Sharon's Corner
I have seen that people judge other people who believe in love at first sight and I have seen the latter judge those for whom the first sight is technology induced. I know this all too well because I fell in love with Sharon Raiprakash the moment I saw her picture on Facebook. I sometimes go online only to check if it is still the case and yes every time I see her pictures my heart skips a beat. When I mentioned this to Bharat, my classmate and best-friend, he was hell bent on arguing that it is not anatomically possible and I had to go through the trouble of explaining that it is only an expression generally used in this context, the heart only creates an illusion of having missed a beat meaning that it is too engrossed and captivated to do the one thing that it is expected to do at every point in life. Too bad for us that this conversation was taking place in history class and we were both thrown out when our discussion became too animated midway.
"How many times have I told you to control your hand gestures?" grumbled Bharat as we made our way to the corridor.
I tried to make my point again "I was saying that to gauge the validity of my love i check her profile at regular intervals and somehow it manages to grow more convincing between the successive uploads."
"So you are convinced that you love her?" he asked as if daring me to say yes. Bharat never liked girls who dressed up or put on make-up, in other words girls who had enough money to flaunt.
"You want me to check again?" I rolled my eyes.
"Yes" he asserted "check as many times as required for you to realize you are being stupid and desperate. Not to mention superficial" he mocked "if it is her countless pouts and fake smiles that have gained your attention."
I told you how people judge technology induced love. I on the other hand feel that pictures are sometimes more genuine that the real person talking. In case of Sharon this is always true. She can never fake in front of the camera. It captures her simplicity, genuineness of spirit and the softness of her eyes that are the very attributes contradicting her social image. Either that or Rey, her best friend, is a very smart photographer. Personally I would like to believe that the camera never lies' because however goofy and awkward I am in real life my pictures are always candid and naturally smiling. It's as if the click relieves the stiffness in my 200 odd bones as it vows not to judge or form opinions. What is it to the camera if my hair is a tad bit too long and messy or if my clothes don't match the latest fashion trend? It doesn't differentiate between people sharing the same frame; the resolution is same for everyone. It is an equal opportunity, although fleeting, to showcase your beauty, both outside and within, or to capture memories or to just smile to the world.
"Swayam I am really worried about you," said Bharat rather seriously, as we headed towards the canteen.
"You are in for serious trouble mate.", he continued, "I can see it all happening in future. You convinced that you love her and she convinced you are worthless. It will take you years to make her realize that you exist and several more to make her care for your existence."
I was waiting to feel bad about his words but the hurt never surfaced. It was nice to know that I have no expectations.
"So what would you suggest?" I asked only to homour him.
"I suggest that you keep up with the regular checks on your feelings and the moment you feel it dwindling, run.. run for your life." He said in a very dramatic tone. We both laughed when he finished.
"Okay then. I promise to store her pictures and keep looking at them to assess my feeling. I can call it Sharon's corner. As long as the corner survives my love will thrive. Umm what say?"
"Sounds good. Hundred bucks says you will tear down the corner in a month." Laughed Bharat.
*******
It has been seven years, four months and 10 days since that day and Bharat has completely forgotten about the hundred bucks that would have amounted to a huge sum with interest over the years and I never remind him for his own good. Plus I am grateful to him in a way, for the Sharon's corner still depicts that my childhood crush was anything but superficial. It was a feeling that survived countless heartbreaks, two failed attempts at a relationship with her, one near death experience, one successful attempt at a relationship with her and one final promise of life-long commitment. So basically one should never judge when a fourteen year old boy claims to be in love, whatever be his way of knowing that for himself. ;)
P.S. Hope you enjoyed!
Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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