PHENOMENA called LOVE

If only someone could describe what love actually is,wouldn't it be so much more easier for us to diagnose that the love bug has finally bitten us and the infection has spread far too much to be cured.

Whilst we all know that the disease has its symptoms none of us can describe the feeling,because it is inexplicable..and the symptoms vary with every crucial stage!! Talking of symptoms,Romantic flicks define them far better than any doctor could have..

But the question here is...When do you know that it is "love actually" and not "infatuation"...and that it isn't just a temporary phenomena which fades away with time but builds up in strength with every passing moment..??

Here is my point of view...

Stage 1:Infatuation :-

Every relationship no matter how unique from the other in their stories has this part to it for sure because no relation can solely build on the "nice or sweet" part of its partner,there needs to be a strong urge from within to know the person,a strong physical attraction and a liking for the opposite sex or the same (as applicable)..which obviously is pretty much the way forward...looks do matter initially but take a back seat later on as the relationship matures..

Stage 2: I know you,you know me,now what? :-

Its simple,you meet,you talk incessantly,you want to share the best things about you,your achievements,your qualities,your life experiences,etc but at the same time you want to know more about the one at the other end,hence the observation power is increased manifold,watch out cause you are being noticed...nothing goes unnoticed! Every moment the other person is just gauging you to fit "HIS/HER TYPE"!! Now,here comes the Type issue,ironically,there are one class of people,who don't bother much about the "type"...but there are some who won't compromise! So be your best..cause the 1st impression might as well be your last chance..!! If you fit the type criteria,congratulations you have made it to the list,otherwise never mind better luck next time..and try someone your own type!!

Stage 3: I like you...!! really??!! OMG me too!! :-

This one is a pretty dicey stage,a make or break one...the thing is you have just confessed your liking but you don't know if its LOVE actually so you just linger it further this is the best stage,because the side effects of this stage are..you might assume you're flying,perhaps even HIGH,but on simple flirting !! Every thing seems to be just so nice...You want to stay here forever...and stretch till the next stage follows...

Stage 4:Let's know each other MORE.. till then let me ask my friends! :-

Its still the dating stage and you're asking your friends and people around you,if this would be the nicest thing to do...a mere nod/approval from their sides,will make way for something new..or rather the very next stage..

Stage 5:Wow...Is this real..I'm in LOVE..!! :-

Yes, you will be jumping around,sleeping less,talking more,dreaming both in the day and night,looking in the mirror more often,avoiding public places,steering away from parents,running to your room,looking at the roof and smiling..and the smile will be the only accessory that won't leave you even while you're in your most important meetings or discussions or classes..whatever! All that you will remember is your cell phone and you never know,you might even get caught reading the inbox messages time and again(a million times over)...or the constant beeps of the phone ringing are sure to get you in....! A person from miles away would guess,you're dazed and in love...and very much hit hard by the cupids arrow...

Stage 6: Constant recital of "I LOVE YOU"...and then MUAHHHH :-

I don't think this one needs any explanation...!! love needs an expression to come out....so there it goes..and i don't think you care if anyone's looking... :P !!

Stage 7: There goes my Concentration:-

You're just thinking...that let the entire world go to hell....and that you anyway,din't care much about others and neither did they ever...so why even bother...and your concentration is...well....very much at your partner only...no friends...no parents...no work...only love is on your mind...!

Stage 8:Beep BEEP...:-

Constant reminders of your love have to reach the other end...come what may...do hell with the phone bills... :D

Stage 9:Ok...im in love...and i'd love to have a future with you but let us not forget the finances!! :-

To make a living...love is merely an inspiration..money is the Requirement...Its needed for a house,education,food,clothing....!! Shit....we need to earn quick....!! or else...we will be dependent on your parents...or mine...!...Quick...snap back to reality

Stage 10:Love isn't everything...but it is still important...! :-

Ofcourse you're important sweetheart...but you know...Our career...is a little more important...so please...can we cut back on the talking part please..! you know i still love you...don't you..!! and im doing all this for us... ;)

Stage 11:So you don't love me anymore :-

Nothing is how it used to be....you don't have time for me...we hardly meet..youre busy always...!! no more lovey dovey messaging..and now you want to sleep early too..?!! you have changed...:D

Stage 12: Guess..we were never meant to be... :-

Well...things have changed..so have circumstances...youre not as understanding as you used to be..youre so intrusive and domineering...it psyches me..!! I have a life of my own...do i have to tell you everything??...Please don't disturb me..i have a lot of pressures over my head already...can't take crap from you too....!!...It will be better if we give each other time...

