Love - three

Love is to Give Time.

That my doctor had prohibited me from having sweets at all back then, he still brought it for me. Some may call it not caring about health—I call it knowing that a happy heart is the healthiest.

There was a bakery near my apartment. Their donuts were my favorite. I happened to come across this important source of information when my dad randomly brought them home along with other groceries one day. Sweet tooth activated, I finished six in three days' time. He noticed. He remembered. And for the next few years, my fridge would always have them no matter how fast I devoured them all.

The cup of dahi my Nani sets aside as soon as she knows I’m coming over... The way my brother remembers to buy one more of every chocolate, every sweet, every single aesthetic thing he gets for himself because he knows how much his sister likes them... The way my Nana always keeps aside his journal collection and reminds me to take one whenever I want because he remembers my love for writing... The way my best friend gifts me a novel on my birthdays because she remembers how much of a bookworm I am...

I once called my best friend crying like a maniac. She picked up the phone and at half past four in the killing heat, I sat on the terrace of my PG, facing the girl who was covered in more tears than me—just because she saw me crying and could not stop herself. She had to go somewhere, but here she was trying to calm me down.

We are all too busy. We all still need attention from one person—someone who can listen to us, our feelings, our grief, little moments of joy or achievement, and more.

But you know what? The people who love you and haven’t seen you for a while now, only want you to sit with them, in silence or remembering old times. They just want your company. Your parents may not be the best communicators in the world, but they love to see you laugh more than anyone can. And they will break when they see you crumble with grief, even if they are too bad in expressing it.

I hope you give them time and let the shared silences whisper “I love you Maa & Paa” to their hearts.