The same (yep, literally the exact same) women who called me out for casually dating women (who were fully aware that I was casually dating and consented to date me, since they themselves were following a similar strategy…and I have reason to believe, were happy with that choice) and made a big song & dance about it, calling me misogynistic, patriarchal, chauvinistic, and rechristening me with innovative epithets, are the ones raving about (and holding up as a shining example of the modern Indian) an A-lister Bollywood star (equally privileged as I) casually dating before deciding who she’d finally choose as her lover and partner (a behaviour I wholeheartedly endorse, just in case you had any doubts, given that I indulged in it myself, and without a shred of regret).
मैं करूँ तो, साला, character ढीला है!
And these (the women who have a problem with my dating preferences and how I choose to lead, not to put too fine a point on it, my life) are not just any random internet trolls. They are and were (since some fled with shame when I started calling them out, though not by name, and some I blocked because they invaded my privacy) connected to me, frequently comment, like, and engage on my wall, identify as liberal in their political & social leanings, and are generally (as understood in common parlance) well-educated, articulate, well-travelled, well-read women who use the words ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘cognitive dissonance’ regularly in their day to day conversation, and have way too much time on their hands.
Isn’t the world a strange and wonderful place?
Here’s a random pic Misbah and I clicked of us this morning at breakfast. How does that old song go? ‘…मिल गया, हमको साथी मिल गया, हम से गर कोई जल गया…हो हो जलने दो।’
