Budget

Clenching the week's wages — all ninety rupees of it —in a fist, Maitey

recites the wife's shopping list in one breath to his grocer:

"Twelve kilos rice, two kilos flour, quarter of oil, half quarter of tea,

A bottle of kerosene, salt half, two ruled exercise books no 2,

tablets for cough and cold two, tha's all."

"One hundred and twenty three and seventy five paise."

"Same amount of rice, even that won't suffice. Leave out the floor. I'll do

without lunch. Add up the oil, tea and salt. Skip the kerosene,

we'll manage; give me the rest. And yes, better throw in four toffees,

four balloons."

Like a criminal poised for the verdict, Maitey waits expectantly.