Stage 13: Over ?? so soon :( Shit...i miss him/her... :-

Friends....please come to rescue!!...i gave him/her my best..but i guess he/she has changed...so i guess not talking is the only way out...i guess,we have to move on...but i'll miss him/her...i wish...i'm called back...because i'm not going back to him/her...enough is enough!! :D

Stage 14: If its true...It will last :-

Despite all these ego clashes,circumstantial problems,unreal and high expectations,If you really were in love...It will LAST...and you'll be back...to make it work...:D

Stage 15: Happily ever after!

The umbrella diaries...

It was by far the best place i have ever seen...it was certainly divine ! But it didn't have the usual sky craving skyscrapers,nor the stubborn concrete buildings, nor the hollow walls of any dwelling, nor the diplomatic voices of the metropolitan cities,nor the stressful traffic and not even scenic monumental architecture..There were just 3 people there...me,my silence and nature uninterrupted.

I really couldn't previously understand why some people craved to be with nature and would want to live all by themselves,leaving all the fancies of the materialistic world to live a life so bland..with no cars,no big palatial houses,with not many appetizing and elaborate delicacies to choose from, with just plain clothes to wear..living a life not worth living...but i guess i was wrong...living near nature is an experience not worth leaving...cities can wait...
Not many people in today's world have the taste to live with simplicity..not many have the time to spend with nature...not many have the guts to leave what is shear comfort and necessity !
"Its not easy to be with oneself...it is far easy to live with others..."
Imagining and analysing life from this perspective i feel that we are in this rat race called life,missing out on a lot of beautiful things and moments...and this is what a day's trek to binsar's zero point made me realise..
Its hard to describe the place,its beyond words...the rustling sound of the dry leaves when you walk over them trying to sing a song, the sudden gush of the strong cold winds jostling the trees creating a symphony in mellow voices,pleading you to stop and enjoy the bountiful harmony and the beauty of nature and its songs for at least a minute..the birds were as if joining in the orchestra welcoming the spring with open hearts...the other creatures also joined in the chorus to let you know of their presence..the sudden drizzle made you wonder if the falling tiny raindrops were a part of the nature's conspiracy of the the enchanting symphony..and you might have never imagined how rhythmic these tiny little raindrops could be till they thud on the mud below to recreate a mesmerizing percussion of sorts..the soulful reverberance of whose sound fills your heart,mind and soul...
and that is not it...when you reach the trek till the top..you realize what they meant by heaven when they first coined the name...with clouds below you and walking besides you...precipitating on your face whenever a strong wind gushes past you...with hills below you and the himalayas infront of you clothed in the whitest clouds one could imagine...looking so enigmatic and mesmerizing...that you would never want to leave...
These feelings cannot be put into words...because somethings can only be experienced and not talked about!
P.S.: All Pictures are courtesy my father and the one holding the umbrella in the first picture is me.

My Conversation with my friend "Life":

Me: I really had to talk to you..I mean how do you manage being so uncanny all the time..you're so unpredictable and this amuses all of us all the time..so why are you this way??

Life: Well, i would have loved to be really simple and predictable but somehow i thought that would be so boring!! Thus i am not the same for everyone..and so like you behave and deal differently with different people so do i... what's wrong with that..and i am sure you all would have not wanted to live me longer if i were not like this,there would have been no fun at all you know! ;)
Me: Fun??!! well i guess when absolutely everything seems to be going the unexpected way..nothing seems right..! We feel so screwed up and you think its fun??
Life: Basically i am giving you a breather from your everyday boring life..I am sure its as refreshing as an adventure activity for you all...almost like a roller coaster ride of emotions ! Of course that's fun..but if you keep cribbing about it..you'll lose out on the thrill and experience.Its an irony my child..you'll never realize how much fun you had till that moment lasts..its only later on that you'll want to revisit and cherish those priceless moments again..like hanging out with friends or being thrown out of classes or being scolded by your folks or stammering in your viva's :P these moments may seem pretty embarrassing when they happen but they become profound
memories! So don't hold back and start enjoying !

Me: Ok, so you may be right here but again don't you think that these uncertainties that you throw at us breed insecurities in us!!?? and they make us aimless and haplessly depressed..what about that?

Life: My child, you need not get worried about these small games i play with you all the time..uncertainties should never stop you from trying..all i am trying do is giving you time to learn about your own self in this process..You don't need to be winning every game...because it doesn't matter in the long run,but you should aim at learning something from the experience all the time.Believe in me always and never assume that i'll leave you stranded ever..because i won't ever! Trust me..

Me: Guess you do have all the answers to my questions but here is a last one; Why does it happen that we can't take full control on our emotions during difficult situations?
Life: Well,that is true to a great extent for many,but that is because we sometimes think too much about things that don't really matter much so my advice is that let go..cause its easier to fly without much burden on your head and let me take the driving seat ; sit back and enjoy the scenery as it comes..

Me: :)

Life: God Bless you!!