Love, Life and All that Jazz..

(Surprise! Surprise!)

People, who know me, would vouch for this better than my own humbled self that I never talk about the "mushy-red-candyland-you hang up first-clichéd teddy bears-heart shaped balloons" kind of love. But, today, I am inspired. Inspired to write about this much eschewed, evaded and frowned upon emotion in my world. Not because I am in love, but because, I spent a few precious hours thinking about this and felt this deserved a space on the blog, which by the way has turned an year old! Yayy for the blog!
Here's the deal about love. The understanding of this emotion varies from person to person. What is the definition of love to A, may not hold true for B, C, D or even X.
For some, love is about staying up all night and talking on the phone. For some, it is about sacrifice. For others, it is a monetary unit! For some, it is about one red letter day full of Teddys and chocolates. And then there are those who show their love by testing their partner's integrity on a reality show in the eyes of the public (I am not kidding. Have you seen Emotional Atyachar?!!) There are also some, who actually watch that crap on TV and claim that is a measure of true love. For the record, I am not judging any of these people.
But, amidst all this, I am inclined to wonder if mediums of entertainment are influencing and distorting the image of love in our eyes. Or has love suddenly become all about hidden cameras and "Hamara agent"? Or is it about a dapper, young son of a gun, who suddenly decides he is macho enough to flaunt himself on TV with makeup so that girls would line up for him with garlands in their hands? Girls whose "Ambition" is to marry this, allow me to say this nicely, "NINCOMPOOP"? Again, I am noone to judge, but why didn't anyone inform me, when love became an object of contention amongst a group of no-good bummer girls and boys, deciding who to sleep with and who had the right to "love"? Agreed, I am slightly away from this world, but a message with a warning would have helped poor, lost me, just venturing out of the nest!
It was my dear sweet idiot box which reminded me very rudely, that "Love" as we know it has changed. I would have believed that love is about flaunting, sleeping around, conspicuousness, tests and grotesque tasks, except for those really really rare, but beautiful things that prove the contrary. My references to the absolutely mind-blowing, superb and beautiful French film - Amelie, which I also, happened to have caught on the Television on a much obscure World Movies channel, not chanced upon by many, but rated as one of the best channels by those who really matter. I digress!
My Point: What Audrey Tautou represented as Amelie defines love for me. An innocent meeting, a sweet, simple conversation, a heartfelt urgency, a sparkle in the eye, a flutter in the heart, a clumsy awkward date, a surreptitious smile, a stifled giggle, an unspoken word, an unwritten song, Clapton's "You look wonderful tonight"playing on a loop in the head, a secret note, a hidden face, a sigh of relief, a warm hug, a long walk, a slight touch of hands, a nudge of approval, a reassuring gesture, an impatient look at the watch, a feigned look of anger, a melting smile, one cup of coffee and two people who understand each other!
That, my dear friends, is what love is all about for me! Apologies if it is after all, "mushy-red candyland-you hang up first-clichéd teddy bears and balloon shaped hearts" kind of love. But in my eyes, it is perfect. And till I don't chance upon that in my life, I will remain a cynic, who remains tight-lipped about love. Go ahead, call me a die-hard romantic. Whatever, but like Lord Byron would say,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Signing off,
Romantic, blushing, red cheeked Yours Truly :)