Nothing lasts forever, writes Priyanka Chaturvedi

The news headline screamed ‘Brangelina No More’. For a minute, my reaction was, ‘OMG! What terrible, terrible news’ followed by disbelief. Only to realise, after clicking on the news link, that it was an obituary of a relationship that was coming to an end, of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filing for divorce. The pressure to create a click-bait worthy headline, is immense. I understand this, but this one simply took the cake and the bakery along with it, too! 

What’s normal?

The first thought that came to my mind after reading the news of the split was — what about their kids? Who gets to keep them? Perhaps I am not the only one; this is a thought that goes through every parent — dads included — when they read of relationships going awry. It is a natural concern and kids have many times been the reason for couples, who have drifted apart to stay together so as to maintain the ‘all is normal’ family scenario.
 Is that the best option, though? I shall not delve into that. Only a person living in such a scenario would be best able to judge and take a call on splitting or staying.  However, if kids are the reason to stay, it is suffice to say all children flower in families that have love, forced love to keep up with ‘all is well’ mirage is easy to detect even for a child. 

Why we cared

The news of the impending divorce spread like wildfire and sent shockwaves across all media platforms. While waiting for my news debate to begin, I was surprised when this made it to the top headlines of a Hindi news channel. It made me wonder why we were all, including me, being the baigane divorce main Abdullah sufiyaana? 
Till I read this, in an article in Vox on their split, and it all made sense, “People were invested in their happiness. America was invested in their love. And we all will be invested in their divorce. 
It’s the end of a love story, one of the greatest ones Hollywood has ever created.”
 These happy relationships, despite all odds, are a beacon of hope for many, hence the collective mourning when they go kaput. Same for many couples back home, too. 

Fastest reaction first

Anyway, it was interesting to see that the swiftest to effect changes after hearing of the split was Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum that separated the wax figures of the couple and placed them at a distance from each other. Just in case, an amicable split in the real world got ugly between their wax figures because of their proximity at the museum, I guess; better safe than sorry, I say. One thing that doesn’t change, however, and is now the only constant, is the ability of our digital platforms to react to every ‘breaking news’ at the speed of light by cracking jokes, being mean, witty, sarcastic, or outraged at the news — every news, whichever news and any news. 
Nothing lasts forever, is the easiest lesson that we have all learned the hard way while trying to be happy and alive at the same time. Life goes on.