Display or affection?

Mona

Holding hands, peck on a cheek, an embrace that lasts a few seconds too long or more — these are some of the things that are frowned upon in our society still. While netizens go gaga over Priyanka-Nick’s PDA, or Anuksha peck for her cricketer-hubby Virat or even the #monkeylove that has Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover give a peek into their romance-filled life... something of this sort can wreak havoc in the real world.

The latest sacking of two airline crew members for canoodling inside an aircraft was the result of a passenger’s complaint, who found it too much to deal with. In City Beautiful too, cops come calling for couples sitting at odd places. So, is public display of affection still a taboo? 

What’s wrong?

It still is and why, is what fails assistant professor Astha Bhardwaj. “We are otherwise a very ‘touchy’ community; touching feet and hugging is a common way of greeting, so why not with your partner?” asks this young single girl. “Holding hands, a kiss or a quick hug are such a taboo if you are in public place and if by chance you are in the vicinity of any religious place, expect a lecture from the so-called custodians of culture for sure,” she fumes. 

Just like the West, if adolescents are allowed to date, crime against women would drastically come down; she opines, “We let people pee on the roads, insults are commonly written on the walls, but stay miles away from your lover... how’s that even right?”

Mansi Sharma, a BPO employee, agrees, “Two people in love have the right to express themselves, why are others bothered?” Workplace flings are common in the industry she works in, as is PDA. “One is always in awe of bold people who aren’t shy to express themselves.”

Serves no purpose

However, this is precisely what irks best-selling author Bhaavna Arora. Currently on a six-month vacation travelling through France, Spain and Monaco, she shares, “Whenever I see a couple getting cosy in public, I feel jealous because I don’t have any one to do that.” She, however, relates to other people walking with kids, who are upset by the over-expressive lovers, “But mostly those who raise a voice are the ones who don’t have enough love in their life,” she quips. 

Jokes apart, Bhaavna hates it, “PDA isn’t the only expression of love. If they are showing off, they are insecure and rather than announcing it to world, they should work on their relationship,” she says. 

Personal affair

While holding hands or a peck on the cheek is perfectly normal and acceptable in society now, it’s the daring misdemeanours that offend actor Abheyjiit Attri. “Celeb or not, love is very sacred and belongs behind closed doors.” Living in Mumbai, he often sees school kids doing stuff in the open, which puts him or others crossing by in an embarrassing position. “Celebs must set the right example, for in our society it’s the reputation of the girl that’s more at stake than the guy.”  

From Bhutan, a memory to cherish for life

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and her cricketer-husband Virat Kohli, who are in Bhutan for the latter’s 31st birthday on Tuesday, stopped for tea at a small village after an 8.5-km uphill trek.

Anushka took to Instagram, where she shared a string of photographs from a hut of Bhutanese locals. The actress captioned the image: “Today, during our 8.5 km uphill trek we stopped by a small village on a mountain to feed a baby calf, who was born just four months ago. While we did that, the owner of the house asked us if we were tired and wanted to have a cup of tea? So we went into the home of this beautiful and warm family, who had absolutely no idea who we were and yet they treated us with such warmth and love… both of us live for such moments of genuine, simple and pure human connection. It fills us with such joy and peace knowing that they just wanted to be kind to two random foreigners (plus our guide) without seeking anything in return. If this is not the true meaning of life, then I don’t know what is. A memory we will cherish forever,” she said. IANS