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Saturday afternoon fever

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by sln, Mar 13, 2009.

  1. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    SATURDAY AFTERNOON FEVER

    I avoid controversies on Saturdays.The reason is simple.We work only half a day on Saturdays.On my return I look forward to chilled beer followed by special lunch comprising of vatha kuzhambu,potato kara kari and tomato thayir pachadi,a combination of celestial flavour and devine taste,I have a nap followed by our excursion to the club where we watch a movie in the open air theatre and have dinnerThis is a routine religiously followed over years and therefore you will understand why I avoid arguments on Saturdays.
    One Saturday, the routine was followed as usual with the exception that I woke up at 7.30 pm after my nap.My wife and daughters who were watching TV exchanged stealthy glances.This prompted me to ask my wife as to why she did not wake me up as usual at 4.30 pm.Without batting an eyelid, she replied that it was not her job.I could not believe my ears.A lady who had been faithfully waking me up in our 15 years of married life was redefining the unwritten job description.My daughters echoed the sentiment in chorus.Encouraged by this vociferous and numerical support, my wife continued”just because I was waking you up all these years does not entitle you to demand this service automatically.From today you are on your own.This is nothing but male chauvinism and I am not going to submit to this any longer”Having said this as if she had rehearsed this meticulously, she glanced at my daughters.While they did not say any thing, one could discern their unspoken admiration of their mother..In fact their silence was eloquent.
    Being a salesman, I know when to retreat particularly when outnumbered by the opposite tribe.
    We did not go the club that day and my wife and daughters started playing scrabbles by themselves and to my exclusion.Pardon me for the digression at this stage.A peek into the background is necessary to understand my bewilderment when my wife raised a war cry.My wife is a post graduate ,a short story writer in tamil and a trained teacher.She did not touch my feet and pray to the mangalsutra every day as they used to depict dutiful wife in the films.Yet she deferred to my opinion on almost every subject and was content to run the home.She completely depended on my courage and skills in handling lizards and cockroaches in the kitchen.[Those days these insects had to be handled manually.]She of all the girls calls me male chauvinist that too in the presence of my daughters.I had to handle this revolt but I thought that I had to have a good strategy to nip it in the bud.

    Before going to bed I looked for magazines in the rack and to my surprise I found a well known Women’s magazine.I thought reading this would help me understand women and help me in my present predicament.Leafing through the magazine I found an article penned by a confused but versatile champion of Women’s lib.In a vituperative and choice language ,she called all males as MCPs.She concluded the article by appealing to all the females to rise in revolt and cry a halt to the demeaning practice of waking up their husbands from sleep.So after all, this female was the root cause of all that happened to disturb my Saturday..Let me confess that I had always applauded chivalrous women like Joan of Arc and Jhansi Rani as they had not disturbd my domestic front.I then and there made up my mind that I would not allow confused and confusing women to cause ripples in the placid waters of my domestic life.

    Next morning I told my wife in no uncertain terms that being the sole bread winnr I was entitled to such perks as my wife waking me up.This was the last straw on the camel’s back.She flared up and said that it was I who was not allowing her to take up a job.She also politely reminded me that my salary had gone up 400%after our marriage.After all she concluded that behind every successful man there is a woman.

    I felt deflated.I said that she was free to take a job and that I would do my utmost to help her.When I made this heroic offer I had no inkling of the scrape I was getting into.As luck would have it she landed on a tacher’s job in a school.It was then,my difficulties started in quick succession.She had to leave at 7AM and I had to content myself with cold breakfast and could no longer follow the daily news with a hot cup of coffee by my side.The door bell rang continuously what with servant,milkman and dhobi following in quick succession.Imagine the sight of a man searching for his favourite pickle bottle in the absentee land lady’s kitchen.I consoled myself that it was a matter of passing clouds.

    O n the other hand the passing clouds darkened with time.Evenings became difficult.One day she was preparing the Lesson plan,another day she was setting up question papers.There was a never ending stream of correcting home work note books and answer sheets.Seeing her trouble, I had to chip in to total up the marks and prepare a summary of the mark list.I dearly missed exchanging office gossip with her.

    Though late, I realized that after all, has not my wife who had faithfully woken me up on Saturday evenings for fifteen years has the liberty of calling me a Male Chauvanist as along as she gives me two cups of steaming filtered coffee in the mornings .lovely food day after day without casual leave,sick leave or privlege leave which I enjoy at office?

