The big day came and the big day went

For the folks in The Studio, it was a Monday well spent

Deciphering the Budget and reading between the lines

Poring through the speech, and searching for hidden mines

A fine balancing act, the FM had to do

The market cheer suggests, with flying colours he's through

Up 600 points the day after, the Sensex galloped after a long trot

No bad news is good news, guess that's what the markets thought

Most tax rates were left alone, though the net was cast far and wide

This trick to fill the government's coffers has often been tested and tried

For granny and for grandpa, the Budget had a whole lot to cheer

For most other folks though, the largesse was big enough for a year's beer

But while he gave, the FM also took away

To wine and dine out now, the more you'll have to pay

You'll also do well to mind your health, thanks to the FM's ways

For now you need to pay more for air-conditioned hospital room stays

Air travel's gonna cost you more

So will that chain of gold at the store

And the same goes for branded cloth

Did you say, your pocket's got eaten by a moth?

While for most of India Inc., the Budget didn't play foil

Surprisingly absent was the expected tax cut on oil

Also trust the FM to slip in a surprise or two

So, no spanking this time for that favourite whipping boy, tobacco, too!

Infra, banks and agri all grinning ear-to-ear

With FM being generous with funds, seems there's little for them to fear

For IT, cement and oil cos, the hopes turned to a frown

More tax, no extensions, no cuts, they wonder, will we drown?

To a lower fiscal deficit, the markets roared in cheer

But outcomes, not outlays, will determine whether good times are truly here!

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