Rooting for the Devil

This topic has interested me ever since I saw House of Cards for the first time. Whilst planning for a trip, I try to read up and know about a city. It so happened that one of my projects landed me in Washington D.C where I was to stay for a couple of months. Always excited about US presidential system, there was nothing more I would have asked for than to be located out of the heart of American democracy (I even wrote to the White House, but then that's a different story). So, to plan for the same, I watched "House of Cards", and read "The Lost Symbol" just to get pre-excited about the city I had always dreamed to visit – see the apotheosis of Washington, go to the well-lined historic museums including the holocaust museum (a must visit), and glance at the Hope diamond. Coming back to the topic – When I realized that I was rooting for Frank Underwood, the protagonist of House of Cards, and also a murderer (sorry for the spoils), I did not give it much of a thought except a few water cooler talks with a colleague who shared the same feelings about the show. Then you look back and realize that there may be a trend here, and possibly a wider ramification.

When you find yourself in awe of Ramsay Bolton (Game of Thrones) – you explain to yourself that it's all about how well Iwan Rheon played that character. I was reminded of a role that epitomized the versatility of Shahrukh Khan. It was that of Rahul – the passionate lover in 1993 flick Darr – that helped catapult his career, whilst the 'hero' of the movie receded into the oblivion. Clearly there is a bit of 'mass' appeal.  Needless to say you find more quotes attributed to the "Joker" in the hustling old Delhi markets or at the poster vendors when you are about to ascend those metro stairs than those from the Batman – there clearly is something that draws us to the "not so good' guys.

I am neither a psychologist nor am I writing to prove or disprove anything – but is there a deeper realization that underlie this? Strangely enough, our infatuation with the not so good reflects an inherent double standards – one standard for what we see on screen whilst a completely different for personal lives – almost bordering a duplicitous nature of human beings. How difficult is it to forgive? Very hard, actually – in real life we keep chasing perfection everywhere – work, partnership, love, friendship – you name it. Whilst our attitude is reconciliatory towards the drawbacks in a character of a film (sometimes even being emotionally overwhelmed by their actions or causes), in real life, we are relentlessly unforgiving about one mistake your friend makes, one conversation that didn't go right or one small thing that irked you into being unforgiving – from the most loving and caring friend, you become recluse and uncaring ; from being an equal partner, you become aloof and indifferent ; and what pinches, is from you being that one stop for everything they needed, you are now one sour memory for the one whose company you placed high premium on. And Why? All, because one never forgives, and possibly, easily forgets – our obduracy and ego underlies what's wrong with relationships today – lopsided, and emotionally detached from at least one end.

But this is not a 101 on how to cement a deep friendship - it is merely an observation.

Gratitude:  The doodle was very graciously offered by my friend Aastha, who excels at this art. Please check out her Instagram page  https://www.instagram.com/doodlesbyaastha/