Why not Single?

“Are you still Single? WHY?” Oh Dear Lord, not again. I’ve come across this question a million times and my answer has been evasive and it keeps changing as per the person I’m answering. People might seem so concerned about your relationship status but are they really concerned or is it the social mockery, so they can happily brag about their relationship? Is it the fact that the society has acceptance only towards couples and if you’re single, they think that something is certainly WRONG with you? Forget the couples but what do we singles have to say about this?

I’ve seen people fall in love and act all gooey, awing over their mushy pictures and the needless need of being together everywhere they go; so much that if you come across one out of the two, the first question is where is your partner; and before you say anything, they’ll skip to the next question, desperately to know if you broke up? I mean really, haven’t you heard something called space? It’s not like we are glued together even before we’re married! I also find it funny how people expect you to get married after you start dating for a few months. No really, they would happily be your astrologer and start coupling you to the extent that they’ll ask you if you have named your kids yet.

I’ve another complain with these couples. Why do you want Us, the singles, to find someone for ourselves? Do you think we aren’t capable enough to find a suitable partner by ourselves or alike you, we should settle down with someone before and I’m quoting this, “the best goods run out of stock?” If you are very well happier with your partner, why is there a sudden urge for the rest to find someone too? I could very well pick a friend to accompany you for a double date! And wait, do you think we carry an emotional baggage or something to think, that we can’t find someone, forget indulging in a relationship?

We’ve all met such cynical souls who fail to see the rest happier, coupled or single and the fact that they want to know everything going on with us and have no control in their own lives. Even those old women who constantly want to know if someone’s son or daughter got married at the right age? Since when do you care about the neighbourhood when you couldn’t take care of your own house? The social need of being coupled and the fact that it’s the foremost responsibility to get married at the right age, drives the social pressure on people and resultantly some even end up in the dark clouds of depression and low self worth!

So even when all the youngsters follow the trend of finding someone, there are some who are happier, all by ourselves, to the extent of not complaining about our complicated relationship or letting the world know that we live in a bubble of happiness. We aren’t emotionally dependent on someone because we are the reason for our own little happiness. We might be named as emotionally damaged, unavailable, lacking in colour, physique, height or any other physical attributes; but the thing is, we still haven’t found the need to find someone.

If the world asks you again, whether why single, pounce back on them, asking WHY NOT SINGLE? Not because you don’t have a partner now or you find love an illusion or your past has hurt you so much that you choose to be adamant about being single throughout your life; that’s stupid. Eventually, it all comes down to you, your happiness and when you’re ready to put aside your life, career, friends and family for a new start. To the fact, that you’re happier with your life and someday wouldn’t mind sharing it with someone or do you really wish to tie your partner with a leash, acting a control freak and still boast about what you name this as a ‘relationship’.

Beneath the Blue Umbrella

Have you ever had butterflies looking at someone, when you look at that person every day with the same zeal and the happiness he brings to you just by being around? The way you silently stare at him for just one moment when you could look at each other right in the eyes at the very moment and then giggle shying away. The first day of college and when you looked in the crowd, you never noticed him. It wasn't a fairy tale where you could only see him, you hated his guts or found him a complete nerd and now; you’re so mad about him that you want him around all the time. You wish you could get a cute picture with him and treasure it in your diary. You want him to text you first and that’s why you let him miss you. The moment he says he missed you in class, oh dint you wish he would say that more often?

When he asks you about your crush, you avoid the answer because you know you’re secretly crushing on him. Every time you have good news, you wish you could just call him up first. And when you’re hiding in your blanket crying, you wish you could go hug him and cry on his shoulder instead. He finds those cute ways to make you smile, he has his own bunch of friends but he still saves a seat to sit with you. He comes to you and talks about things he hardly shares with anybody else. You wish he plays the guitar and sings to you on your birthday and when it’s raining, you wish you could share your blue umbrella with him! But you promise never to tell anyone ‘cause you know you could never have a chance with him.

Two years have passed and he hasn’t a clue about what you feel about him. You just wanna know him better and he thinks you already have fallen for someone else. If he could only know what you feel inside from the moment he started talking to you! But things seem so different now. Suddenly, he has his own share of people to be with and even when you are right there, he fails to notice how much you want him to come to you. You still wish to share the seat and scribble behind your notebook and call each other with those cute nicknames. The last year you are together and tomorrow, you might end up in a different continent. How you wish he sees the love in your eyes and this crushing turns into love; like the love story you dreamt of! 

For a moment when you see him coming and wave hello, you realize that’s his lady love he is going to. Your heart is a little hurt but you somehow smile through the tears. He still sees you as a friend he had before, he still remembers that nick name but to call that to his girlfriend. You indulge yourself in reading a book when he passes by, you hide in library when he fiddles to find you but you manage to make an excuse every time. All you wish that it could be the same but you know at the bottom of your heart that everything has changed.  

Its farewell and you hug him goodbye; a goodbye to your first crush and the last chance you could have to tell him how you feel but that chance is long gone with him. Never did you turn back and never did you get a chance to stay in touch for long. But life had a different story written for both of you. Years later, the same city, same country; you’re in a coffee shop relishing your solitude. The new customer with the old voice you recognize, still the same butterflies and you’re beaming to see him again! A cold cup of coffee with nostalgia and divulged secrets with something you never would have thought. The same guy saw you in the crowd and thought you would never be his. Alike you, he managed to hide his feelings all this while. All you know its pouring rain, you are sharing your umbrella with him; miles away with the same person you wish you could someday. And all you know is everything is about to change!