Touching Fame

A few days back, I ran into some amazing luck. Long story cut short, I got to see the cast of The Amazing Spiderman at a red carpet event. And needless to say, I took away something from that event (NO, I do not mean a selfie; it never got that far T.T)

 Most people are simply 'fans' and a smaller fraction of people are actually a little more than fans, they are worshipers. In that crowd of children and adults who were dying to catch one glimpse of the cast, I guess less than 50% of them were real Marvel Fans (Stat Source: My Brain). The rest were there for the fun.

I've read a load of Marvel Comics and it's pretty obvious that a Marvel fan would rather empty his pockets and head over to Comic Con and not to a Red Carpet event; unless he really wanted free merchandise. Which kind of brings me to what I really wanted to say - I wasn't there as a Marvel fan. This was the second time in my life I would get the chance to see internationally acclaimed artists up close. I didn't want to miss this chance. AND it was Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. The movie buff inside of me just did a somersault!

The Chaos that was my Eyeball.

                       

There is something about seeing your favorite icons in real life. It kind of propels the breath out of your lungs. You're in absolute awe. HOW... just HOW can someone be so amazing on screen as well as in real life? It's downright impossible. Those people must be Gods.It's not about the wealth or the glamour. It's not about the looks or the clothes or any other materialistic aspect. It's about the sheer brilliance of their talent. The mere fact that we see these people on the silver screen, chosen out of a million others for that one role, and being absolutely fabulous at it. And then all of a sudden, they are in front of you, like just another ordinary human but absolutely extraordinary in every way. And you are gazing at them, jaw dropping, shaking, completely and utterly breath-taken by the enormity of the situation.

Truly larger than life. In that moment, everything else is indistinguishable. These people aren't just themselves. They symbolize an image of success which is bigger than any achievement you have ever achieved till now. They give a solid shape to Fame herself, and Fame is not just any glamorous girl. Fame can trick you, make you delusional and gullible; Fame can unearth you from the responsibilities you undertook when you set out to achieve her. But then again Fame can uplift you, she can make your soul take wing and fly,  she can and she will make sure you are the brightest star in the dark sky which is imprinted with so many other stars.

You believe you can FLY!

                   

And here you are, just minutes away from touching someone who is Famous. Everyone wants Fame, and with one touch and one wrong move, many people obtain her. Some carry her with pride, and some go down with her into the shadows. Some gain her with merit, some steal her. It's contagious, this longing for Fame. Those who seek only Fame thrive under the gaze of six billion people everyday. Whereas those who become Famous unexpectedly, often grow to hate this gaze.


I spent those few minutes at the very feet of Fame and every heart string inside of me wanted to be famous. To have the whole world die to see you!The magnanimity of the situation did not help me think. I did what any normal fan would do; I screamed and yelled and wanted to immortalize that moment forever. It's only later that I realized the causes and implications of Fame.


                                

These people, had worked hard for their whole life to reach where they are now. Fame is attainable, but the process isn't a bed of roses. It's the presence of unique talent that drives you to such a high level in life. If these people were not especially talented, they'd never be at that Red Carpet event. We would never know them. Every famous person must have broken through in some way, whatever way that may have been. Every famous person must have made some sacrifice to reach this status in life. And we as admirers often overlook this process and only appreciate the result.

Once the euphoria of the moment had died away, and I had reached back home, I realized one important thing. That humble bed, that messy desk, those untidy drawers...these tired hands. They were all mine in a way that Fame would never be. Fame would be borrowed and shared and juggled. But these normal pleasures in life; old books on shelves, making maggi after midnight and watching movies in pajamas. These moments won't be private anymore; and I wouldn't trade these priceless moments for anything in the world.

Beyond the ceiling of this tiny room, and up above lies the colossal weight of the future. Who knows if that may carry a hint of Fame? Till then, I'll be content with a cup of chocolate and a bag of marshmallows. To be famous is not in my hands, I'm just glad I got to be near it.