Enjoying the company of the love of my life

I LOVE TO LISTEN TO YOUR VOICE AND THE FACT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND MY MOODS SO INTUITIVELY AND PANDER TO MY WHIMS. YOUR WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE ME LAUGH, MOVE ME TO TEARS OR AT TIMES EVEN RECOIL IN HORROR.

I am in love! I am in love!

Throwing caution to the wind and flouting all rules, I’m making this bold declaration of love. Regardless of the horrified looks, censuring my immature behaviour, and snide remarks about me not acting my age, I’m going ahead with this announcement to spend all the time I want with the love of my life.

Every day, with no one to disturb us, we take a walk on romantic, foggy moors or trudge up mountains, peering into pretty bay windows of quaint ramshackle cottages covered with honeysuckle and ivy. We jump across broken stiles into deep woods, eavesdropping on conversations between lovers, friends, and foes. We come across stylish, clever people in exotic cities of the world, speaking strange languages, narrating stories never heard before. I am charmed.

Hand in hand, making sure we are never apart, we embark on unknown voyages with no particular route or destination in mind. We meander past arguing, spiteful couples, lovers whispering sweet nothings on a park bench and watch history unfold before our eyes.

Many a time, we pause and watch as mute witnesses to terrible tragedy.

I love to listen to your voice and the fact that you understand my moods so intuitively and pander to my whims. Your words have the power to make me laugh, move me to tears or at times even recoil in horror.

Your presence and companionship means the world to me, because with barely any effort, you humour me. When I am sad and melancholy, you give me a fillip with your wise words and sage advice. When I doubt myself, you infuse me with hope. Often, you have me chuckling quietly to myself or even laughing aloud with abandon.

I have known you for long, my friend. I have grown up with you around, surrounding me, always in the background, quiet, serene, waiting patiently to catch my eye and attention.

It was I who was usually preoccupied with children, family and other pressing duties, but I knew deep down that you will never fail me. Now we are together and no one can tear us apart.

I often wonder at my good fortune to have you in my life and at your persistence and perseverance to comfort me and never leave my side, because many a time, I put you aside at a whim, ignore you for days and find you still there, waiting uncomplainingly for me as I turn, pick and caress you, lovingly ruffle your precious pages and inhale your familiar woody fragrance.

You, and the hundreds of books I have read, and the countless others waiting for me, you with your boundless knowledge and infinite wisdom, you with your soul stirring, sometimes sensual, sometimes sorrowful tales, you with the humour and wit, you are the love of my life!