It’s complicated: Karma and Schadenfreude

That’s Karma’. This comment made by Jennifer Aniston, when asked about the Collapse of Brangelina sums up the human psyche. No amount of therapy, yoga, meditation camps, shopping or Game of Thrones can give you the sort of closure, peace and happiness karma can deliver. Seeing that particular someone hurting — the one who had caused you months or even years of pain — is one of those secret joys in life you treasure deep within the heart. The astute Germans have a word for it — Schadenfreude.

Because all this talk of moving on, letting bygones be bygones and letting grudges go is just that, TALK. Yes, you may have picked up the pieces, found a fabulous partner, a career, formed a jazz band but when you look back and see those photos of the cheating ex — all smiles and waves — you find yourself asking, ‘Where are God and Justice ’. How can someone, who caused you that much misery, be happy

Even gladsome Bollywood seems to agree. In Bachna Ae Haseeno, Bipasha Basu unleashes days of pain and punishment on Ranbir Kapoor — the man who dumped her at the altar. She gets closure a decade later after Ranbir’s character apologises to her, profusely. Off screen, Deepika Padukone maintains she never had a problem with her ex Ranbir Kapoor and continues to do movies with him. But, she didn’t let go of that infamous opportunity — on Koffee with Karan — to get together with Sonam Kapoor and lash out at Ranbir, for the way he had behaved during the final days of their relationship.

And within regal walls, Princess Diana spent much time and effort trying to device new ways to hurt and humiliate Prince Charles after Camillagate. Go ahead, put yourself in Di’s shoes, listen to the tapes and then re-start the reading. To maintain a veneer, everyone pretends to be okay. Just like Aniston, who soon became the very definition of the jilted wife. Brangelina went on to become Hollywood royalty while the Friends star was turned into tabloid fodder. She spent years hurting and now, as Brad Pitt finds himself under the FBI’s scanner, you know why Rachel picked karma. She’s thrilled Angie and Brad are getting a dose of their own medicine.

It’s funny how we often forget to thank God when things are going great but fire off a prayer of thanks when an enemy suffers. Fortunately however, most bruised egos and broken hearts are not psychos who want to stab you when they see you next. They are secretly hoping though, that a metaphorical speeding bus finds you. So avoid the negativity and ill wishes. Hold your tongue and conduct unpleasant business such as a break-up with real grace. Because, karma is as definite as the rising Sun. Earn the good points and the bus will avoid you.