Stop already! What's left now, selling kidneys? You've sucked out all the blood. No, I ain't talking about Stopa hospital; I'm talking about India's tax system.

Let me give you a glimpse. Suppose my salary is 15 lakhs. Straight away, 30% tax deduction at source.

That’s two months’ salary gone in direct tax. Now, what will you do with the remaining money? Two things.

First: Spend it. On basics like food, kids’ school fees, books, milk, medicines, insurance, electricity bills – all with 12% GST.

Fancy stuff like clothes, shoes, mobiles, and restaurant meals – 18% GST. Cars, luxury hotels, flights – 28% tax. Petrol and diesel? Over 200% tax. So, no matter what, you’re taxed.

Second: Save or invest the leftover. If your investment goes south, congrats, at least the government won’t tax your loss.

But if you make a profit, split it up. Short-term gains? Pay 20% tax. Long-term gains? Pay 12.5% tax. Even the interest on your Provident Fund and savings in the bank get taxed.

So why are you even working? Simple answer: to pay taxes to the government.

And the kicker – despite paying all these taxes, you still gotta shell out 2 to 10 rupees at public bus stands and railway stations to pee and poop. 

Funny thing, though – dead people are apparently happy because, for now, there’s no tax on cremation or burial. 

Here’s a little verse for the situation:

Promises you butter, but snatches away the cream!

Gives you two rupees, takes away two and a half in a dream!

My ruler is so skilled that with such precision.

In the name of ‘tax’, takes away half my earning’s vision!