C'est la vie: Right here, right now

Instant: In a flash + Gratification: That which affords pleasure; satisfaction; enjoyment; fruition = Instant Gratification, satisfaction in a flash.
Many psychologists attribute the alarming rise in crimes of passion in Mumbai to the diktat of today''s ''wanted it yesterday'' age — instant gratification.
The idea that to see something is to want it and then, if denied it, to seek revenge in some manner is not in itself new.Greek legends, tragic theatre, Shakespeare — all have touched upon it.
The very notion of love at first sight hints at the necessary existence of instant gratification. You see, you want. At first sight. In an instant. You believe you will too be wanted in return.
Not just literature, global popular culture has also constantly exploited the notion. Closer home, the simplistic covetousness of many of our Bollywood villains have been modelled along similar lines.
One only has to consider the innumerable times filmdom''s simpering heroines have attracted baddies'' eyes — dancing, praying, just being, to realise this.
Recall the baddies'' fervent efforts to possess these coy madames (or then, their daddy''s coy millions) resulting in car chases, memorable one liners and fight sequences defying both logic and gravity (only to be vanquished by chocolate-faced lover boy in the end).
Perfect examples of (thwarted) crimes of passion. And of (failed) attempts at instant gratification. Only the manifestations of instant gratification listed above — the legends, the literary works, the movies, the myths — have been largely fiction.
When fiction morphs into fact and reality echoes revenge sagas, instant gratification takes on ominous proportions.
Crimes of passion might appear daring. They might even appear romantic. But only in fiction. In reality, their ferocity — acid attacks, murder in Mumbai — spell a singular horror that is frightening. As mirror to a fast-tracking society''s frustrated self, they signal worse times to come, if allowed to go unpunished.
Instant gratification is wonderful in theory. Who wouldn''t embrace the notion of obtaining things easy — love, money — the idea of living out a Grand Passion?
The hungry adrenalin of urban living feeds off this. But in practice, karma cola comes at a price.
And as Mumbai, original covetous city, is just beginning to discover, that price is very heavy indeed.