Day 7: Snap(e) Love!

I just returned from watching Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince a little while back and was surprised at myself for shedding a tear when Dunbledore dies. Its a defining moment in the Harry Potter series and I'm sure will touch every Potter fan's heart.

But really I was not shedding a tear for Dumbledore when I was watching the scene. I realised that I was truly getting teary eyed for Snape. Watching that scene and having read the last book of the series, I just feel for Snape so much. He's like 'Karan' of the Mahabharata. Not liked, not understood but central to the whole story. Imagine what must be going through Snape's mind as he kills Dumbledore. He is committing an act of which he knows there will be long lasting repercussions and he will never be forgiven by anyone. I remember feeling so disappointed when I read the book and knowing that Snape kills Dumbledore. I was certain that he was a good man and then when the last one explains everything I was so very happy.

And that gets me to the point of today's post. Forget about what Snape does and lets get to the reason he did it.The one thing I was struck about when I read The Deathly Hallows and explanation of who Snape was and why he did it, was the love that Snape has harbored in him for such a long time!!

Dumbledore: "If you loved Lily Evans, if you truly loved her, then your way forward is clear"
Snape: "What do you mean"
Dumbledore: "YOu know how and why she died. Make sure it is not in vain. Help me protect Lily's son"
Snape: "Very well"

Imagine, can someone love a person for so many years and hold that love so dear that he can commit himself to protecting the progeny? Do whatever it takes - put himself in mortal danger of being discovered by the Dark Lord for who he really is and still work towards protecting the genes of one he loved. How does that love come about? How does that love survive? Snape's patronum is a doe with eyes of Lily Potter.

Does this love exist only in movies and books? Or can it exist in real world as well?

Today's generation talks about love in a snap. They snap their fingers and talk about falling in and out of love. Love for them is a means to an end - to get the person they want. If they get the person, great else lets move to the next one and tell her 'I love you!'. Sometimes love dies and the couple part without trying to revive the love. Why? Because there are more out there.

What is love really? Is it an emotion that can last over years and years? Imagine yourself in Snape's position for a moment of time. He loved someone very dearly but she marries someone else. When he knows Voldermort's plan, he begs Dumbledore to save her and maybe the family. In return he promises "Anything". His 'master' kills that very woman but her son survives. He comes over to the good side and becomes a spy. Years later he comes face to face with those eyes - the eyes that he hoped would have had love for him. He then works tiringly to protect that person and those eyes, each time being mistaken for the wrong.

Snape's single motivation for who he is and his life is his love for Lily! For that he killed Dumbledore, for that he spied in Voldermort's camp, for that he died......almost taking his secret with him.

Ladies and Gentlemen.......tip your hat for Snape for THAT IS LOVE!!!! And that is why Severus Snape is the best character of the Harry Potter series.

DAY 5: To tell or not to tell!

I read a beautiful story from Haruki Murakami last night called 'Honey Pie'. Its part of his 'After the Quake' collection and it really got me thinking. He's a fabulous author, by the way, but that's a different blog.

I also started linking the premise of the story to so many triangular love story movies that I had seen in Hollywood, Bollywood, Tollywood and all the other 'alphabet'-ollywood's and that lead to the question of the post today.

To tell or not to tell?

I'm sure you're asking...BUT WHAT? :)

Murakami's story talks about a group of three friends - a girl and two guys. The two guys are as opposite as chalk and cheese (where did that expression come from? Must find out). One is a extrovert, boisterous, fun loving guy while the other is a soft spoken, introvert, happy with himself kind of guy. Guess who gets the girl? The first one, of course and that's because he tells the girl about his feelings. The other bloke loves the girl as well but never tells her.

To tell or not to tell?

I believe in telling. If you like someone, if you love someone just let them know. The reasons for not telling are well documented and I don't need to talk about that - fear of rejection, becoming a laughing stock etc etc.

I want to talk about a different scenario. What if you positively know that the other person - your friend - does not love you? Do you still tell? What if the person and their presence in your life is more important than your 'feelings' for them. Do you still tell?

Now it gets interesting,doesn't it?

So then the fear comes in that if we tell them and they don't like it, they'll leave and we'll lose even the friendship. Sometimes that makes sense. But I think its better to let them know. And let the person know early on. If the person understands and accepts, they will be a better friend because they know how you feel about them. If they don't you will mope for a few days and come out stronger.

But the counter argument to that is, what's the use if she/he is still my friend, knows that I love her/him but the feeling is not returned? Now its a case of permanent frustration. At least earlier I had hope, now I don't even have that. That's a true assessment I'm afraid but I think that's where the maturity of love comes in. And this may sound as cliched as the typical Bollywood sob story, but is your love 'pure' enough that you would rather see the person happy than sad? Then you just love the person and forget about the reciprocation! Love like a child!

If you are a parent, you'll understand. Your child loves you unconditionally and expects nothing in return - at least till he/she is 3 or 4! :) You scold them, you shout at them but after sometime they come to you with a smile and you forget why you were angry at them. Their eyes show unconditional love. Go back to that time and learn to love like a child.

Loving a friend is loving like a child! Don't have any expectations from that person. You just make sure that your love makes the person happy! Is it easy? Hell no! But I think its worthwhile.

So go out today and tell your friend that you love her/him and leave the rest to destiny!

Guru Kaushal-ananda has spoken! May the force be with you!