I always dread the announcement of cricket matches - especially one day internationals and test series. My husband gleefully sets about preparing the arsenal for watching cricket on TV. Containers full of salty snacks, groundnuts, biscuits, sweet - all are arrayed on the dining table, before he settles down (in right royal fashion, with his feet up on a footstool) to watch India wrestle with West Indies, Pakistan or some other team.

Since the TV is in the dining room (which happens to be in the middle of the house), I have to go around him countless times, like a devotee in a temple. If I have to go to the bedrooms from the kitchen, I have to go via the dining room. The raids on the food stocks also exasperate me. "This is how life should be enjoyed," declares hubby, who has taken voluntary retirement. In between watching TV, he takes short naps, which enrage me further.

When the home team is doing well, he pops in a sweet or biscuit to "celebrate." If the rival team is doing well, he goes on munching something "to strengthen" himself against disappointments. A steady running commentary also goes on, advising the home team about what they should do or not do.

Though I was also an avid watcher of cricket, I have become indifferent to the fortunes of our team due to their poor performance many a time. Hubby likes tennis as well. I tell him cricket is not for a poor country like ours, as it means wastage of time and resources. Why does he not switch loyalties to other sports like tennis, which may bring gold medals at the Olympics? I wish some kind fairy would wave a wand and make hubby give up his excessive attention to cricket!