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Rotten Onions


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.
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Comments

  1. MridulaOctober 30, 2013 at 7:24 PM

    I saw that report and a nice take on the sad state of affairs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 30, 2013 at 7:38 PM

      I'm yet to find out where in Delhi they sell the govt supplied onions :)

      Delete
  2. KhushbooOctober 30, 2013 at 7:33 PM

    For the first time in months, talking about onions made me smile :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Poonam KhandujaOctober 30, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    Nice Satirical Take. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 30, 2013 at 10:48 PM

    Indeed 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..

    But I guess I am lucky to have Onions at Rs 60/kg and not the rotten one.. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 9:43 AM

      Onion is a powerful political weapon. It has revealed its claws and fangs earlier too just before elections.

      Good you're lucky.

      Delete
  5. On A Good LengthOctober 31, 2013 at 12:19 PM

    Amazing read on Onions :P

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownOctober 31, 2013 at 12:49 PM

    One of my friends was joking about renaming "Paneer Do Payaza" to "Pyaz Do Paneer" as onion is more valuable than paneer now :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 5:31 PM

      "If people don't have onion, let them eat paneer," said the queen!

      Delete
  7. RAN IN JAN October 31, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    i 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 5:34 PM

      The Jains know their onions, Ran.

      I have seen people asking for 100 grams of onions from shopkeepers and vendors!

      Delete
  8. ekta khetanOctober 31, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    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.

    Dirty politics!
    www.numerounity.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 5:36 PM

      When politics and commerce become bed mates, you can't expect anything better, dear friend.

      Delete
  9. SidOctober 31, 2013 at 3:23 PM

    We often forgive the media for its doings, despite it being the fourth pillar of democracy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 5:37 PM

      The fourth pillar is meant for supporting the other 3: the aristocrats, the politicians, and the traders!

      Delete
  10. UnknownOctober 31, 2013 at 4:01 PM

    Good thing you mentioned that it's not a personal experience :P :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 5:38 PM

      Ha ha ha, thanks Pankti.
      The fact is that I have often got into similar traps :)

      Delete
  11. AditiOctober 31, 2013 at 4:05 PM

    Very well written....loved you brought about some entertainment in these rotten times!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 5:40 PM

      We 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...

      I hope to entertain you in those times too :)

      Delete
  12. UnknownOctober 31, 2013 at 6:55 PM

    Ha ha ha, this is a nice one on the onions.The first time onions brought a smile instead of tears!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mon.EspritOctober 31, 2013 at 7:13 PM

    Perfect ending, exactly how it really is :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 31, 2013 at 9:16 PM

      See how onions can make us creative. thanks for the appreciation.

      Delete
  14. AnonymousNovember 5, 2013 at 1:54 AM

    [ Smiles ] Lovely article. However, cheating is highly dishonest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 5, 2013 at 9:53 AM

      Hasn'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

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