KUNDALAKESI'S RANTS

 Sealed with a kiss...

After perusing the headlines, I proceeded to other sections of the news. When one particular news item caught my attention, I called my niece, who lives in the United States.

“Yes bua?”

“Accha Kusum, tell me what a kiss cam is?”

For a second, I thought the signal went kaput. Then I saw that my niece was still holding the line.

“Kusum?”

“Haan Bua….”

“Why the silence?”

“Nothing, I didn’t get your question.”

“I asked what a Kiss cam is. There is so much discussion about it online…”

“Well, it is something like a video streaming at sports events or concerts.”

“Ah toh, it is live streaming of sports events, right?”

“Yes, kind of….” My niece drawled.

“So why is it called Kiss Cam?” I pursued although I guessed from Kusum’s tone that she wasn’t willing to discuss it at length with me.

“Arrey bua, haven’t you seen in the cricket stadiums? The camera zooms in on the audience…This is also a similar thing.”

“But beta, why is it called Kiss Cam?”

Losing her patience, Kusum blurted out, “A kiss Cam focuses on couples, and when the camera picks out a particular couple, they have to kiss for the camera…”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then they get booed…”

“What? So, whoever gets caught on the camera, their fates are sealed with a kiss?” I pressed.

“Oh well, if you put it like that, then you are right. But bua, everyone takes it sportingly.”

“Right!” I wondered how sportingly the CEO’s wife took it.

When the news of the CEO caught kissing his HR manager broke out, I thought it was a mere publicity stunt. But when the video went viral and Coldplay’s Chris Martin pointed out (in good spirits) publicly on stage that either they are having an affair, or they are shy, it caused an overwhelming reaction, and my curiosity was piqued. Hence, I clarified with my niece.

In a way, it was amusing. Amidst the disturbing images of plane crashes, armed conflicts, and flooded cities, the image of this couple kissing and then ducking out of sight in embarrassment was quite hilarious.

However, I reflected on the time we are living in…Every moment of our lives is watched, recorded, and stored in some digital space. This realization, though late for me, is quite disquieting.

Despite that, what delights me is that, unlike my ancient namesake Kundalakesi, who had to resort to murder to get rid of her scandalous husband, one now needs only a kiss cam to waltz out of a relationship.

How simple life has become now!