BURDENS AND AMBITIONS

Lalita Iyer Musings

Many of the Instagram reels are depressing. So I watch little round-faced babies learning to eat food. Because stand up comedians, except for a few are quite a depressing act. They are either anti-government, or more specifically anti-Modi. (It is boring after some time). And contrary to their own fear of being stopped or being jailed, they are all out there free, talking wildly, using profane language and getting applauded with raucous laughter each time they use bad language.  

Of course more often than not they pick on huge blunders made by builders and the government. Including the flyover which went nowhere, or of the case of the mismatched flyover, creating a massive gap or about the bridge built through someone's balcony. Some of these are bearable. 

Then there are these doomsday predicters who talk of the pros and cons of ₹20 and ₹10 plastic notes (coming soon for our use) even while citing the collapse of the economy of the nation. With the rupee being devalued further, looks like we can only believe in the elasticity of rubber bands for it is not possible to stretch the rupee any longer. 

For me the numbers they cite is like water off a duck's back. But it remains a fact that everything has become more expensive. Including good old bhaiyaji's paani puris. (And therefore the insistence on that free masala puri) That is my measure at the most simplistic level. Earlier the cyclewala anna used to sell five idlis for five rupees with unlimited chatni. Now it has become ₹25 for four idlis.  

Makes me think of all those people struggling, working so hard to make ends meet and still manage to get up the next day and start with the rigmarole. Cheerfully. I have to yet meet one entitled bandiwala. Their service is always with grace. And generosity. Have to learn from here. 

As most educated and slightly affluent people do, we try and help out as much as we can, within our limited means. But it seems to be a given that we take care of the people who work for us, like maid and driver. New clothes for certain  festivals, sweet packets for other festivals, etc. And some of the concientious ones will also look after the education of the kids in their family. Pay the base instalment for the new house they are buying, some 25 kms away. Buy a little gold for the daughter's wedding. 

Yes, it is expensive to have help. Just paying the salary is not enough. Never enough. And then they get ambitious, primarily by watching you, how you dress, your position/status in the office, which gives them an impetus to improve in their lives.  

While said driver has been talking of buying land, a gunta or two, even that might cost him two lakhs per gunta in yet another district. While ambition might push him to work hard and therefore be paid for it, etc, the concept of investing in land, or a small flat in distant places other than Hyderabad is almost chimeric. 

Considering the times my night prayers have changed with times. Initially it was for the good of the world. Then for the country. Now patriotism is taking a back seat and I am concerned about the creaks and  aches in the body. Once in a while I do think of friends and pray for their sustained good health. With the Iran-US news and bomb blasts in Dubai, it was for world peace. 

With summer and a water shortage these days, I am concentrating on the water pipes and praying that there is flowing water in the bathroom. 

– Lalita Iyer

Senior Journalist