And What of Love?

On Marriage
A coy smile from the bride, a shy grin from the groom. The moment they’ve waited for their whole lifetimes is really happening. One year down the line, a new addition; four more years and another one. The two become four. And what of love? Well, see it’s complicated… the husband goes silent, saying “Yes” to what the wife says is the way to survive. Happy wife happy life. The wife, she’s overwhelmed with her career, looking after her kids and making a home for them. Heart’s bitter, the husband seems to lay around all weekend and do nothing of the housework. That’s the woman’s job he says. Inside he’s crumbling from work pressure, wracking his brain thinking; how to provide for his family. And what of love? Small talk is non-existent, deep talk is rare unless on special occasions… fights. They talk, they make up, they forgive, they compromise, they love. Tomorrow – they love. Day after – they love. Day-after-tomorrow – they fight. Love-Fight-Forgive-Repeat. After a good 20 to 50 cycles, numb. You do Your thing and I’ll do Mine. And what of love?

On Couples
Handsome bachelor, pretty girl. Easily falls in love. A whirlwind romance. The heat, the hype, the rush, it’s all there. One month down the line, they are inseparable – magnets bent on attraction. Movie dates, late-night texts, video calls, and a pile of used data cards. “Young love,” the haters said, “it’ll soon fade away”. And what of love? One year down the line, both are busy with work. Two-hour-long video calls turn into an hour, continuous texts turn into a “Good morning” here and an “I love you” there, a single data card could last the week. A date happens once in a blue moon. Chats are no longer packed with cheesy emojis, conversation is dry. The boy makes an unnecessary joke, out of fun, just to tease her. She’s hurt but laughs anyway for a while until she can’t take it anymore. They talk about it. He understands. He changes for a week, two, a month at most, and back to square one. And what of love? She doesn’t feel like meeting him anymore. Lot less effort goes to her dressing up. He thinks she doesn’t care anymore. He’s hurt. I will change if You will change – how do You expect Me to change when You don’t change… ahhh the age-old blame game. And what of love?

Between a joke and a question mark all love is lost.

On Love
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Rtr. Hiruni Hitihamu