To Love or Not to Love

To those who find love in simplicity,

With the wilderness as witness.

Those who find love in dipping their feet in water,

And basking in the burning sun.

The ones who love their mother tongue,

Take pride in their culture,

And those who dive deep into their history.

To those searching for love,

And find them in unexpected places.

Those who crave for someone to hold them tight,

And promise to never let them go.

To the ones who believe in loving someone in every life,

And the ones who think of who they loved in their past.

To the ones who love even when it hurts,

And the ones who love when it’s gentle.

To the ones who roam aimlessly and find that person who grounds them,

And to those who wait patiently for the right one to stop.

To those who believe in the universe,

Fate,

And that somewhere, their soulmate is waiting as well.

To the ones who cry themselves to sleep, wanting to experience such a love,

And those who dream at night, of a love so great,

Causing their heart to ache.

This, is for you.

This story is for those who believe deep in their heart that they will find such a love as the ones they read about in fictional worlds. The ones who crave for someone to see and love them for who they are.

This story is for those who were taught to overlook or are part of the group that forgot traditional and ancient aspects of their identity. While this story doesn’t capture everything, it reminds you that there’s more to who we are than what we learn.

This story is for those who enjoy reading stories about villages and the little practices they come with, admiring the differences and similarities. While most is fictional, some aspects reflect reality.

This story is not perfect. It has its flaws. But the intent is real. This may not be the story you expect, and it may not be a part of who you are. However, this story is a part of me. It is a part of my identity. It is a part of my culture. It attempts to capture the complexities, broadness, and the intricacies of Thamizh culture, identity, and history (with a sprinkle of Keralam) without being overbearing.