The Many Forms of Love

Ah, Valentine's Day Coming!

Bollywood romantic lines like : “Teri aankhon ki namkeen mastiyan ... teri hasi ki beparwah gustakhiyan ... teri zulfon ki lehrati angdaiyan ... nahi bhoolunga main ... jab tak hai jaan, jab tak hai jaan” is in the air. But hold on, before we get lost in the Teri aankhon ki namkeen mastiyan, let's raise a cup of chai to something more important: Love itself.

Because here is the truth:

Love is not just for those with swooning partners and candlelit dinners. It's for everyone, everywhere! It's like that warm feeling you get when you have warm water on a cold day, OR when you bite into your favourite juicy momo. So raise a cup or grab a fork, because love is for all of us!

It is for the solo dancer in the kitchen, humming favourite tunes as you pour yourself a glass of wine and spin. It's for the friend who send you the Instagram reel at just the right moment, making you smile through your tears. It's for you, Hooman who showers their furry friend with belly rubs and bedtime stories.

Let's clink our glasses to these loves, the ones that sometimes get overlooked:

The love for yourself:

This one is a slow sip, savouring the good in your own company. It is the bubble bath after a long day, the dance in your PJs, the book that makes you laugh until your sides ache. It is the quiet confidence that whispers, "You're awesome, just the way you are."

The love for your friends:

These are the people who know your laugh before you even make a sound, who hold your hand through thick and thin, and who share your pizza without complaint (or maybe just a little). They're the reason we raise glasses at brunch, share secrets over coffee/tea, and sing wrong lyrics.

The love for your passions:

This is the fire in your belly, the spark that makes your eyes shine. It is the paintbrush dancing across the canvas, the notes soaring from your guitar, the words flowing from your pen, the crave of doing more research in your work. It is the reason we spend hours lost in a good book, do late night research, and cook food with laughter.

The love for the world around you

This is the hug you give to a stranger, the smile you share when see a child smiling, the extra blanket you leave for the stray cat. It is the reason we pick up trash, plant trees, put leg on the lift door, give food to street dog and hold doors open for one another. It's the ripple of kindness that makes the world a little brighter.

So, this Valentine's Day, let's celebrate all the loves, big and small, fizzy and still. Let's pour ourselves a glass (or two!) of whatever makes our hearts sing, and raise a toast to the beauty that surrounds us, both inside and out.

And remember, even if you are flying solo this February, you are never alone. There is a whole world of love out there, waiting to be discovered. So go ahead, take a sip, take a chance, and let your heart guide you.

Happy Valentine's Day in advance to everyone, and cheers to all the loves that make us who we are!

P.S. Don't forget the dance when you feel like doing! ??