True Love requires Courage

I am a little late in updating the sequel to my valentine fever blog...feel like a bestselling writer of sorts :P Well, on popular demand people... here is my definition of the concept of "love". A little background for the uninitiated- I was trying to answer a few questions I had about what love really is. Fortunately for me, life answered these questions for me. Here goes.

• “Lovers” make a lot of sweet beautiful promises to one another-promises of undying love, of forever and ever, of never having met anyone like their better halves. However, it is the courage to fulfill each of those promises that makes naïve dreamers “lovers.” It takes a lot of courage and will power to withstand all pains and tears to be with the one you have shown dreams to, the one you have seen dreams with. Only those who fulfill the promise of togetherness are the ones who have truly loved. A few weeks ago I attended the wedding of two people who fought tooth and nail to fulfill the promise both of them made to each other. The girl had remained resolute in fighting the world to be with the guy. The guy had told the girl on their first date ever that he was not going to leave their being together to chance. Both of them realized their dream of togetherness because for them not being together was never an option. This is true love.
  
  
• Holding hands in public, endearments, phone calls 24x7, weekend dates, stealing kisses…all activities you will often spot couples indulging in. But how many people understand that the reason a couple is referred to as a singular noun is because they are supposed to be “one” and not two different individuals. Couples are partners who sign an agreement of lifelong partnership. There is no room for breaking this partnership. Both the partners must walk hand in hand to realize the dreams, goals, ambitions of the other. Both partners should be by each other’s side when any one of them needs the support of the other.
  
  
• Love does not permit leaving your partner to wipe their tears with their own hands, entertaining new prospective partners after deciding to break the partnership alone. A few days before Valentine’s Day, I saw a very aged couple crossing the road. Both of them could barely walk. In spite of the discomfort, the elderly man held on to his wife to support her while she was walking. He was also carrying a heavy box with another hand. In that one moment, I could feel the love this couple harbored for each other. It was clear that despite all the storms, despite al the pain these two love birds were bent on not just holding each other’s hands but holding on to each other. This is true love.

We often tend to become jealous and possessive of the people we believe ourselves to be in love with. We want their time, their thoughts, their affection, their happiness, everything to be connected to us in some way or the other. There was this girl who felt miserable every time her significant half spent time away from her. She could not bear the thought of him near other women. The so called relationship ended but the girl continued to feel hurt, humiliated, betrayed. For her, life seemed to have come to an end with the end of her relationship. Is that true love? Is love that selfish? Is love so demeaning? Is love so self-destructive?

Another set of questions and the answer to each is a simple NO. Truly, love is synonymous with courage. Only two very courageous people can draw strength from each other and remain companions and partners for ever and ever. This is my interpretation of love.

I’ll end this post by something I really believe in…Loving somebody requires you to make a promise. Never break a promise because when you break a promise, you break a heart, you crush a dream. For some, no matter how hard they try, finding another dream can take a lifetime.