It was past midnight and the residents of the little flat were deep in slumber, oblivious to the fact that strange goings-on were taking place in the kitchen. All the appliances had convened an important meeting.
“Ok’ said the Fuse-Box, all brisk and business-like. “We have to decide whose turn it is to take a break. We’ve all been working hard for almost two months now. Don’t want these people to become complacent and take us for granted. Now, I’ve had my turn…”
‘You certainly have!” sniggered Inverter. “Remember how the electrician yanked out all your wires, took you off the wall and left you hanging to one side?”
“There was a lot of load on me and I snapped, okay?!” replied Fuse-box. “So, who’s due for a break?”
“Not us!” chimed the vehicle keys from their little basket on top of the refrigerator. “We’ve just returned from the service station. They had to pay a bundle to get us back too! I think we’re done.”
‘Fine,” said Fuse-box. “How about you, Geyser? Want some rest?”
“Nah!” said Geyser with a gurgle. “It’s summer and they hardly use me anyway. I’ll take my break when the rains begin. Or maybe in winter? Hmm…”
“AC took a break just last month. I doubt she’ll want another so soon.” mused Fuse-box. “especially after being so ruthlessly dismantled And undergoing part-replacement.”
“Hey, what about me?” called out Stereo from the living-room. ‘Don’t I deserve a break too?”
‘Oh, Sony dear!” said Refrigerator kindly, “you’re practically redundant anyway! If you take a break, they’ll just give you away as waste!”
Oven sulked. She had arrived a couple of months back, brand-new, black and shiny. She had messed up quite a few cakes and cookies being baked in her. But it wasn’t her fault! And now, she was sitting in a corner with nothing to do and no-one to talk to. Microwave didn’t even look at her.
“Inverter! How about you?” called out Fuse-box. “It’s summer and there are power failures happening all the time. Wouldn’t like you to wear out!”
Inverter chuckled. “I’m fine! I take my breaks in between, whenever I feel like it. I swear, sometimes these people don’t even know if I’m working or not! Keeps them on their toes. I’m all for creating suspense! How about you, Frigo? This is your busy season. And you’re crammed with ice-creams and juices and god-knows-what else. Don’t you want to switch off for a bit? And just…chill…?”
“I like my work.” said Refrigerator coolly. Just because Inverter was temperamental and a shirker didn’t mean they all had to be the same.
“Guys, I’ve been feeling a bit dizzy lately,” said a voice from the corner. “I think all this rotating and tumbling in my interiors is finally getting to me. It’s high time I got a break.”
And thus the meeting was adjourned.
(Scene today morning when I asked my daughter to do two bucket-loads of laundry)
-Moooommm! I think we have a problem…the door of the washing-machine isn’t locking…
Did I imagine it or did I just hear what sounded like a snigger, from the loft where the inverter is kept?
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