Universe's Book of Love

Every time someone genuinely admits to loving another human, an entry of that goes in the ‘Universe’s Book of Love’. Nestled in the crux of the universe, it lies there making entries every day, and here are a few excerpts from that book:

1. The first entry:

Expelled from the garden of Eden with not much for help, Adam and Eve were confined to a cave, expecting Cain. Between fending for shelter and food and staying safe from wild beasts, eight months passed by quickly. The labour was painful as promised by God. After 13 long hours of excruciating pain, Eve delivered Cain. Holding a sweaty, tired Eve in his arms with tears welling up in his eyes he said ‘I love you Eve’ and that was officially the first entry in the book.

2. Sometimes, entries came in parts:

The first part of this entry came from an army camp. The letter balanced on his knee, written under a failing lamp with a broken pencil, Steve scribbled ‘I love you, Mary. We get married as soon as the war ends’. The complimenting entry came 3 months later when Mary wept over his grave and between sobs breathed ‘I love you, Steve.’

3. The book considers entries not said out aloud too.

They had said it a hundred times over calls and messages, many times in person too but their official record came in the book when the officiant said, ‘I now you pronounce you Husband and Husband’. Sometimes, glances, smiles and happy tears said more than words ever did.

4. Blurred Entries:

He had heard it first in a dingy movie theatre. It was the phrase the hero said to the heroine before the couple broke into a song. The phrase where the audience went hooting wild. So as to not forget it, he left the movie right after the song, he ran to her house repeating the words over and over to himself. Relentlessly he knocked at her door, not minding the time. A sleepy, angry woman answered screaming

‘What?’

‘I lob you’ he said panting.

Men with money might own her body but her heart, that definitely belonged to this guy.

5. Late Entries:

Mr. and Mrs. Das were still adjusting to retirement: new home, new neighbours, and unquestionably a new phase in their lives. So far it had been a well-planned out routine: an arranged marriage followed by the arrival of 2 kids, raised the kids, saving up for retirement and well now both didn't know what to expect. A perfectly functioning system was their marriage, no lows but no highs either. A contract of sorts where both persons performed said duties. For them, the entry came 35 years into the marriage. During his evening stroll, he saw Mrs. Das walking back from the temple. In the setting sun, she looked knock-your-breath-out gorgeous with her hair flying, draped in a simple cream saree. Mr.Das did not know what got into him, he walked towards her, picked up a row of jasmine from her hands and fastened it to her hair and he stammered ‘You, umm, you uh.., look so beautiful’. The book knew what he meant.

6. Latest Entry:

You see adulting and relationships in the 21st century had made them cautious. 'Love' was not a word this generation freely used. So they decided this was going to be a fling and promises were made. A week later, bathed in sweat, wearing his t-shirt, resting her head on his chest she looked up to him and said ‘I think I like you’ breaking the very promise she initiated. Smirking he whispered ‘You said it first’ breaking his promise with a kiss.

So tell me, when was the last time you told someone you loved them?