His eyes continue to gleam before me. I can still sense the thud as I enter the compound. His excitement brought a cheer on my face. And all he craved for was a pat on his head. His unconditional love can never be replaced. Now, it is all a distant memory.
Love is strange. On the one hand, it is something that triggers certain needs. While on the other, it is a feeling without which the mere existence of a living being is incomplete. There are so many kinds of love. In fact, each society defines love in a different manner. And as 'intelligent' living beings, we abide by the societal norms, almost blindly, and accept the many theories of an emotion so complex without even the slightest desire to question or discover the not so obvious.
The fact is, human beings are a sack full of expectations. No matter how simple a person many be, he is bound to have desires that cannot always be fulfilled. If we are promised the universe, we expect the universe to grant us power imagination. If we are given all the love in the world, we dream about being the only person worth loving.
It wasn't until I became friends with man's faithful canine, did I realise the true meaning of love. Bolt was a Labrador. It was so full of life. I would wake up to his bark or seeing his little head stuck between two railings on the terrace. That was how he chose to greet us.
His eyes said it all. Anything naughty or nice, the gleam caught our attention. And I would stand in absolute awe.
Bold died really young. But yet, I still feel his presence. Every time I opened the gates, I could still hear his bark echoing in my head. His soft, white fur always drew me to pat it, while his eyes depicted affection, care and love. There was never a day when I felt upset after having pat him. His excitement and sheer desire to be with me, even after a hard time at work, always made me feel blessed and worthy of being myself.
I still remember how he stood on the boundary wall, with his paws resting on the wall, waiting for me to pat him. Bidding adieu was never this hard. I would have to force myself to step away and beg him to head back to his kennel.
His death was more than just a loss of another affectionate living being. It was as if, a part of our lives had just been snatched away after nature decided to act its way. Funny, but that affection, love and trust could never be replaced, explained or understood. And yet, it was accepted.
Relationships are strange. Many a time, it is our desire for company, the special someone that pushes us to strike a conversation with people whom we barely know. It is funny how sometimes our greatest friends are those who we met at an essay contest or even on the train. Or in my case, a four legged canine.
What is more fascinating, is that sometimes those bonds become more powerful, unique and special. Nobody knows why or how people choose to let their guard down and get close to some. We will never know why and how we feel lonely without that stranger beside us.
Love - in its true sense, is unconditional. It is an emotion that motivates you to fight each day. It is that feeling that makes you feel alive and grateful every second.
It was Bolt who taught me what love was. Nobody will ever be able to explain how Bolt could dare to be affectionate even after having spent precious little time with him. And now, his absence does make us feel incomplete in some way.
Perhaps that is what love is all about. Perhaps, that is why, letting go is never easy.
Love is strange. On the one hand, it is something that triggers certain needs. While on the other, it is a feeling without which the mere existence of a living being is incomplete. There are so many kinds of love. In fact, each society defines love in a different manner. And as 'intelligent' living beings, we abide by the societal norms, almost blindly, and accept the many theories of an emotion so complex without even the slightest desire to question or discover the not so obvious.
The fact is, human beings are a sack full of expectations. No matter how simple a person many be, he is bound to have desires that cannot always be fulfilled. If we are promised the universe, we expect the universe to grant us power imagination. If we are given all the love in the world, we dream about being the only person worth loving.
It wasn't until I became friends with man's faithful canine, did I realise the true meaning of love. Bolt was a Labrador. It was so full of life. I would wake up to his bark or seeing his little head stuck between two railings on the terrace. That was how he chose to greet us.
His eyes said it all. Anything naughty or nice, the gleam caught our attention. And I would stand in absolute awe.
Bold died really young. But yet, I still feel his presence. Every time I opened the gates, I could still hear his bark echoing in my head. His soft, white fur always drew me to pat it, while his eyes depicted affection, care and love. There was never a day when I felt upset after having pat him. His excitement and sheer desire to be with me, even after a hard time at work, always made me feel blessed and worthy of being myself.
I still remember how he stood on the boundary wall, with his paws resting on the wall, waiting for me to pat him. Bidding adieu was never this hard. I would have to force myself to step away and beg him to head back to his kennel.
His death was more than just a loss of another affectionate living being. It was as if, a part of our lives had just been snatched away after nature decided to act its way. Funny, but that affection, love and trust could never be replaced, explained or understood. And yet, it was accepted.
Relationships are strange. Many a time, it is our desire for company, the special someone that pushes us to strike a conversation with people whom we barely know. It is funny how sometimes our greatest friends are those who we met at an essay contest or even on the train. Or in my case, a four legged canine.
What is more fascinating, is that sometimes those bonds become more powerful, unique and special. Nobody knows why or how people choose to let their guard down and get close to some. We will never know why and how we feel lonely without that stranger beside us.
Love - in its true sense, is unconditional. It is an emotion that motivates you to fight each day. It is that feeling that makes you feel alive and grateful every second.
It was Bolt who taught me what love was. Nobody will ever be able to explain how Bolt could dare to be affectionate even after having spent precious little time with him. And now, his absence does make us feel incomplete in some way.
Perhaps that is what love is all about. Perhaps, that is why, letting go is never easy.
