Why we're not impressed with Ayushmann Khurrana fasting for his wife, or the other way around

Harvey Specter unbuttoned his suit, leaned over the table and said, “You can’t have it both ways.”

But we just don’t get it, do we? And when it comes to religion, all the more.

On Saturday, October 27, Ayushmann Khurrana tweeted that he was fasting for his wife, Tahira Kashyap, for Karva Chauth. On his Insta story, the Badhaai Ho actor divulged more details when he wrote, "She can't fast this time but I will. For her good health and long life."

Fasting for you is fun. #KarvaChauth pic.twitter.com/AiYIqDyGaG

— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) October 27, 2018

A little bit of context here is imperative. Tahira recently underwent treatment after being diagnosed with pre-cancerous malignant cells in her breast. “The result, I have become a half-Indian version of Angelina Jolie (since only one breast was involved)! I told my doctor now is the time to give some competition to the Kardashians since Pamela is passe. But no one listened to me, so now I have a portion of my back tissue in my breast," she had written in a long, inspiring, painfully funny Instagram post in September.

 

 

 

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An opportunity to give competition to the Kardashians just went wasted! A week back I mentioned about ‘my badge of honour’ that I was going to receive. And I did and am happy to share about it with the intention of it being received with love. As that’s the only reason I am posting it. Love for self and gratitude for the universe. The picture might be disturbing for some, but these drains have become my dumbells for a few days. I was detected with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in my right breast with high grade malignant cells. Simply put stage 0 cancer/ pre-cancerous stage, with cancer cells multiplying in a contained area. The result I have become a half Indian version of Angelina Jolie (since only one breast was involved)! I told my doctor now is the time to give some competition to the Kardashians since Pamela is passé. But no one listened to me, so now I have a portion of my back tissue in my breast. Perhaps now I can do chin-ups with my breasts! Jokes apart, this obstacle has given me a new definition of life. Respect it’s unpredictability and have the faith and courage to be the hero of your own drama of life. The invincible human spirit is God like, gives you the courage to endure and the will to revive. There is nothing that human spirit can’t do. Also I want women of all ages to be aware. I am 35, and I was returned twice over from a mammogram. If any symptoms come up, think of it as a protective force and get yourselves examined. Also we are so obsessed with boobs. This mastectomy has left me with even more self love! Big, small, left or right inclined , gravity pulling or defying, or even none, each breast the presence or lack of it has a story to tell. Mine has made me a 2.0 version of myself! This post is dedicated to awareness, self love and resilience of a warrior that I know each one of us possesses❤️ #breastcancerawareness #selflove #determination #faith #bodhisattva #bodhisattvaoftheearth

A post shared by tahirakashyap (@tahirakashyap) on Sep 22, 2018 at 1:59am PDT

This year, therefore, Tahira opted out of Karva Chauth, fasting and the whole circus. That’s when Ayushmann stepped in.

“Fasting for you is fun,” he tweeted with an adorable picture of the two of them. Of course, his move was instantly identified as the ultimate sign of wokeness. What a man, Twitter said collectively.

Cutest.

— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) October 27, 2018

You are amazing, brotherman! ????

— Mister Chang (@MeiyangChang) October 27, 2018

The thought that propelled Ayushmann is cute. Why can’t a man fast for his wife? If a long and healthy life is the ultimate aim of this day-long abstinence, deprivation or prayers, whatever one might want to think of this as, then why should the life of a wife be any less than the man?

But then, how is it helping obliterate the original regressive thought?

Ayushmann is not the only man fasting for his wife and slowing us down in the race to equality. Abhishek Bachchan is guilty of the same crime. “#KarvaChauth, good luck ladies.... And the dutiful husbands who should also be fasting with their wives! I do,” tweeted Abhishek in what could only be termed as a command directed towards other husbands who were reaching for that bag of chips as they parked themselves on the couch.

#KarvaChauth, good luck ladies.... And the dutiful husbands who should also be fasting with their wives! I do.

— Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) October 27, 2018

But how can we blame them if Bollywood does nothing but romanticise this over and over again? Simran, though not married yet, has to fast for Raj because, love. Raj has to empathise. And then, they have to eat from the same thali, taking turns to feed one another.

Because if you haven’t loved thus, have you really loved?

How many decades is it going to take us to realise that Karva Chauth is not romantic? You cannot really bring a dying man alive, like Veervati allegedly did. In fact, there’s no Yamraja, just like there is no Santa Clause. Then, why on earth are we trying to add purpose to this redundant idea by making men do it too?

Would you rather have widowers jump onto the funeral pyres after the death of their wives, instead of abolishing Sati Pratha?

What’s so woke about being gender-inclusive in superstition?

Also read: Why I believe in Karva Chauth