Love is perhaps the most sought after topic that we college students discuss about. As folklore says “love sets in as we reach the threshold of leaving our teens”. Be it anyone or rather I should say everyone, experiences this mysterious feeling by this time. I say mysterious cause nobody actually knows as to what it is! Things unexpectedly change around us. The whole lot seems fresh and extraordinary. When love is in air “one forgets everything”. One doesn’t feel like eating, studying or doing anything apart from thinking and thinking. And if you ask thinking about what, the individual doesn’t know even that. Romantic songs and poetry follows next. Both our conscious and sub conscious mind is taken over.

The dictionary defines love as “to feel tender affection for somebody such as a close relative or friend” or “to like someone very much”. But is love just this? I think love is much more than this. Love isn’t just about roaming with your beloved all day long. It’s not just about exchanging cards or gift on Valentines Day. It’s not just talking on phone for nights. All this invoke a feeling of closeness, but true love not far to see at this stage.

True love sets in when two different people start liking each other because they are different. Forget about the merits even the shortcomings appear worth admiring. This admiration comes from within and even words fall short when trying to explain it. Perhaps this is why love is called a language of hearts. This feeling of love is pure and divine. Something which can just be sensed and not explicated. Dedication and selfless devotion to relationship is what love demands.

In my outlook the best phase of love is observed in old age. This is the time when all the glamour is gone and what stays behind is pure love. I remember some days back I had seen an old couple who were out for a walk. They were holding hands. The lady had some problem in her leg and wasn’t able to walk properly. And her counterpart was there for her, to hold her, at each step she took. This was the cutest pair I had ever seen.

There are no formalities. The lady doesn’t have to put up make up neither she has to dress in trendy clothes nor the man has to put up a cool hair style. She would see him as the best man on this planet even with his stupid hairstyle. He doesn’t have to bring expensive gifts for her; just words of appreciation would work wonders. Silence says many a things which is difficult for even words to explain.

If one of the two is ill, the other one takes good care. One forgets his own medicines, but keeps a track of every small necessity of hers. Even a sneeze of her would make him worried, and even in this pathetic condition she would get up and cook for him while he is busy buying medicines for her.

There are fights too. And these are the sweetest ones. They stop talking to each other. But the regular activities take place in usual flow. His breakfast is served before he even asks for it. And he switches the TV to her favourite serial which usually he never does. They both keep a mum. But even in this silence, they take care of each other so well. Both of them wait for just one initiation. And once initiated, there are unending talks.

They don’t even have to spend a lot like the youngsters do in their so called anniversaries. Just a card without even addressing it to your beloved would say all that is unsaid. And the best time would not be going out to some fancy restaurant but just sitting by each others side in a park and looking down upon all the beautiful times they have ever spent together.

This is true love and a stunning experience.

It is lovely to be in love. And it is even lovelier to grow old with someone.