Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Divided on unity


Are you for joint family system? asked a colleague.
“I am for it. However, the system is dead worldwide. It won’t work anymore,” I replied.
“You are wrong. There are still families that stay together happily,” she argued.
“Maybe. Some are in joint family just because of necessity. Beneath the bonhomie lie despair and disagreements. This is a material world,” I said. 
“Maybe you have had a bitter experience,” she got personal.
“Not true. Anyway, are you married?” I asked her.
“No.”
“Matter closed. Get married, stay with your mother-in-law and let’s meet after two years,” I replied and moved off before she could throw a folder on me.  
Heard this joke:
“I remember John whenever I see you,” Mulla Nasruddin told a friend.
“I do not resemble John in any way,” replied the friend.
“But you both owe me $100.”

22 comments:

  1. $100 reminds me of the price of a Gondola ride in Venice in 2003! No, I didn't take it :D

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  2. No body is for joint family these days.. Nuclear and joint families both have adv and disadv. but I think joint is still better.

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  3. Joint families have their own adv and disadv. Depends on how we are born and brought up! Joint families hold good when there are any festival or celebrations, or during weekends, or annual holidays! Not for day-to-day life!!

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  4. He is divorced with 2 kids and she is with 1. Their family is now having 5 kids and 4 parents when they joined!

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  5. Interesting. I will have been married 25 years next September and most speak as if this is uncommon rather than the norm - sad to say, they may well be right. I love your joke by the way.

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  6. LOL..joint families are tough..especially nowdays..:)

    Luckily am not getting into one..:P

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  7. I prefer peace and freedom and that is possible in nuclear family only.

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  8. At times of crisis, joint family helps you maintain sanity. During cheerful times, it is a pain.

    When i see latch-key kids,kids at creche and lonely old people at aged homes, I feel somewhere a balance has to be struck by the current gen. With a few adjustments, joint family is better than nuclear family.

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  9. hmm..I still remember living with my grandfather and my uncle and aunt.

    It is true that someone has to become the sole caretaker of the household...like my mum...used to do all the work...

    But those who are free can enjoy so much...

    LIke I remember my uncles' affairs and my aunts' non stop chating....

    I enjoyed it because the house was full of people and you can never find a way out...

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  10. I can vouch for India. Joint families are the answer to the present disconnect within relatives.

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  11. It is better to be in joint families when having small kids. But in both ways, lot of adjustment is needed.

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  12. Nowadays Everyone is going to work,then Who take care of kids

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  13. I agree with Chitra's view too. I would have preferred if my in-laws stayed with me. And the joke was funny too :).

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  14. i have seen very few joint families ... most prefer nuclear family ... ROFL at the joke :D

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  15. nice joke
    just depend on the situation one stay in joint family or not.

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  16. Rare to find joint family. Liked the Mulla's joke :)

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  17. lol...True that joint families are becoming extremely difficult these days.

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  18. Hey, joint families always make for good stories...hehe

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  19. oh how did i miss this one!!

    i am still laughing at the joke! and its such a nice way to remind someone that they owe you money! hmmm! can't wait to put it to action!

    and yup i can't even imagine myself living in a joint family!

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