Husband
came home jubilantly because he had managed to get a kilogram of onions at half
the market price, thanks to Sheila didi.
“Rotten,”
said Wife in her characteristic laconic way after opening the precious packet
of onions.
“Really?” Husband was agitated. Agitation was his characteristic way. “How could the government sell onions at half
the market price? It has to be
rotten. No dealer will sell onions at
that rate even to the government in these days when governments are dictated to
by traders. The question is why the
media didn’t pick it up.”
“See
this,” said Wife. She showed him the
front page report on his favourite newspaper, The Hindu, which said, “Delhiites say Govt selling ‘rotten’ onions”.
No
wonder there was no rush for onions today, mused Husband who would not have
bought the onions otherwise. But he had
to justify himself before Wife.
So
he said, “I wonder why the media doesn’t pursue the matter beyond the
obvious. For example, where did the
government get the onions from? Was it
from people who were hoarding it with the malicious purpose of raising its
price and then sold it to the government when it started rotting? The big farmers or the wholesale traders made
a deal with the government and the government cheated the people. Simple, you see, darling. Cheating is what life is about today. If you don’t cheat, you are a fool. The media just wants to prove that we are
fools...”
Wife
understood. Her husband was trying his
best not to appear a fool before her.
She smiled.
PS. Not from personal experience. Inspired by the front page report in The Hindu.
I saw that report and a nice take on the sad state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteI'm yet to find out where in Delhi they sell the govt supplied onions :)
DeleteFor the first time in months, talking about onions made me smile :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to entertain you, Khushboo.
DeleteNice Satirical Take. :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed Govt. are cheating the Common People,What Govt. is doing is simply not acceptable on their part,They make money by fooling Indians..That's what they had been doing all these years and will continue to do in future..
ReplyDeleteBut I guess I am lucky to have Onions at Rs 60/kg and not the rotten one.. :D
Onion is a powerful political weapon. It has revealed its claws and fangs earlier too just before elections.
DeleteGood you're lucky.
Amazing read on Onions :P
ReplyDeleteOnion is the new hero :)
DeleteOne of my friends was joking about renaming "Paneer Do Payaza" to "Pyaz Do Paneer" as onion is more valuable than paneer now :)
ReplyDelete"If people don't have onion, let them eat paneer," said the queen!
Deletei didnt read the article though, but it was good to read about the issue. I have started to eat without onions.I feel how the Jain's were so wise about not choosing onions.lol. Great read sir.
ReplyDeleteThe Jains know their onions, Ran.
DeleteI have seen people asking for 100 grams of onions from shopkeepers and vendors!
Very well written. To tell you the truth, I know vendors who supply onions to mart and market. They are paid a very paltry sum of amount wherein these hypercity etc sells it to us at sky rocketing price.
ReplyDeleteDirty politics!
www.numerounity.com
When politics and commerce become bed mates, you can't expect anything better, dear friend.
DeleteWe often forgive the media for its doings, despite it being the fourth pillar of democracy.
ReplyDeleteThe fourth pillar is meant for supporting the other 3: the aristocrats, the politicians, and the traders!
DeleteGood thing you mentioned that it's not a personal experience :P :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha, thanks Pankti.
DeleteThe fact is that I have often got into similar traps :)
Very well written....loved you brought about some entertainment in these rotten times!
ReplyDeleteWe can look forward to more rotten times, Aditi. Today's papers report that the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas are going to be raised. Subsidies will slowly be removed from everything. Private firms will cry hoarse over financial crunch and cut salaries...
DeleteI hope to entertain you in those times too :)
Ha ha ha, this is a nice one on the onions.The first time onions brought a smile instead of tears!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Usha. Your smile makes me happy too.
DeletePerfect ending, exactly how it really is :)
ReplyDeleteSee how onions can make us creative. thanks for the appreciation.
Delete[ Smiles ] Lovely article. However, cheating is highly dishonest!
ReplyDeleteHasn't cheating become an integral part of politics and trade today? The worst thing that happened in the last 2 or 3 decades is the nexus between traders and politicians.
Delete