Love letters

It was my second day in campus and also Valentine's Day, when I was introduced to a girl. I asked for lecture notes of the previous day and she immediately handed them to me. Later, I returned the notes gratefully and asked if she'd care for a cup of tea. That was how our friendship began.
In the three years that followed, we shared joy and pain. I had to give up studying after my Bachelors and then I was selected for a job in the UAE.
The distance made my heart fonder so we kept contact through phones, emails and letters. Just three months before I was due to go home, we lost touch.
Then I returned to Kathmandu and I went to her home, very nervous.
To my "Hello", she stared with dreadful eyes, then she cried and passed me by.
One day I was walking through a neighbouring village and I saw her again. But she looked different. She wore ornaments and her hair was parted in the middle with sindoor (vermilion).
Suddenly, I felt so alone. I still love her and feel her absence but every day, I learn to live with myself.
Chandra Kumar Phuyal, Gulf News Reader's Club member

I thank God for giving me a good, reliable, mature and romantic lover. In our life – where I experience great joy, freedom, love and acceptance – I'm grateful to have a person who accepts me just as I am and is concerned only about my happiness.
Once, we fought. I thought of dying and never talking to him. But he came to my office and waited for me at the reception until I met him.
That's when I realised I love him more than ever. That's what I tell everyone – love each other and believe in give and take.
Neethu

You've introduced me to myself … You said: I was born for you Without me life is vain The whole world is an empty space filled with pain You said: the spark in my eyes is the only ray of hope
And I remember …
Our love (you said would) remain endless and eternal …
Then I watch …
Everything is intact … normal …
But what happened to you?
My single word … (once) your source of energy and life
You have speared my beliefs with such piercing words …
My mere presence (once) illuminated your life
Even my shadow (now) has become a curse.
Sreedhar

Destiny plays a very important role in our lives. What started as a prank to tease my mom changed my life and brought me my soulmate. My mother said I couldn't find a guy on my own, so I went and registered myself at asianmatches.com.
I then sent off mails to people whose profiles I felt loosely fitted my idea of a partner. Rajesh was the last to respond after almost a month. I never even dreamt the mail could be from a person who would finally steal my heart.
After three months of chats and emails we fell in love and only after that did we exchange our snaps.
At this point our parents came into the picture and "arranged" our marriage. Everything just fell into place.
Now six years and a daughter later, what started as a virtual experiment can be termed a very happy and successful marriage.
Aishwarya Aravind

One February evening my eldest sister invited her bosses to our house for a party. Four brothers and their cousin came over. While leaving, Thyab the second brother, put his visiting card into my palm.
I rushed to my room and read what was handwritten: "Please call me at 7.30am. I have some very important thing to tell you." The office telephone number was underlined. I could hardly sleep that night. Next morning, I rushed to make a call from a shop down the lane.
I called Thyab's office and the phone rang, rang and rang. As I was about to put the receiver down, I heard a voice say, panting, "Hold on for a minute please, I was held up in heavy traffic".
Then Thyab spoke: "Good morning. How are you?" I replied: "I'm fine thank you." He continued: "I know you are going to the Airlines Head Office at Meenambbakkam to accept an airhostess' job. I want to go with you. Please wait for me."
We met at a bus stop and we travelled in a first-class railway carriage. We were alone in the compartment. Thyab asked if he could read my palm. He said a few things and then suddenly covered my head with the corner of my sari, leaving only my eyes free.
He said: "You have very beautiful eyes, I have watched you grow up. I love you and I am asking you to be my wife. I promise you I'll make you very happy and you'll be my queen."
I blushed. Then everything happened very fast. I did not join the airlines. We were engaged on Valentine's Day in 1972. Today, we have children and grandchildren. We're very, very happy even after all these years.
To the object of my affection: I know you will find this a bit unusual. I honestly can't remember the last time I wrote to you. I have this urge to tell you something that I have been keeping inside for the longest time. I'm wondering at this very moment if you're thinking of me.
I take my walks alone and at every beautiful spot I wish you were there. I wake up each morning hoping to meet you. I am thinking of how we will meet, would it be as romantic as movies? Or is it possible that I have known you all my life but we are yet to realise we are meant for each other?
Perhaps I'll be drawn to you by your infectious smile, your long black hair or may be your laughter that I have never heard before.
Tonight I will look out my window and stare at the beautiful stars, hoping that somehow you are also looking up and wondering about me. And when I am lost and lonely, I will just close my eyes and believe that you are on your way and that you are longing to see me as well.
Sunny Rasheed Lucman Pacasum

