Have you noticed the funny side of you?

The under-mentioned is a satirical piece. The incident may amuse but the peculiar issue it touches upon will not.

At my friend's place a few days back whom I visited while in Delhi I noticed an unusual heavy atmosphere prevailing in his house. The stiffness between my friend and his wife made me curious. Being frank to both due to long acquaintance I jokingly asked them the reason for the heaviness prevailing in the house besides the much-adored “Kapil Sharma’s Comedy Show” was being screened on the television. I hope the reason is not my unexpected landing here I asked! The duo came up with a big “No”. You are always welcome they uttered and we always enjoy your company. Then what is it I reiterated that is making me so uncomfortable this time around at your place I asked!

I think my asking the reason was just what the couple was waiting for. The wife sprung up before the husband could to tell me of her infuriation. My dazed looking friend out of fright of the wife signaling to leave the house sat couched on the sofa with wrinkles on the forehead as if unable to prove his innocence. You two are happily married, I said. Yes! That was till yesterday she cried.

A bit perplexed, I asked, what is the matter? You know he made very nasty and rude remarks seeing my photograph the wife lamented. Your photograph! But that is strange, as you have once won the title of best photogenic face a couple of years back while in college. You still look pretty, I added.

No, seeing my photograph on the newly received Aadhar Card yesterday he said I resemble like an old hag sobbing she said. Hearing this I understood the reason and burst into laughter to the surprise of both. O gosh! So this is what makes you upset with each other I exclaimed. “Yes” came the answer from a disturbed better-half of my friend.

I pulled out my wallet and took out my PAN Card, Driving License and Aadhar Card and jutted before my friend. Look at these, I yelled with laughter! Recognize the guy on the Cards and tell me who he is. The two got surprised at my behaviour and my friend took a look at the cards to see what I meant. Within no time he too rolled on the sofa laughing as if I had popped a laughter pill in his mouth.

I then showed the cards to my friend’s wife. Now also are you upset I asked her? In no time the heavy atmosphere in the house turned into a rock-an-roll of laughter. The erring woman understood the mistake.

Friends, the magic wand I used to liven up the atmosphere which may have turned a bitter one for the couple was simply showing them the mirror (A mirror not in the real sense of course but exposing them to reality of things) which displays images far away from the real ones by way of optical illusion, that which distorts ones face making it look funny and many times un adorable with countless permutation and combination. In reality we all have seen ourselves through such mirrors and enjoyed seeing the false us. However on identities such as the PAN, Aadhar or Driving licenses we all want to look our original selves and not be portrayed funnily.

Actually what I really tried to convey to my friend and his wife by showing my PAN Card, Driving License and Aadhar Card was it's not they who were photograph funnily but most of us. Unfortunately most of the Card bearers in the country have their very awkward looking photographs on the Cards. At times you fail to recognize yourself such is the situation. I am sure most of you will agree to this.

Understanding that the bad photograph was the cause of all misunderstandings my friend also took out his Cards that too bore a very indifferent looking him to pacify his wife.

Our friends who snap us for our PAN Card, Driving License and Aadhar Card it appears have lenses fitted in their web cams that have quality of unintentionally distorting and shifting identity mostly towards the worst and funny side. I cannot understand how do they do it or which angle they use for snapping the photographs?

My friend’s wife was a victim of this.

Next time you see any of the aforesaid Cards that bear your funny looking photographs don’t frown enjoy seeing yourself. It’s a reason to make you laugh as if looking through the mirror that poses you funnily due to optical illusion. On the lighter side, good photographs taken can certainly avoid unnecessary clash at home like the one I just narrated.

To my friends, who snap us for these Cards, a little caution at their end can help portraying a person as he/she looks. A photograph must resemble a person on a legal instrument such as the PAN, Aadhar or Driving license. By law also this is important. The photograph on these identities is like the number plate of a vehicle; if distorted or unrecognizable it can lead to many confusions.

Having said this, authorities must take this issue seriously and devise a better option for taking portraits for embedding on national identity cards of citizen. It’s simply the culture of doing things right!