a mARTIAN dIARY

Public shows of affection…

Recently I went home after 4 months of working in UK, and to cut a long and sentimental story short, it was wonderful. It was wonderful to see the tear laid eyes of my mom, shortly revisit the hardened cynicism of my father and last from far from least the sweet tender sight of love.  HOME SWEET HOME!

Anyway while coming back, I was at the station just about to board the train. The train was already late….something common to the “special” trains. Then I remembered something I promised myself when I was in UK….to hug my father and mother and me being me, I gave into my impulse and hugged my mom. My dad in had his usual nonchalant mask on, but I am sure was pretty sad that I was leaving so soon, anyways as I starting hugging him, commented “public shows of affections are shams”….at that time I was too involved in following my impulse that I did not heed to it. But it stuck to me like chewing gum.

Later while my mind was wandering through the universe, hoping from one planet to another, with nothing else to do during the train journey, this comment revisited me with renewed vigor. At the surface of it, it seems plausible, as its safe to assume that a lot of people do show affection in public just to one-up on someone watching. I would not consider myself as completely out of that group of people, since I have used these kinds of mind-games (?) more than once. For instance when I was having fights with some of my friends, I used to get extra cuddly with other friends around him/her. Similarly when I have heard stupid rumors floating about cracks in my relationships, I have put on that extra effort of showing my friendship…not to my friend but to others who were watching, like putting on that extra make-up on your comeback film.

In UK it was not hard to find love-stuck couples locked in their lips and more even in the sleepy town of Southampton….where they more worried about others or just enjoying the moment?  And what about our own “desi” couples in banglore?

But all these things aside, the action that led to this particular comment had none of these factors as its parents. It was just an impulsive act on part of a son who really missed his dad. Maybe what he said is true and most public acts of affection are just sham…but as long as its not the crowd that you care about and u get that “good” feeling in your heart I feel its ok….and maybe…this over analysis has to STOP! :p