I am half Indian and half Arab. While visiting India, someone fell in love with me. He tried so hard to tell me that but couldn't and I flew back home to the UAE.
He came here just for me and stayed here for four years, but I was so busy that I hardly spoke to him, but he was happy just to see me.
He gave me a Valentine gift with a letter in which he wrote "I like u so much". Then he told me face to face that he loves me. I said our family would not accept it and he said he would do anything to make them agree. He decided to go back to India to build a house for me and then ask my family if he could marry me. When he was in India, a woman came with a marriage proposal for me. I cried and I thought about my cousin who sacrificed so much for me. I told my mum he asked for six months to make my dreams come true and I gave them to him.
Mum said, ok we will see if he can. Now it has been 8 months and 18 days, and he built the house and he made his business and it is successful. We don't want anything, we just want to be together forever until we become old and without teeth, smiling and laughing remembering old days. I am still waiting for him, talking to him just for one minute every day. I pray for us, hoping we'll be together forever.
Lighted Pearl

In my early teens I had a crush on a family friend. I was 14, he was 12 years older. When I was allowed to go on a date, he took me out. My mum accompanied me that evening. He brought us to a fancy place in Manila. As he opened the car door he held my hand and again did the same in the restaurant.
In 2004 I decided to work abroad and he came to my farewell party.
A year later I went back to Manila and he invited me out for dinner. It was the most memorable dinner - fun and comfortable. I found true love and friendship.
I may be in the Middle East and he in South East Asia, but we never miss a day greeting each other and saying how happy we are we found true love. It may sound cheesy, but I can't help but smile looking back at the time when we played badminton, ate dinner and were together in every family celebration without knowing that someday the most eligible bachelor in our town and the little girl of the family will be in love and engaged.
Maria Alarcon

Twenty-six years ago, when he asked for my hand in marriage, I said "no" because I thought he had a "thing" for my sister. After a lot of coaxing by my parents, I got married – a marriage I never regretted!
This year we will be celebrating our silver wedding anniversary. It has been a great 25 years. With absolutely opposite backgrounds, one would have thought our marriage was doomed from the start. I am an outgoing, outspoken, Bombayite and he is a conservative, soft-spoken Keralite, and yet, with these differences, I am proud to say that ours is truly a marriage made in heaven!
A couple of years ago my husband had open-heart surgery. As he was being wheeled into the operating theatre, he left a message that his wife be called and told that he loved her! I was deeply touched because he never expressed his love in words, only in deeds.
Of course, we have had our share of tribulations but nothing that both of us couldn't jointly overcome. The name of the marriage game is "love & respect". That's what we do. My husband is my soulmate, the love of my life. I thank God for gifting him to me.
Joanna Mathew Raphael

Ask me for a love story and I am taken back to mid-1997. I was a college freshman and Ryan a senior cadet officer in a state university in Manila. Our love sparked off in a gun shooting range, where I was a varsity shooter, while Ryan was the mentor.
Since then we have been through the usual ups and downs of adolescent relationships, which included parental attitudes.
In October 2000, Ryan went to work in Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean while I continued to study and work at the same time. It was difficult but we are thankful our relationship was strong enough to brave the storms of a long-distance affair.
We had been engaged for five years and plans for a wedding kept getting postponed because of our ever-changing goals. Now we are both in Dubai, working successfully and living independently - grateful enough that we can be on the same side of the planet!
For the nine years of being together, there have been five break-ups, five years of being engaged, two wedding postponements, four years of a long-distance relationship and immeasurable memories of love and devotion … our love story is indeed one roller coaster ride.
And did I tell you that we are finally getting married. This time the wedding bells will ring ... that's for sure!
Jocelyn Victoria Rivera

I have been married for six years. Our story began when I got a call from my heart. That was way back in September 1999. He called me again and we talked. Since then, we kept calling each other regularly. We'd been phone pals for a month but didn't think we'd meet. We shared everything - the good and the bad. Secrets too. And we called each other sweetheart.
They one day we accidentally saw each other. That was in October that year. We kept seeing each other and in November 1999, we met formally.
He said that if he ever had two lives, he'd give one up for me. I cried that time. I loved him and was ready to be with him. On June 11, 2001, we got married and we are happy. There's a lot of chaos. We keep fighting but also hold on to each other.
Name witheld on request

Mine was not love at first sight. The proposal was sent and I remember not liking the guy even though he liked me.
It was back in 1990, I was in university. He came and told me what his intentions were. I burst on him like a bomb. And did the same when my family broached the subject. My family was in shock but said they wouldn't force me even though my mother - who was no more - had liked him immensely.
At that time he was living in a different city. One day, I mailed him a card with the words - "Whoever guess is always a winner." He called me up and said he loved me. Since that day, there was no looking back.
I adore him - more then he ever realises. He's done everything for me in life and I have given him everything I have to give.
Things, however, have changed. He fights a great deal. When I am responsible for the fight, I say sorry a million times.
Many people in our circle say I don't deserve this attitude from him. I can assure him one thing: There are so many people we meet but they all leave us. Only the true lvoe remains. I am still the same woman. The mother of your children. And I am still waiting for you with love. Please come back to me, my love.
SN

