Ah, the life of a single-earning family member in India! Let’s all bow down to the exhilarating feeling of being the sole provider for your parents, your kids’ school fees, the forever-increasing EMI for that house and car you’re lucky to own, and, of course, the government, which generously insists that you hand over 35% of your hard-earned income. It’s a small price to pay for the privilege of living in a country where everything is taxed — right from the air you breathe (well, not yet, but don’t give them ideas).

So, let’s break it down: You earn 50L. Wow! You’re practically a millionaire in the eyes of the government, aren’t you? Who needs that pesky 35% of your income for basic survival needs like food, school fees, and medical bills? No worries! The government has you covered.

First, let’s take that 35% tax, shall we? You’d think with all that government help coming your way, they’d build you a mansion and send you on all-expenses-paid vacations. But no, instead, you get to pay GST on every single thing you purchase. Food? GST. Medicine? GST. Your kids’ school fees? GST. (We won’t even get into the fact that some of those school fees are essentially a down payment on your firstborn’s future — but that’s a different story.)

Now, let’s talk real estate. Ever wanted a place to live? Too bad, because the prices are through the roof. You’ll need to pay through your nose for that tiny flat in the middle of nowhere, and guess what? You’ll still have to cough up the same GST for the materials used to construct it. Fantastic, right?

Oh, and let’s not forget the cherry on top of this delightful financial cake: tolls. Yes, your very own toll to use the roads you’ve paid for through taxes and duties. If you’re feeling particularly lucky, maybe you can catch some toll plaza workers laughing all the way to the bank as you pay them to use the road you’ve already financed. But hey, what’s a little redundancy when you're living the dream?

Now, don’t get me started on the "great" idea of paying taxes on your gross income. Why should anyone get to deduct anything? That would be too fair, wouldn’t it? No, instead, let’s continue with the dazzling concept that the government can ignore all your monthly expenses (school fees, medical bills, groceries) while pocketing your money. Salaried people should be paying taxes like corporate giants, right? After all, they’re not expected to pay tax on gross income; they get to deduct expenses before handing over the loot. But you, my friend, get to continue living the dream: paying tax on every rupee, while all your other expenses are quietly ignored.

But hey, all this is for a good cause, right? The government is doing its best to improve infrastructure, so we can all sit in traffic on highways that are never-ending construction zones, all the while paying tolls and taxes for the privilege of driving on them. It’s a beautiful cycle — a never-ending one that’s as comforting as that monthly reminder of your EMI.

In conclusion, let’s unite as the common man — because, frankly, who else has the time and energy to fight back? But remember, let’s not get too political here, because the moment we step over that line, the very growth, power, and trust we’ve worked so hard to build might just go south. So let’s put on our rose-tinted glasses and enjoy this wonderful, fair, and transparent system. After all, what could be more heartwarming than paying more for less?