Love is a strange affair

to count blessings is strange.
to know when you are broken,
there will be hands to hold
there will be unconditional hugs


to know you are considered that whatsapp dump, where a bill is dropped, just to save it for later

to share happiness of a random click and a jealous meal,
to share a laugh of a silly joke,
to share a pain of a workplace hurdle,
and when you too were lonely, to know you were the one who was sent that random message,
to ping you at 4am, to know if you are okay,
to make you apply for that job advertisement,
to share a bad haircut,
to 20 exchanges of random gifs,
to call you up when drunk.
to share a worry, to share an envy
to scold you everytime, if you haven't yet taken that steam for the cough



when life seems to push you to the wall;
to not drop the call even when there is nothing more to say
to a roommate you could cry with
who hugs you until you rest
to that friend who you can hear breaking down
because life just took a shot at you


to a family, who protects you everytime
in every way possible
for the countless sacrifices, and to smile above all pain,
just so you can share a cheer
to know having a sister who could fight the world, before any harm could come your way
to know a father, who would risk a life, before risk comes your way
and to know a mother, who would stand tirelessly strong, so that you may never fall weak


to people who were just asked to be teachers,
but who instead chose to become companions
who will throw everything to the wind
just to make sure you are okay
who video call you on an airport, tell you 'they will miss you'
to say, 'don't worry about anything else, we are here for you, we will always be'


to count blessings is a strange affair
it is to know life is not for oneself
because for everyone else around you,

it hasn't been for themselves


in the darkness and loneliness, there are often hands to hold
there will be cuddles to take a sigh
in a lonely stroll when you then sit by yourself, 

it can sometimes appear difficult;


waiting in a hospital wards can sometimes be lonely
you find someone driving all the way, saying, `care for a tea together?'
when you unknowingly stare off the balcony
to amma who passes by, asks 'nasta hua?'

an empty flat can haunt at times,
a sudden video call, 'cheers, finally i got the offer -- care for a drink together?'
when a midnight news is distressing you
a call from a different time zone, to tell you how you aren't the only one dealing with this


to know love, is to know on whom to fall back on
to people who stand beside you fighting
who cry with you in hopelessness
who know in how many millions of little ways, they help


those hands may not be immediately present at times
sometimes they might be struggling with something else
but those tired, bruised hands will come again
hold them if you can, wait for them if you can't


to love, in the worst of times
is to know, none of us is perfect,
none of us have best of times always,
but to know, there are ones, who care


Love a strange affair,
it's hard to celebrate a day,

when in every second of this life
you can't celebrate life without them


Love is a strange affair
to all those affairs of love, love.


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Happy friendship day, and happy rakshabandhan.
for each of those strings; those relationships you share,
May the tune always ring sweet.