A four letter word

Dhruv and Akshyata have been married for two years now.It was one of those great,college love stories,inspiring people to write 'their' names on classroom benches and canteen walls.Not a single tree in the college campus was spared.Lovers expressed their love,swearing by 'their' names.

Dhruv and Akshyata taught people that the moment we begin to seek love,love begins to seek us.And to save us.

The whole college gang was present at their wedding.Actually,only the whole college gang was present at their wedding.No,they were not orphans,both of them had families,but when it comes to marriage,family members often become vegetable vendors with a weighing balance in their hands,keeping their sons/daughters in one pan and the wieghts of status,caste,bank balance,career profiles,looks and family background on the other.They often fail to wiegh the the most important weight,and that's love.

They were branded as imperfect for each other and were asked to cut off all ties.

Therein came the friends into the picture with wierd ideas of making them elope and getting them married.I remember that day so vividly as if it was that one moment of your life when you witnessed the heavens bless,as two bodies became one soul.

As we descended the steps of the temple,I opened my eyes,gazed at the darkness of the heavens,and felt my tears blending with the raindrops.The earth was alive and the drops from above brought the miracles of heaven with them.We were all a part of that same miracle.

I've been in love before.It's like a narcotic.At first it brings the euphoria of complete surrender.The next day,you want more.You're not addicted yet,but you like the sensation,and you think you can still control things.You think about the person you love for two minutes,and forget them for two hours.But then you get used to that person and you begin to be completely dependant on them.Now you think about her for two hours and forget her for two minutes.If she's not there,you feel like an addict who can't get a fix.And just as addicts steal and humiliate themselves to get what they need,you're willing to do anything for love.

Lets sneak into the lives of Dhruv and Akshyata and see if 'all is well'.

Dhruv loves literature and often posts his work on the net, but nobody ever reads them. He is also into photography and he handles their wedding photos. He loves her very much. Likewise with her. She has a quick temper and always bullies him. He is a gentleman and always gives in to her.His philosophy - What's love without a bit of spice.

Location - Dhruv and Akshyata's bedroom.

A: "Why can't you be the photographer for my friend's wedding? She promised she'd pay."

D: "I don't have time that day."

A: "Humph!"

D: "Huh?"

A: "Don't have time? Write less of those novels, and you will have all the time you need."

D: "I... someone will definitely recognize my work some day."

A: "Humph! I don't care, you'll have to do it for her!"

D: "No."

A: "Just this once?"

D: "No."

Negotiation's broken. So, she gave the final warning: "Give me a Yes within three days, or else..."

First day, she "withheld" the kitchen, bathroom, computer, refrigerator, television, hi-fi... Except the double bed, to show her "benevolence".

Of course, she has to sleep on it too. He didn't mind, as he still has some cash in his pockets.

Second day, she conducted a raid and removed everything from his pockets and warned, "Seek any external help, and you bear the consequences."

He's nervous now. That night, on the bed, he begs for mercy, hoping that she'll end this state. She doesn't give a damn. No way am I giving in, whatever he says. Until he agrees.

Third day, night. On the bed. He's lying on the bed, looking to one side. She's lying on the bed, looking to the other side.

D: "We need to talk."

A: "Unless it's about the wedding, forget it."

D: "It's something very important."

She remains silent.

D:"Let's get a divorce."

She did not believe her ears.

D: "I got to know a girl."

She's totally angry, and wanted to hit him. But she held it down, wanting to let him finish. But her eyes already felt wet. He took a photo out from his chest. Probably from his undershirt pocket, that's the only place she didn't go through yesterday. How careless.

D: "She's a nice girl."

Her tears fell.

D: "She has a good personality too."

She's heartbroken because he puts a photo of some other girl close to his heart.

D: "She says that she'll support me fully in my pursue for literature after we got married."

She's very jealous because she said the same thing in the past.

D: "She loves me truly."

She wishes to sit up and scream at him "Don't I?"

D: "So, I think she won't force me to do something that I don't want to do."

She's thinking, but the rage won't subside.

D: "Want to take a look at the photo I took for her?"

A: "...!"

He brings the photo before her eyes. She's in a total rage, hits his hand away and leaves a burning slap on his face.

He sighs. She cries.

He puts the photo back to his pocket. She pulls her hand back under the blanket.

He turns off the light, and sleeps. She turns on the light, and sits up. He's asleep. She lost sleep. She regrets treating him the way she treated him.

She cried again, and thought about a lot of things. She wants to wake him up. She wants to have a intimate talk with him. She doesn't want to push him anymore. She stares at his chest. She wants to see how the girl looks.

She slips the photo out. She wanted to cry but started smiling.

It's a nicely taken photo. A photo he took for her. She bends down, and kissed him on his cheek.

He smiled. He was just pretending to be asleep.

He turned,their eyes met and there was silence.Niether of them said anything.Love doesn't need to be discussed;it has its own voice and speaks for itself.Her heart had listened closely to what his had said,and now it was content.

They closed their eyes and kissed.

"You learn to love, not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."