, however, diplomatically ‘abstains’ from voting for my impeachment on such occasions. But that does not prevent him from demanding a ‘kickback’ for the favour at a later date.
I had not realised the full implication of the problems of democracy till I required a majority of votes to sway the decision to my choice regarding the ‘New Year Eve’ programme as against that of my husband. I toiled all day, canvassing for a night out to save myself from the drudgery of a party at home proposed by the spouse. I was horrified when I discovered that a lot of ‘horse trading’ had taken place behind my back when my proposal was vetoed 3:1. Since the members of our ‘Home Parliament’ did not possess Swiss accounts, they had stashed the cache in their almirahs, which were duly discovered when I cleaned out their closets.
It wasn’t until I had enrolled the members to do ‘Kar Seva’ in the kitchen to prepare for the party that I realised that the system had certain redeeming features. After demolishing my plans, the ‘Kar Sevaks’ happily lent their hand to build up my hopes for a nice ‘New Year Party’.
Close
Thanks Amit!
You are right, there can be no democracy without politics nor humour without satire.....
Tanushree
Reply | | Report Abuse
Nice post. Enjoyed it.
Just thinking - Can there be democracy without politics?
Or perhaps - Can there be humour without satire?
Improbable!
-Amit.
Reply | | Report Abuse
Thanks happyheart!
Nice to see you here....
tanushree
Reply | | Report Abuse
very good blog. witty and amusing.
Reply | | Report Abuse
Hi Sue,
My tongue is mostly in my cheek....even when I am writing on serious matters..I truly believe it keeps me going..
Thanks Sue, for visiting.
Tanushree
Reply | | Report Abuse
Hi Shail,
Nice to have you back here. Thanks pal, for your comments....
Tanushree
Reply | | Report Abuse
Thanks goodcritic!
Remember, a laugh a day keeps the doc away....our democracy is geared towards providing those moments of laughter.
Thanks for visiting...
Reply | | Report Abuse
Hi Indu,
Yes, I m the winner, all the way. Women have this innate sense of cunningness in them, you see.....
Thanks so much for being here.
tanushree
Reply | | Report Abuse
Hi Ranjini,
Glad to reciprocate your sentiment. Lobbying in American politics...now that is saying something...thank God I am no Hillary Clinton. An impeached mom.....no way...I'll have to bow out of the House in that case....
Thanks for visiting, Ranjini...Look forward to seeing more of you.
Tanushree
Reply | | Report Abuse
A very enjoyable read, Tanushree. Loved the tongue in the cheek humor.
Sue
Reply | | Report Abuse
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Displaying 1 - 10 of 34 Blog Comments