love's letter-IV
This is love writing to you.
Dear Gouri.
Hope this letter finds you well.
As well as one can be at the age of twenty one, away from home, with a bag full of dreams.
Being from Madhya Pradesh, you have grown up in big open spaces with fresh air all around you. But now you live confined in four walls of a hostel, missing all that your home had to offer.
I hate confined spaces too because, as you must already know, love has a heart too big to reside in bunk beds. And you might have the same issue as me.
But, my friend, life demands sacrifices. It takes a lot from you before it gives you even a speck of the universe. From you, it took your home.
A small town girl in a new city with dreams too big is a proper bollywood cliche.
But only my favourite one.
There is something different about those who leave homes with nothing but an insatiable appetite to eat the world.
As Zakir Khan once said, “Hum bhook ke pale bacche hain, ek din aaega hum sab kuch khaaenge. Ab jab ghar se nikle hain, toh itihaas likhkar hi jaaenge.”
You said you were a creative kid and loved making greeting cards.
Just like Santa has elves, you might be the first one hired as an intern in love’s office—to be my first cupid. Your job will be just to make cards. Does that not excite you?
Never lose your childlike wonder and hunger to learn everything there is to learn. Art was your forte in childhood akin to how you are so much into writing now.
Go ahead and write all there is to write. Be it journaling, poetry, stories, or anything. Re-write the world if you have to; show what it feels like to live inside your brain.
Consider it a humble brag (or not): Being love itself, I have a lot on my checklist everyday. But nothing comes close to the feeling of self-discovery and fulfilment that I get after writing these letters every week.
Because I am known for my heart, and I pour it all in while writing to you.
To one writer to another, do not ever let go of the dream you had as a kid of being a writer. You have the heart to be the most wonderful one.
“Jo hota hai, acche ke liye hota hai”. . .
is what I believe must be your favourite saying. Because you get fascinated by how almost all things fall into place when the right time arrives.
Getting compliments makes you the happiest, while you are trying to learn to be okay with your inner-self.
Against what has been screamt into the void million times by the world, looks don’t matter, I would like to tell you that they do.
They matter as much as the dressing does on a salad. (weird metaphor, but listen to me)
While it is nice to have that dressing over your salad, as it enhances the taste', it is as healthy as it gets even without it. Focus on what’s beneath your skin and everything exterior will glow.
Do not feel disheartened that you are losing your bond with your grandparents to the race of dreams.
Know one thing: As you soar high through the sky, spreading your wings, everything else stays tethered to the earth.
You might not get to spend as much time with them as you used to, but no one will be more proud than them when you make it big in life.
Still, try taking out some time to call them. But do not despise yourself if you don’t get time.
Because as your favourite song suggests—
“Tujhme na kami koi hai, bas tera yeh din bura hai.
Waqt ki baatein hain, inhe guzar jaane do.”
Take a day as it comes. Navigate through your life being not too harsh at yourself. Because that is the worst thing to do.
If journaling is what gets you by, write down each troubling thought. Read books and let go of borrowed notions.
You are wise, emotionally intelligent, polite, kind, and so many other things. Only thing you need to learn is to be okay with who you are. (which you’re trying, so good luck with that)
Not being loved scares you. But, firstly you should fall for yourself. For the amazing human being you are.
Everyone who will get to know you will fall for you. Even you. So take the first step and know yourself.
You prefer moon over the sun, and night over sunlight. Maybe because you feel you can be truly yourself when there is no one around to witness who you are. When there are no expectations.
But, my dear, those who want the world in their palm have to learn to shine brighter than the sun. I know the nights bring the much needed peace and tranquility, but life happens when it’s still day.
So become friends with the sun. It would be lucky to have you.
You feel your younger self would be proud of you. And I feel that too.
I have known girls like you my entire life, the ones who need me the most, because they are busy loving every one else, and run out of love when it comes to them.
But you have come a long way; worked on yourself without any breaks, and found the confidence that was always inside you. You just weren’t looking.
I know you have still got a long road ahead, one that brings you closer to your dreams, but tread lightly.
Take breaks, stop to look around, and occasionally look back to see how far you’ve come.
Forbes ranking for top 100 women in the world still doesn’t have your name.
So keep going. Because I am rooting for you.
Until later,
Love.