    All his happened because of my Saturday afternoon fever.I have decided that I will have no more of it.
     
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  2. Jpatma

    Jpatma Silver IL'ite

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    Sir,
    You lost all the privileges by unnecessary banter. Added to that now you need to help her. Iam waiting for the day when you will have to do the cooking and cleaning.:rotfl:rotfl

    Enjoyed your sense of wit and the style of language.
    Jaya
     
  3. Anandchitra

    Anandchitra IL Hall of Fame

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    This is truly a good one and maybe you should publish so others might benefit from your mistake.
    Well narrated and one can easily see the loss of vathal kuzhambhu, potato kara kari and tomato thayir pachadi, steaming cups of coffee and so much more!.
    Or maybe you have become an expert at these dishes now!!!:)
     
  4. Devika Menon

    Devika Menon Gold IL'ite

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    Dear Lakshminarayanan,

    When I read your FB to my post , I already felt that there was a great writer in you. Now reading your post feels like reading something written by a professional writer with a fantastic sense of humour.

    Loved your post and more importantly liked to look at things from a male perspective. So as long as the men are pampered and spoilt they dont mind being called MCP's eh?

    But glad to see that there are women who can always restart a career when they wish to like your wife. That should be a good motivation for many who want to try.

    Sorry about your divine feasts which are currently at break time. Till then wish you all the best to try your luck at your culinary skills.

    And glad to know that youve decided to abort the Saturday Afternoon Fever.

    Regards,
    Devika
     
  5. mithila kannan

    mithila kannan Gold IL'ite

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    My dear Devika,
    Read your fb to lakshiminaayanan's post"saturday afternoon fever.
    I liked the following words from you which boosted up my spirits.

    But glad to see that there are women who can always restart a career when they wish to like your wife. That should be a good motivation for many who want to try.

    I am so happy so happy that I wish I could dance,you have complimented me for lakshiminarayanan happens to be my husband.
    (Sorry,lakshmi for barging in)

    lots of love
    mithila
     
  6. Jithiks

    Jithiks Gold IL'ite

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    Sir,

    That was really a wonderful and hilarious narration. I could vividly visualise what you've gone through!

    But your loss of steaming cups of coffee and vathakuzhambu is Mithila's gain. Since she had realized her self-worth and had a chance to prove herself. Infact, knowingly or unknowingly you had helped her. :)

    And from what I gather from previous posts of Mithila's you had tried your hand at cooking one time..right..when Mithila was out of town to attend a function? That was a masterpiece from her! :)

    We are already enjoying the anecdotes from Mithila and now all the more delighted to welcome you to IL!! Please keep posting more...

    Regards
    Krithika
     
  7. Jithiks

    Jithiks Gold IL'ite

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    My dear Mithila,

    Wow! You never mentioned that your dh is such a fantastic writer! Loved his post and the writing style.

    Sure, you are a fantastic duo and we are waiting to read more of your works.:)

    Regards
    Krithika
     
  8. mithila kannan

    mithila kannan Gold IL'ite

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    Dear krithika,
    Yes,lakshimi is a very good writer,he was the editor of their House magazine when he was working.Only thing is I only type all his writings and so half of the credit comes to me, that has added to my woes in addition to having him experimenting his own dishes in the kitchen.

    love
    mithila
     
  9. Kamalji

    Kamalji IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Lakshmiji,

    Wow, what a write, that would make Mithila blush eh ! Superb sense of humour, and the fast pace , u are one hell of a great wirter.Now should that create some choas in yr family that i praise u,?HAHA


    Really a great write, and i am nominating this for the best post of March.Mithila pls dont mind iot please (Am i assured of a few more Dosas for the nomination ?).Big Laugh:crazyDrowning:rotfl

    Regards

    kamal
     
  10. Devika Menon

    Devika Menon Gold IL'ite

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    My Dear Dear Mithila,

    This is absolutely fantastic piece of news. Two great writers. Can just imagine what lovely thoughts flow around in that abode where you reside. Wow!!

    Mithila, you were always considered a great human being and now after this you will definitely be known as a great role model. Kudos kudos and kudos to you dear!!

    Love,
    Devika
     

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