I vividly recall the Moral Science chapter we so looked forward to at school. It was all about love. Second even to our fascination with the Bio chapter on Reproduction! The sister who took care of our Moral Science classes was in retrospection smarter than we had presumed. She kept this chapter for end-of-session curriculum, knowing we’d not leave her alone, that we would keep pestering her for detailed and vivid descriptions that Shakespeare immortalized so well in his sonnets.   

    Our 40 minute class seemed suddenly, too short. Sister began with universal love and moved on to familial and filial love, even touching upon love for pets and animals! But hey, we weren’t interested in all of that. What we waited for was romantic and passionate love. We had even prepared our list of Qs we’d ask her. This included stuff like how could one separate romantic love from a sexual encounter or passion. How did one know one when one has fallen in love? After all, we were MB addicts and Sydney Sheldon readers at the same time. But all we knew about romance was what was espoused in Hindi movies and MBs. We were curious to know how thin the line separating love and passion was.    

    Needless to say, the time ran out and we never learnt. We didn’t have Moral Science any more as school closed down for Christmas holidays. We had officially completed our stint in school and were all set to take the I.C.S.E.  

    Decades down, when I see the sixteen year olds around me and I think back to my days, I am stunned at how naïve and simple we used to be.  Ask any kid of ten today about love and passion, and he would perhaps come up with some interesting quips that would leave you speechless.  

    Yet at the same time, I wonder whether the gen next hasn’t missed out on the essence of love. To them the word is something to giggle about or talked of in the same breath as their Twilight reads. Or synonymous with youthful attraction and sexual gratification. The depth, beauty and universality is perhaps lost on this yuppie generation. It’s not surprising though, as everything today translates into @instants. So when, we have instant biryanis to instant messengers, then why not instant love and fatal attraction?

    Perhaps they need to find their own way about life and situations, to exorcise those instant attractions of youth, and get over youthful sexual urges and move beyond to the realms of love as we have known.  

    As one who has loved, lost, loved again and been through most roles of life, I am amazed at the power of this four lettered beautiful word. This word has the power today to cross all barriers of religion, race and time zones. It can foster respect for the environment, just as it can nurture universal brotherhood and tolerance. Love of one woman towards another, the MIL and DIL, can alone create a peaceful, nurturing home. Love is not merely about accepting another’s faults, but also about understanding, sacrifice and compromise. It is an unconditional acceptance of what the other person is.   

    True love has the power to connect, soul to soul. It has the power of transformation. Coupled with hardships faced together and pain shared, love becomes even more potent, transcending all barriers. It does not need material expression or even a societal label, but a faith that reigns supreme.  

    These lines from “The Invitation“(Oriah Mountain Dreamer) have always struck a chord within me.  This to me, is LOVE.  

“It doesn’t interest me who you know

or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand

In the centre of the fire

With me

And not shrink back….”

     And here is a poem by yours truly, celebrating love in all its glory!  

You are you

And I am I,

Swept into the vortex

Of family life,

Stealing moments of pleasure

Moments to treasure

as we walk the bridge

across eternity.

 

You have time not

for me

And I know

Its not meant

to be.

Yet caught up

in a time warp

As mates, lovers,

soulful other halves;

We etch out

our own niche,

In the clouds of

timeless love

called

House  no.56.  

Happy Valentine’s Day to all couples, lovers and  partners!