MY HEART LIES WITH YOU

I and Puneet were notorious for bunking classes and ridiculous activities all over campus. But this was something bolder and far more exciting than all our previous emprise. We stepped down from bus midway to our college. The theatre was only few minutes away. This was the first time we planned to watch cinema secretly and all alone. From buying tickets, waiting in the longue and then finally finding our seats it was heart pounding, sweaty palm journey with adrenalin rushing all the time.

All this lasted till Anil Kapoor stepped on the screen. I forgot all the chips and chocolates we had for munching. His character had it all and transformed me into a different world. He was brave enough to marry a rape victim and defy all social norms. He gave her love, care and respect a girl deserves even though she lost her virginity. He even gave shelter to children from his fathers illicit relations. Are real men ever this strong? Is there anyone broad minded enough to accept brothers and sisters from an illicit relation of a parent?

All through the movie I kept arguing with myself over reel life and real life. How many such heroes exist in reality? There was an advocate, brother of my friend, who was willing to marry one of her clients, also a rape victim. Why virginity of a girl wasn’t an issue for him? Why peer pressure didn’t bother him? But his family used to mock him and never showed any respect or interest for such a match.

Recently I mentioned to an attendant that his mother was abused by his own father for years. And he is the one who is responsible for her anguish and physical illness.  The seeming literate and educated attendant jumped and hurled choicest invectives to me. It was his chauvinism or show of masculinity, I wondered and thanked God when he left without grabbing my collar and hitting me. Was his father above humanity?  What counts more muscle power or mental strength I thought ? Can a son rise against the misdeeds of father and not care about consequences?

Back then I and Puneet were two teenagers mesmerized by the movie and our new gained independence. Leaving the theater I told Puneet that Anil Kapoor had become my knight in shinning armour. “Mine too” Puneet said and we burst into laughter. We sang hamara dil aapke paas hai for Anil Kapoor all our way back home.