Definition Of Love

“Maybe I am the reason for the failure of our relationship.” My younger sister said to me. “Or maybe, this relationship never failed, maybe it is still alive.” I said. “What do you mean? Adil and me are on a verge of ending things between us. What makes you think that we can still make this work?” She said in a frustrated manner. “What makes you think that you cannot?” I asked her. She making a numb face, said “I don’t know.”

“You always ask me that how did I and your jiju make it work before marriage, that too long distance. Do you wanna know today?” I asked her.

She said no. I asked her again and said "it might just help you." She agreed and said “Okay! Fine, but it better be a heeler to my broken heart.” I chuckled and took her to the terrace. She said “Why are we here? It’s 2 in the morning, it’s getting cold.” I gave her my shawl and told her to keep quiet and listen, “I am very bad at remembering dates but 8th December, the one fine day when I first saw Arjun. He came to my college to attend the fest. We had a common friend who introduced us and then what? The same thing that happens, we ended up spending the whole fest together. He even dropped me home. That day, I was the happiest person alive on earth.

Because me, the hopeless romantic was successfully transforming into a hopeful romantic. I was willing to fall in love again. Even I wanted someone to share sunrises and cuddles with. Someone, who knew the right quantity of sugar to put in my coffee but also the right quantity of love to be shown wherever and whenever required. Someone, with whom I could convert a busy day into a lazy one and be with him all the time. Someone, with whom I could lie comfortably on the bed and not speak a word but let our fingers have conversations. And when night appears, we count stars but forget the count and happen to have uncountable laughs. Simply saying, someone, with whom I could spend my whole day and still feel the hunger of being with him. This was my definition of love. Putting aside promises and negotiations, being cheesy and sharing lame memes was all that I wanted.”

“This sounds amazing but at the same time a little unachievable. Like, how would you find someone who loves you so purely.” My sister said. I smiled and said to her “That’s exactly what I am trying to explain to you. Your generation thinks that love is all about exchanging gifts and flowers, sharing passwords, going out together, posting stories of each other and saying ‘You are the one’ when in real world you two don’t even talk properly. Love is not at all limited to romantic gestures. Love is not what you think but when their mere presence is enough to keep you warm, when their smile is worth everything and when their happiness makes you happy too. That’s what you call love.” My sister confused sitting there said “What do you mean by ‘your generation!’ You are also a part of this generation only.” I smiled and said, "by generation gap I meant the gap in your mentality and mine. "Look sweetheart, all I want to explain to you is that don’t be in a rush to fall in love and specially don’t confuse a physical relationship with an emotional one. Your generation just want to be loved no matter how. The problem is that you people think that sleeping together is the door to intimacy, but trust me, it is not. First learn to enjoy each other’s company in small and random things, dance together, sing together, fall asleep in each other’s arms but don’t rush it down the path.

Look, being a bigger sister, I shouldn’t be saying it but you are also an adult and you understand that building a physical relationship with someone is a plus point but at the same time imagine how amazing it would be to have the same person for the rest of your life. So, first feel wanted, loved, free, and all what your soul requires to be happy. The love that you deserve should be ‘unconditional’ and fun.”

Sitting bewildered, my sister said “So, what do you think, I should do now? Break up with Adil or try and sort things out with him? Because I know that I am in love with him.” “Do whatever you feel is the best for two of you and don’t force any of your decisions on him.” I said. My sister came to me, hugged me and said “Should I call him right now?” I laughed and asked her “Why not? Didn’t you two have those cheesy, romantic late night calls anytime before?” She laughed and said “Don’t you dare get personal now.” I smiled, she smiled back at me and went to call Adil. That day I felt like showing the right path to a lost child. No, I didn’t take her to the destination but tried to follow her until she reached her destination, so that she could form her own destiny.