Young Love ♡

By:Sampurna Chakraborty

2nd year, BA (Hons.) English

Design: Ragini

A subtle nudge on the shoulder, fingers brushing against each other, an enchanting smile that makes the heart flutter, a momentary glance that brightens up the day.

Dear Diary,

More often than not, I reminisce about a time when the complications of an adult mind failed to tamper the ardour of the youth. When the sight, smell and touch of a person possessed the ability to invigorate my dampened spirits. I close my eyes and behold a time when love had the capacity to encompass our entire world, wrapping us in a shroud of affection and with simple exchanges of smiles, glances and words, from across a dingy classroom, two young souls wove a tender tapestry of first love. As I talk about this today, I find myself back in the same classroom where it all began. 

The numbers, 9-C were printed on the board above my classroom. The moment I entered the room, my eyes instinctively fell on the 4th bench which now lay empty. My heart skipped a beat. I walked over to our usual seat and put my head down, the absence weighing on my mind. The bell rang and no sooner had I looked up than I saw the boyish smile, the captivating eyes and the infectious gaiety for which I waited with utmost alacrity and that which held the power to enliven my countenance. 

  In between the gruelling lectures of organic chemistry and the teacher's strict eye, we snuck a glimpse of each other thereby satiating the heart's appetite. Two young hearts filled to the brim with love, exploded as our fingers touched one another's. Holding hands! Ah, that was a privilege one got after sneaking around the whole day so that no one finds out that in your heart remains etched someone's name.

 I have often found myself asking “What is love?”  and the answer is plain and simple. When your names match in FLAMES, a harbinger of a sweet fate, and when you bring extra tiffin because he liked the burger your mother made. When you stand in a corner and watch him play football and cannot openly celebrate a goal even though there's no one who rejoices more than you do and when just before the match you catch him looking at you for a second and that look communicates more than a thousand words. When he writes your biology homework because you are tired after your  dance practice and when he brings a dairy milk for you on your birthday.

 How innocent and uncomplicated were those times when Love didn't require fancy avowal or expensive gifts. Love was in each other's presence and absence.