‘Never imagined so much content will flow out of a slap.’ I said, looking up from the newspaper.

Dear hubby smiled, ‘ are you referring to Actor Will Smith slapping the comedian Chris Rock during the Oscar ceremony?’

‘Yes, Jada would not have dreamt that she would be creating so much sensations at the Oscars...’

‘Or maybe, she did. If Jada Pinkett Smith came dressed in her finery with a shaved head, I think she intended to declare openly that she had alopecia areata.’ I added.

‘If she wished to highlight the problems and fears associated with this debilitating disease and wished to share her thoughts, views and ways to overcome with other fellow sufferers, she should have informed the event managers beforehand. Before it got out of hand,’ hubby dear punned.

‘True. Like Deepika Padukone, who shared her fears at the Filmfare award function few years back.’

‘Nevertheless, Chris Rock was wrong to comment on a lady and particularly about her bald head. I know from personal experience. We, ladies are very touchy about our mane,’ I said remembering the comments I had received, as four-years old, on shaving my head at Tirupati.

So, you think Will Smith was right in getting angry?’ hubby asked.

‘Yes, every husband has a moral duty to support his wife in public, even though he may disagree with her in the privacy of their bedroom,’ I opined.

‘My friend, Sharma is complaining that now his wife asks him to support her for every argument she has with the maid, the bhajiwala or the milkman. That is expecting too much support from us, husbands,’ he added.

‘It is nice that Will Smith supported his wife. But you know why he slapped?’ I asked ignoring Mr. and Mrs. Sharma.

‘Obviously because he was upset at his wife being ridiculed,’  hubby responded.

‘No! When Chris Rock made the remark, Will Smith laughed. Then he noticed that his wife was not amused at the joke. He also saw that his wife noticed him laughing at a joke on her.’

‘Now that was a fatal mistake! I am sure, he knew this was a sure shot grounds for divorce. So, he had to take some drastic, immediate measures to show that he was also upset. In that flustered state of mind, he went to the stage and slapped Chris Rock.’ I declared.

‘Come on! This is all a figment of your imagination,’ hubby chided.

‘No! No! there are videos showing Will Smith smiling at first and Jada glaring at him.’ I  surfed the YouTube to show hubby the video.

‘A catastrophic situation like that, definitely required an immediate action,’ hubby agreed.

'Will Smith has tendered an apology to Chris Rock and the Academy and also resigned from the membership of the Academy. I understand Jada has also shared her anguish on social media, requesting forgiveness. Hopefully, the news will be put to rest,’ I hoped.

‘I wonder how our public would have reacted if such an incident had happened here.’ Hubby asked.

‘Such an incident would not have created so much hype in India for two/three reasons:’

‘1. A person here shaves his head either because the person has visited Tirupati and offered his/her hair at the Balaji temple or there is a death in that person’s family and so as per rituals, the hair is shorn. So either of the reasons would invoke respect or sympathy, never anger.

'2. As a true bhakt of Mahatma Gandhi, the victim would have shown his other cheek, and the whole episode would have ended on a happy note.’

‘3. From childhood we have heard the dialogue, “Do this else.... you will get one tight slap!” Parents, teachers, even politicians have threatened one another and sometimes the public to a slap. So, we Indians do not get upset with a slap.’

I listed patriotically.

Moreover,

‘Thappad se darr nahin lagta, hubby, pyaar se lagta hai,’ I quoted the famous dialogue from Dabangg.

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