Cooking up a blog

The guest speaker at our fortnightly Ladies Club meeting was exhorting women who work in the house (housewives) to demand their due share and remuneration for services rendered."I am just a housewife" need not be construed as a useless occupation, but as a substantial contribution to the running of the household — as worthy in many ways as a wage earner’s share of credit for the upkeep of the house.

   On reflection, I found it to be absolutely true . A time would soon come when society will accept and acknowledge the economic value of a woman’s contribution around the house.  Till then …….. well !

  The talk over, we broke up into small groups around the buffet table as usual, exchanging pleasantries and the inevitable gossip.

  Rita having recently lost her cook to a punjabi household was desperately seeking a replacement  and was urging Meena and Tara to redouble their efforts at finding one for her. With a glint in my eyes, I walked into their midst offering a possible solution. With eager faces and ears pricked , they pounced on me to come out with it. It amazes me always to see so many of my friends turning to me for help in finding domestic help, when I myself do not keep a cook, maid. driver, or a gardener ( I only have a husband, who does a bit of everything for me) .

See how he has a well trained look of a Chauffeur: he is my husband

"Rita", I said, "I will be your cook, if you will pay me a premium salary for my speciality cooking."

Though I went to all the cooking/ baking classes, it was my husband who baked this yummy pasta dish

  Rita’s response to my offer was unexpected  and was full of cold logic and sarcasam."No, Rama," she said . "You would cook us delectable palak paneer, puliodhere, avial, throw in lip- smacking chopsuey, conjure up spongy cakes, light – as- air souffles etc., etc. (They all know I have attended several cookery and baking classes). Both you and your menus will become very expensive for us. Your delicious cooking will make us hog and put on weight . Next, being a fitness fanatic, you will force us to take body- conditioning and aerobics lessons from you and make us pay for that also".

 Not to be broken in her train of thoughts, Rita continued, "while exercising, we might land up with sprains which you will volunteer to treat with Reiki at extra cost. "No Rama," she ended, "at this rate, my husband would be sailing forever ( he is in the merchant marine ) to pay for your innumerable services. You are way beyond our reach."

I am cheered up for at least I could cook up an interesting blog!!!

  Seeing me crestfallen,  Tara attempted to cheer me up saying I could always turn the conversation into an interesting blog.