Once upon a time men got everything on a platter. First, the doting mothers pampered and served them. Post marriage, they got another server in the form of a wife. Perhaps, women were conditioned to serve their husbands. So they would start off right from the first night. A familiar ‘first night’ scene would go somewhat like this. The hubby will be waiting on the decked up bed. The bride comes in a veil with a glass of milk and fruits. He drinks it and pounces. Thus the roll of a wife began. She would serve food and beverages, wash his dirty linen, pick his socks, stitch buttons, produce children and so on.
Anyway, the patriarchal system is slowly fading. Today, man can no longer spread out in front of TV and expect things to fall his way. He may say “Am not a foodie. I can manage with Dal and rice”. For that, his lady would come up with a disclaimer “don’t expect this (dal and rice) from me”. Thus begins his Bon Appetite with Maggie, pasta, bread and omelette. Earlier, the man had to just imagine a delicacy, and his lady would spread it out for him. Today, if a man allows his imagination to run amuck, all his lady would say is “I don’t know” or “do it yourself” or does it with 524 words of cribbing which makes it hard to swallow.
There would be occasions when the lady, brimming with love, would think of serving “home-made” stuff like say pani-puri”. It comes with a rider though. He gets puris after a 4 kms ride and pani is (sometimes) homemade. Sometimes it is: “I will make rice, you get dal from outside”. But before going out to get dal, you ought to wake her up.
The husband’s entertainment quotient gets tested when his wife plans for a movie. He books the ticket, drives about 30 kms both ways and gropes his way to get her a popcorn during intermission and after all that, he is expected to be have a pro-active debate on the script, screenplay, etc., before going to bed.
Today the hubby is expected to keep his expectations at ‘size zero’ and meet expectation of his wife which is like a bottom-less pit. You take her to the awesome Mount Opera
Well, now the big question is, when to start a family. Here again she would say “not now darling”. And by the time she takes a decision, your sewerage would be choking with latex.
P.S. What I have stated is about an emerging trend. Personally, I feel a husband should be self-reliant. He should be able to cook, wash his own clothes and contribute equally in all aspects.
