I am the typical 90s romantic at heart. Like most kids, I grew up gorging on the 90s SRK movies that everyone is on a nostalgia trip this week about - courtesy Pathan’s release. With time that belief went through various reality checks, and was many a times on shaky grounds, but managed to stand the test of time.
And while my belief in magic of love has grown, so has my belief in destiny.
I’ve grown to learn that there is more to love than love. Falling in love is only the first chapter of the book, not the full book. And, this is a book you often don’t get to author.
As I navigated my late 20s from a maze of fairytales and heartbreaks around me, I noticed another seat of other stories too. Stories friends whispered , because they were too painful to be said out loud. My heart learnt that sometimes people don’t end up together simply because there are other paths of life they must chose. It’s not always the cheating ( good riddance I say ), or toxicity or the other 458 reasons we are automatically made to believe are behind every story not working out. Sometimes it’s also different relationship end posts, family obligations, timing, a higher purpose, or sometimes, just sometimes, even the other person’s happiness. Remember Monica and Richard, Phoebe and Mike? (When Mike had refused to get married )
The world is a complex place and so are relationships. What is meant for you will find you yes, but sometimes what is not meant for you will also find you, till you learn to let go. If you can’t relate, consider it a privilege.
So, today am thinking of those chosen few. Their stories. The ones whose exes neither fall into the bff forever, nor in the villainy quadrant.
The stories of a December and a January, always together but never really. The 2 intersecting lines who were meant to meet once, only to go their own ways, all the while knowing they were on borrowed time.
Love is as love does, Love by itself means nothing- A very wise friend had once reminded me. And sometimes what love has to do is to let love go.
Neither 2 people in love nor 2 stories are ever the same, least of all 2 love stories but there are some stories that Passenger wrote for - Only know you love them when you let them go. Depending on the mood of the day, I sway between thinking they are either the luckiest or the unluckiest people in love.
A friend once told me that sometimes the kindest thing that you can do for someone is to let them go, even if it’s the hardest thing you ever do.
So while social media celebrates the perfect love stories, and admonishes the toxic exes, this poem is dedicated to the ones who had it all, till they didn’t ..
If I knew it would be the last time we would talk, I would have just lived in the moment and asked time to stop, If only I knew
If I knew it would be the last look we'd ever share, I would have just stared in your eyes and lost myself there, If only I knew
If I knew it would be the last time I'd kiss you, I would have kissed away all your pain, the fear and the tears too, If only I knew
If I knew it was the last time I'd see that smile, I would have just stood and stared at you for a while, If only I knew
If I knew life we’d have to go our separate ways, I would have held your hand and asked you to stay, If only I knew
If I knew that it would be our last memory together, I would have wanted nothing, but to hear you laugh, If only I knew..
Weekly recommendation :
Since we are discussing the shades of love, I cannot not recommend this very famous poetry by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye. While chances are that most people would have heard of it from before, it is a piece that can be heard over and over again.
Maybe love is there only for a month, Maybe love is there for every birthday party, every firework, every hospital visit
Maybe love stays, Maybe love can’t, Maybe love shouldn’t
But, like Sarah and Phil say, no matter what, let’s never forget to say - Thankyou for stopping by. :)
Attention Please:
Initiating this new section where I’ll post informational stuff or content that I can’t post elsewhere in the newsletter.
Substack has added a new feature called “Cross post”, where authors can share fellow authors’ works with their set of followers.
So, if you see a post from me but not authored by me, you’ll know that is a cross post. It’s fairly intuitive, but I still wanted to avoid confusion. If at all I end up using it, it will be because it’s something I really really liked. Also, some brilliant authors who need to be discovered. : )
Until next time!
Stay in love, Sumedha
Wow! Great read and so many relatable moments. You are nailing this girl!
This is super relatable..Very well written