What is love?

Read it somewhere - If you have no one - masturbate. It will keep your emotions alive. Either I didn't understand it or I don't agree. Nonetheless, it led me to watch SAW 3D on this weekend.

SAW 1 had impressed me quite well and I had purposely avoided the sequels due to the expectation buildup earlier. However, I gave in to the call this Saturday and plopped in Vue. The storyline is more or less similar to part I wherein the villain puts people in a situation where they need to make a choice about whom they want to save or die in the bargain. Well, it's loosely put. There is plenty of gore and blown up all the more by 3D. It didn't scare me. It didn't bore me. However, the second half did make me reflect a bit. And the reflection turned deeper as I hit the sack that night. And is still going in.

In the second half, one of the central character has to go through 4 situations which challenge his guts, emotions, strength, will power AND love. A life of his close ones is associated with each of the test. Failure in any automatically kills the close one. And the tests would be sphincter breaking for anyone. Especially the last one where his wife is caught in the furnace and he has to pass the toughest test of all to save her. He fails inspite of his effort to garner the maximum will and strength. Nietzsche has rightly said - Till the day of his death, no man can be assured of his courage. But I thought what about love? We use the word love so loosely. What does love mean to you? Could you go through any damn thing and be prepared to sacrifice your life to save your loved one? And I am not talking about donating your kidney or blood in copiuos amounts. If there was a lion in front of you and your child or you and your mate, would you sacrifice yourself or escape? Do you have the balls to do that? To what end would you go for the one you love or rather profess to love? I ask the above questions taking it for granted that love is meant to be all consuming emotion pervading your heart, body and mind for the other. It is to be lived fully than in a tepid mode.

I've never been tested so far so unfortunately I haven't experienced the moment of truth. Have you?

To be honest, I don't know what love is. I thought I knew but I know now that I was wrong. At least for the past decade. Anything that doesn't take you higher either means that you are not giving it your all or it is not meant for you. It has nothing to do with the other person because your love makes a difference only to you and not to the other. Understand this.

So once again - have you? If yes, I'd love to hear it.

Current music - Ankhiyon ke Jharokhon Se