Respected Sir/Madam,

I have been reading in your papers that Europe and UK are fighting over many matters small and big on trade after Brexit..I totally sympathise with them. In fact. I will say, I admire them that they at least agree on few terms and have signed up a deal.

I and Mangalam can't even agree on what to order when we go out to eat in a restaurant.

As this shani year 2020 draws to a close, we decided to eat out. We were afraid that after 35 years of our marriage, we will have first year of not a single visit to a restaurant. Like the Indian cricket team winning at least one test match in 2020 in the last week of 2020, we also decided to go out once and not set a dubious record.

In 2020, we did not go out for any of our normal outings. On Mangalam's birthday, she cooked some special dish.

I don’t remember what. On our wedding anniversary we ordered some ice-creams via Swiggy's. My birthday in April, we were so busy watching TV about Corona and washing hands that we completely forgot about it. In fact after two days, Mangalam made some payasam and wished me belated birthday with a half-smile..

So we thought let us celebrate our successful joint venture, shall I say, the only successful joint venture. Our son Janakiraman, a.k.a Jan. For celebrating Jan’s birthday we decided to eat out, though he is back in US.

One easy decision on which we usually don't fight over is the choice of restaurant..It is always the nearest Saravana.

Let me tell you what happened there when the waiter came to take order. Seeing our postures, waiter must have thought that it would be Mangalam who will decide our order.

MB: Saar will order.

JB: Let me decide what we eat at least one day in 2020. North Indian?

MB: OK..Whatever..I will go with whatever you decide.

JB: Soup?

MB : No no, soup fills me up.

JB : Some starters -Chilly paneer?

MB : No paneer for me..Already in lockdowns I have added a few kilos.

JB : Mushrooms then?

MB : Karmam..I don't think mushrooms are veg..You have it, if you want.

JB : Rice or Naan?

MB : Naans are too heavy..One naan and I feel so full that I can't walk for one whole day.

JB : I want naan..Why have we come out to eat, when we want to eat the same food here also? Then what do you want?

MB : Whatever you decide!

In the meantime, for the third time the waiter came and asked. He was watching with amusement or maybe he sees couples like us every day.

JB : Like every time, I guess we should settle for 'thali' only. That is the only way we don’t go back hungry.

I called the waiter

JB: 2 thalis please.

Waiter : Which one sir ? Standard or Special thali?

JB : 2 Special thalis ..(In a commanding tone)

MB : Their special thali will have soup, paneer and naan.. I don't want them. I already told you. Standard thali for me.

JB : One standard thali and one special thali please

The eating was a lot uneventful than the ordering. In fact it was even enjoyable. Mangalam had more than half of the paneer dish and also one of the bigger pieces of the naan. “Only for taste” was her remark.

When the bill came and we were munching the beeda pan, Mangalam remarked “ You should not have ordered for the special thali..I hope that eating paneer from your plate, does not add to my weight!”

I could see a big smile in Mangalam’s face. I also saw that while I was waiting for the valet to bring the car, she tipped the doorkeeper. 2020 seems to be ending well.

Yours in satisfaction,

J.Bhoothalingam