Dilemma of a dinner

Life was easy when we just did what we were supposed to do and what we said we shall do. The multiple choices are good only for exams. Rest of the time, I live in a dilemma. The mind, the heart, the logic, the social set up, the youth, the husband all come up with varied answers. No, I don't feel proud that I can choose. I am bogged down by confusion at the different avenues available. Taking one road is bound to upset some roads or people. Now even choosing a dinner venue can be a cause for a family fight. If he chooses and I agree, there may be a long waiting at the restaurant. When I choose and he gives in, the food may not turn out as good as it was before. When we go by the children's choice, its usually Chinese food and exactly the same food to be ordered at the table year after year. I live in the hope that I will teach them to eat different things from the menu, rather than ordering the five things they ate the first time. I come back cribbing that I don't get to eat what I want to eat. If the husband says, "You should have ordered", then all hell breaks loose. He gets a lesson in finance, budget, how hotels run, economising, saving the environment, eating fresh food and good diet plans. I dread weekends for this reason alone. When the husband feels, his wife will be in a better mood if she doesnt have to cook one meal, I become very righteous. Stuff like I like cooking for the family and its better than outside food, come out from my vocal cords. I completely kill the joy of relaxing and dining out. By the time, I have simmered down, its too late to get a table. So we go to a place where we are assured of quick service and a table for sure. When he suggests a fancy place, I don't say mundane stuff like I have nothing to wear. I have heavy excuses like I want to wear my little black dress but where is the time to wax my legs or our children won't be allowed. Going to drop my children at Mom's and then going for dinner is Mumbai is not an easy affair. Here every place you want to go is an  hour away that too in moving traffic. I cant imagine criss crossing a city like Mumbai which is in a straight line. So you land up going from central to north east to south west Mumbai.

If we decide to eat Maggi noodles at home ( I do eat junk food) then I feel stuffed and sick post the meal. If he says, lets order the food at home, I am armed with 'This area has no good eating joints'  'For vegetarians there is nothing to eat' and further  'We should be at least living in Bandra which has good restaurants'. I make a mess of the saturday night dinners either ways. The Husband still cant figure what makes me tick. On Saturday nights, when Mumbai parties and socialises, we eat out of compulsion. We fight, we argue, we make faces and then we decide to leave home.
Tonight is that night, my Dear Friends.