This Is The Kind Of Love That Will Last A Lifetime
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We love more than one person, more than one thing in our lives, don’t we? But does all of it last for a lifetime? Most of you must have slid into the world of thoughts by now. Even I used to overthink about what I loved the most in my life. I used to cover it with a veil of ifs and buts that could happen and convince myself that, “No babe, this wouldn’t last long. You need to stop clinging onto it.”
Turns out, I was just over thinking. Who am I to judge if it’s going to last or not? All I had to think was, if my love for it was going to last or not. And if you’ve already figured this out, then you’re blessed with wisdom and maturity to see life at its simplest best. But, if you haven’t figured it out yet, the words below might make you look at the world in a different way.
My Grandpa’s Watch
My grandpa (my father’s dad) was someone who held a really special place in my heart. He was the only reason I so eagerly visited my hometown. He’d take me to the children’s park that he spent his childhood in, and watch me swing with a smiling face. He was the only person who would allow me to gorge on street food. I cannot count the number of times he’s finished my street side kulfi or the vada pav that I could not eat all myself. I had only begun to take control of my senses and start understanding this grandpa and grand-daughter bond when the most shocking incident happened. I was in Bengaluru at my parents’ place when I got the news that my grandfather was no more. I began to wonder who would love me like him now. Who would take me to those street shops when I craved for chats, who would sit and teach me old-school games now? I felt like it was the end of my childhood.
My grandpa left me his watch. When my grandma gave it to me, I held it close to my heart and started to cry. It made me feel like I was hugging him. The watch took the place of my grandpa. Ever since, I’ve been wearing it every single day of life. Not as a mere memory of my grandpa, but as an assurance that he is always with me. Our love still lasts, our bond persists, and it is going to last for a lifetime.
My City, Bengaluru
They say you can never know the value, the worth of a person, a place, or a thing unless and until you’ve been away from them. Like the saying goes, Absence makes the heart grow fonder, that’s exactly what happened in my case. I’ve lived all my life in Bengaluru. Honestly, I have never quite valued my city. I was just another person living here like others. After my graduation, I had to move out and head to another metro city in the Northern part of India to do my internship of three months.
I thought how tough could it be, just another metro city. Managing life there would be a cakewalk. But, it turned quite the opposite. My Hindi wasn’t that great and communication was a huge issue in the new city. Every time I walked down the street, I felt like I was missing something, and it’s only later on that I realized that something was the feeling of being in your home city. I somehow managed to complete my three months and came back to my ooru, my city, my Bengaluru!
The fresh, cold breeze that touched my face the moment I stepped back in Bengaluru was a mesmerizing feeling. I knew at that moment that this is the city for which my love is going to last for a lifetime.
The walks around Sankey tank, the bird watching in Lalbagh, the toy train in Cubbon park, the beautiful flowery trees during autumn on the side lanes, and I can go on and on with the list. The very next day I headed to VV puram, the street food area of Bengaluru and went overboard by filling my tummy with every dish that the city had to offer. I began to notice so many things that made me love this city.
Bengaluru has still preserved some of the colonial buildings of the British era and they have their own charm. I even found a place in the city where I can spot fireflies, can you believe that? Who can spot fireflies in the middle of a metro city? Me! (Does the happy dance)
This city defines me now. And I’ve taken it as a responsibility to introduce my city to all those who move here for work or personal reasons, I show the travelers what Bengaluru stands for. I explain to them why my love for this city will last a lifetime. This is the kind of love that will last a lifetime. What’s your kind of eternal love?
