{Since this is my first review and I am not an expert reviewer, especially for a subject like budget, I would like to review the budget in the form of a fictional anecdote.}
Beer, Banter and Budget
I woke up to Bono’s voice resonating through my window from my brother’s comp, singing “It’s a beautiful day” and it was a beautiful day and a beautiful morning, indeed. And the day was two days after the so-called B-day.
Last night we were at the “de bussy” restaurant, doing what we usually do on a Saturday night - booze. “From next month onwards we might have to bear the brunt of paying another 20 rupees for every 1000 rupees we spend on our week-end bills because of the service tax hike”, mooted an intoxicated intellectual, who is otherwise very dumb.
“What the heck is this, even my Kings are gonna cost me more, macha”, shouted another wastrel.
I wanted to differ, given my enthusiasm to show that I have added more feathers to my cap [head] than any other feather-headed friend of mine, from my first year of MBA. So, I said, “Guys, for the past two, three years we have been talking about the disposable income of the young Indians. Here is the chance to actually dispose it off, via the small cars. And given the robust growth of the automobile sector in India, it sure would get better in the coming years”
“Abbey, damn your small cars, there is hardly any space in it to accommodate your girlfriend….you know what I mean. Ask PC to reduce the E.D of the SUVs too”, said one, immediately after gulping down a Bacardi Large. While telling so, his mobile rang and “See, we are even gonna pay a marginally higher mobile bill”, he commented while trying to reach the pocket of his jean. Then he went out to attend the call.
There was a small lull and then I enquired one of my prodigal fellows about his CAT exam. “Wish me ‘Better luck next time’”, said the sloshed diplomat. “Join the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, and provide support to your hard core bear belly and off course the Government is doing enough to boost the Food processing Industry”, said another and laughed aloud, which made the fellow drunkards of the restaurant turn-around and have a look at us.
“It was my father, damn it”, said the SUV-walla while walking in to the room. “Look, my father being a Chartered Accountant has to pay the Goddamn service tax, but your father being Lawyer has to pay none, what is this bias for”, he said, looking at me.
As I didn’t want to comment on that, but wanted to keep the argument alive, I said, “Even the E.D on paper has been reduced”, after seeing a bunch of tissue paper on the table.
“And DVD drives, Combo drives and Flash drives have been exempted from E.D”, I added.
“Then why the heck has E.D been imposed on Packaged software, you stoned stupid”, shouted the Kings-walla.
“Excuse me, would you want to have anything more”, interfered a waiter, who seemed to be a bit annoyed due to the hullabaloo created by the sozzled screwballs.
Since our stomachs were already glutted with vodkas, beers and chickens, we ordered only ice creams and cool drinks.
“See, duties were cut even for ice creams and the special E.D completely scrapped for aerated drinks”, I said with a whiff of know-allness.
Then suddenly, a voice raised, shouting, “Shut the f**k up, what’s gotten into you, you morons”. That was the voice of my boxer friend, who had just finished his last drink. He, who was so long been silent, wouldn’t tolerate the loquacity of the loaded loons, anymore and that verily stopped our debate.
And thus was my mind whirling with the voices of all my friends, as I just got up from my bed.
Just then the daughter of our servant-maid came to sweep my room, as her mother had fallen ill. “You are studying in the 8th Std., aren’t you”, I asked her and said, “Study well, if you pass this and do your 9th Std., the Govt. will deposit 3000 rupees in your name.”
She said, ‘yes’, kind of reluctantly, as she seemed to be perplexed by the advice from an unexpected quarters.
“Wait a minute, did I advice her… and that for sure was not due to my hangover”, I said to myself and “And after all the budget has to benefit those who ought to be benefited”, I thought deeply.