Virtue & the Valentine...

A new day is here, and its just not another day.... its called Valentine's Day! A day when you will be starkly reminded of your 'single' or 'complicated' or 'committed' status! Wow!!!!!!

Who celebrates this day? Definitely the young-age couples, who need some precious time for each other under the shadow of a tree in a park.... There's a problem this time though, 14th Feb being a Sunday!!! U don't have a college to bunk! But then, relax! Urban parents do give their children the amount of freedom they need! So, it wont be really any trouble... sneaking out....... But beyond these mortal couples, the biggest beneficiaries are the business houses..... From gift shops to gyms (40% discount for 'couple' registration on V-Day) to Restros (Surprise ur Valentine in our way!!!!) to Mobile Stores (One mobile comes free!!!) to Slimming Centers ('Hum Tum' offer, Lose 20 Kg in total!!!) to Dry Cleaners(Give ur dirty night suits and we will dryclean both and u pay for only one!!!) to what not!!!! U name it and they have it!!! We have definitely moved a long way in love celebrations.....

All this is fine... yes. really fine.... But there is something more to it..... Deeper and more subtle.... Little things that we overlook in these celebrations... small yet so significant! Yesterday night, I was watching 'Fellowship of the Ring' and there was a dialogue 'Even the smallest person can change the world'.... So simple, yet so precious! What does this really talk about? It signifies the role that you play beyond the battle-field! The role of a friend, a guide and a support! Its not the war that determines the fate of the world, its the insignificant droplets of support that make our living in this universe so significant!

So while there is a hue-and-cry over the Valentine's day, I was wondering about these small drops! While one may talk of how they love each other and get cozy at the slightest or deadliest of opportunities, they are indulging at the war of winning their counterpart.... And war brings destruction! Not bonhomie and peace! One of them will win, but wasn't the idea about both of them winning simultaneously? War wont bring it, the small droplets will.....

Last month I went to Marine Drive.... was sitting there for a lot of time, watching so many people.... jogging, chatting, admiring the sea, enjoying the sunset, making love.... But there was one couple which drew my attention.... A Bihari couple.... The pale, short, dark person was sitting with his dark and fat companion.... They were different from the crowd, looking quite ugly and 'lower class'... A few college girls going past them threw angry stares and whispered on the deteriorating 'quality' of the visitors in the famed 'Marine Drive'.... But then I found this man to be interesting... He was not even looking at the sexiest girls around! Not even a glance! The short-skirts and tightest tops were not even drawing his attention.... The couple was quite oblivious of the 'upper class' surroundings..... They were just talking.... Laughing, smiling, enjoying the sunset, taking pictures..... And when they were about to get up, the 'ugly' man planted a kiss on his woman...... On the forehead! And the woman rested on his shoulders!........................

I had reframed a lot of thoughts from the most insignificant visitor at Marine Drive! The small droplets do make for the most significant impacts!

This Valentine's day, move ahead of the lips...... No, not below.... Go up sweetheart! Kiss her on the forehead! Move beyond love, to something that's not so explicitly said.... Look for the small droplets in this world! Before u say 'I Love U', tell her that you will be there forever, in the most difficult times, even if the world goes wrong.....

This Valentine's Day, embrace Loyalty and Commitment as your biggest virtues..... not Love, Care, Respect or Sex!

GodSpeed!