Love need not always mean mushy, cute, over-the-top swanky gifts, with ‘oh-so-cool’ boyfriends in tow!
I am a new teen. Yes, you read that right. And being a new teen, I have been hounded by this one question — What are your Valentine’s Day plans? But, I don’t feel any pressure to find a date for Valentine’s Day, or care enough to be labelled a loser! Why? Because I am going to celebrate this day of love with my great grandmother! My response got me a lot of eye-popping expressions, and some even laughed out aloud, almost mocking me.
They didn’t expect me to say this. My gang of girls even asked me if I was feeling okay. These sacred Valentine’s Day-loving friends of mine have some grand plans — fancy gourmet dinners, a movie, and some schmaltzy greeting cards — all with their meaty pocket money of course!
I often wonder, what is love?
Love is graciousness, which helps us feel accepted, cared for and loved.
Love is a tender gaze when a mother gazes upon her newborn.
Love is those pair of hands that reach for others. I do not know of any other love which is so wondrous, majestic and glorious than seeing the compassion of one human being for another.
Love is a positive, healing, nurturing energy.
Love need not always mean mushy, cute, over-the-top swanky gifts, with ‘oh-so-cool’ boyfriends in tow!
My first Valentine’s Day as a teenager is special because my great grandmother is turning 95 this February! So, I will not be celebrating the conventional way. I will spend quality time with my great grandmom by being a patient listener to everything she has to say. Even though I don’t understand much of her broken conversations about the bygone era, her stories about the India-Pakistan partition, her stories of struggles and frustration. So, I plan to just hold her hand and hug her. My great grandmom’s toothless grin means the world to me. Every moment spent with her will be a golden Valentine! This Valentine’s Day, I wish to be the brightest spot on the canvas of her fading life.
(The author is a student at Maneckji Cooper School, Juhu, Mumbai. She is a self-confessed bibliophile who loves a cup of hot Hershey’s syrup and a packet of Lays. She is loved by her wonderful teachers without any terms and conditions)
This piece was submitted by our teen reader.
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