Other people’s money

"Mummy, please tell me,/ How really poor are we?

Fali Kaka says we’re suffering from poverty,/ And so does my good friend Thrity.”

"Don’t worry, darling, everything is fine,/ Even though we’re below BPP’s poverty line.

Please don’t fret so much, Dinsoo dear,/ Your father earns two lakh rupees a year.

We live in a five-room-flat, we have a car,/ We even dine in hotels which are five-star.

To be as rich as Tata is a no-no,/ But we can afford to drive a Nano.

We may not be as wealthy as Cama,/ But I buy lots of things from Vama.

Every year we vacation in Europe,/ So, dear, you don’t have to mope.

Be ready to spend other people’s money,/ And your life will always be sunny.

I know you’re wondering, honey,/ From where do we get all this money?

With you, I’ll be frank —/ We borrow it from the bank!”

JAL S. DESAI

jaldesai@hotmail.com