Propriety

Hearing a song that’s completely inappropriate can sometimes lead to fascinating discoveries. While plugged in to ‘Billo Rani’ on the radio and nurturing a stomach which seemed determined to fling out all undigested food, the song struck the strangest chord. The days of the strong chivalrous knights are now officially over. Loud claims at devotion may now be the key to courting rather than any attempt to actually act on professed adoration. Simply put, today people would be a million times more likely to declare ‘Billo Rani kaho to abhi jaan de doon’ but, as P-S wryly put it, when the dogs come barking then few would stick around to fight till death as earlier claimed.

*rolls eyes*

Then why the tall claims? Surely statements aren’t best served chilled in the largest beer mug possible. A reasonably calculated guess would blame history and tradition which have always dictated that men are supposed to fight for their women’s love. Climb unconquerable mountains, fight ogres, find missing Pomeranians and the rest of the heroic acts… all to win the admiration of the damsel as she sits safe in her glass tower chewing her nails or rather, painting them.

Time (and feminism) have managed to prove this concept a little on the obsolete side with women shrugging off the restrictive furs that bind them to cushioned seats and demanding a piece of the world or action in kick-ass terms. But does this automatically mean that the whole will-be-there-for-thou inclination of the male will now be pushed out of the window? In one of those memorable heart-to-heart chats we girls are prone to indulging in, Sal divulged that her idea of the perfect mate (in Wodehouse terminology) would be someone who would offer to carry her luggage not because he believed her incapable of lugging around 10 odd kgs, but because he wanted to and thought no less of her for letting him do that. I remember thinking ‘mirror-image’ instantly and we bonded for good, post talk. :)

However, these expectation prove a lil taxing for the average soul who would rather cut the bulls*it and simply ask ‘D’yu want me to carry the goddamn bags or not?’
The days of the conventional chivalrous deeds are gone, so does it make one a chauvinist to open doors and pull out chairs? Sal and I seem to think not, but the deal being if the intent is right. As far as the more grand of deeds go, they’re pretty much galloping away on the once awaited white horse and prepare ourselves we must, to bid them a tearful goodbye and remember to hold on tight to our hankies, which if fall… will no longer be swooped up by men in knee length stockings. Small mercies or nostalgia worthy, you pick.

(so It is Written.)