Our love story started back in 1995 when both of us were 10th standard students of AUH Indian Islahi Islamic School. Ours was a love story that lasted for seven years until we got married in July 2001. Like most love stories, we too have had bitter times during our time of courtship. But we cherish those moments.
I got the first offer of love from a 10th standard "anonymous boy" during the study holidays. A trembling voice told me he wanted to be my friend. I stammered something since it was the first time a boy had called me up! I finally hung up after swearing at him.
The calls kept coming. There would be no answer when my parents picked up the call. But when I did, he would play Hindi love songs. Once my dad picked up his call and teased him by imitating him (my dad and husband often share that part now and have a hearty laugh).
His parents were informed, but he had already spoken to his parents about me. But both our families dismissed it as mere infatuation. Both of us were confused and adamant. But then, how could a 10th standard boy get married so early?
Finally it was decided that we would continue our studies and wait for the right time (our parents thought we would forget each other by then). I was sent to India to continue my studies while he studied in AUH. But we kept in touch.
Finally we got engaged in December 2000 and got married the following year in July.
Hamriya Abdul Rahman

After only a week in Dubai I was walking along Bur Dubai when this guy approached me and said "Hi Ms, I'm so sorry but I've been following you for a while now. I would just like to know your name..."
I told him my name and we parted ways. I went into the store and as I came out I heard: "Surprise! I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you my name."
We hit it off instantly and started chatting. I went back into the store to buy some other items and he paid for my bill before accompanying me to my house.
The next day, he bought a mobile phone for me, then the next day, pizza, another day it was fruit, the following day Chinese takeaway and so on. When I faced a problem with my sponsor in Sharjah, he put me on his visa and supported me financially.
One night, he asked for my home telephone number in the Philippines and spoke to my parents. I will never forget his words. "Don't worry, I'm a good person and have no intention to harm your daughter. I promise to take care of her, you can trust me."
When we finally felt the time was right, we went home to Philippines and got married.
Name witheld on request

I had just finished my graduation. Being the eldest among five siblings, my parents were busy searching for a good match for me. One day my mother told me there was a good proposal and insisted that I met the guy and his family.
I was not prepared and told my parents that I was not interested. However, the meeting was arranged. At the meeting our parents asked the guy and me to talk in private. He started with a formal introduction and then asked whether I knew anything about him. I said I did not. "You can trust me, I will help you as much as I can," he said reassuringly.
He opened his heart and told me how he had lost his wife in a tragic accident after a few days of marriage. This was the first time I looked into his sparkling eyes. The clarity and the honesty forced me to change my mind. I agreed with his proposal. I fell in love with him completely. We have been married for seven years and are blessed with a sweet baby boy.
Sonia

I used to stay at my uncle's place, where I met my uncle's daughter. Days passed and love grew. The day came when I thought of proposing to her. That day I was in college and was having my chemistry practical. I finished my practical and tried to catch the bus but there wasn't one. Time was running out and I was eager to meet her and tell her what I had in my heart.
So I started running to my house - it was five kilometres away. The first thing I told her is that what I was about to say came from my heart and if she was satisfied with my words would she like to be my bride? She accepted and told me that she also loved me.
Both families agreed to our engagement and we decided to marry after one year. But in between her family came and asked me to go abroad - I told them I was not interested. At last one year passed but the girl's parents were not ready to give their daughter's hand to me until I went abroad. So both families began fighting and the engagement broke - but still we loved each other. I patched up the matter. But the relatives created problems giving false information about me and my family so again the relationship broke up. And then, at long last both families were ready for the marriage but the girl told her parents that she was not interested in me. Now I am in Dubai and soon I am going to marry a new girl, chosen by my family, forgetting my nine-year love story.
Lohdi

One day I was sitting in a hotel lobby and waiting for my friends. I saw a beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes. When I saw her my breath got stuck in my chest. At that time I only wanted to flirt and not to fall in love. I always told my friends that only stupid people fall in love. One of my friends entered the lobby and I said to my friend, look at that girl, she is super. My friend told me that this would be a very difficult goal – ‘it will be hard for you to get her.' I said to my friend, “Ok, let's bet: if I get her you will pay for everything for the next five weekends; if I can't get her, I will pay.''
So I got a room next to her room in the hotel. I didn't see her again that evening.. The next afternoon I asked a hotel worker about her. He told me that she was in the room. I knocked at the door and an old lady opened the door. She was her colleague and I was confused as to what to say, so I said to her “Sorry, I came to the wrong room.'' She shut the door in my face, and I began to feel I was losing the bet.
From my room, I saw the blonde girl in the outdoor restaurant and I ran there. I went close to her and said “Sorry''. She asked, “What for?'' I told her about the mistake of knocking at her room, and she said that she didn't know about it. I said “Hello, where are you from and why are you here?'' She laughed a little bit and finally I got some information on why she was there and for how long.
The next day I went and sat in the lobby for more than three hours to wait for her. In the end when she came I did nothing, and felt stupid and went to my room. I went to the restaurant and waited for her. She came alone thirty minutes later and when I saw her I invited her to sit at my table and she agreed. Then our love started. After three years we got married and settled in Dubai - that was 14 years ago.
But I want to give advice to all lovers who are falling in love, at the start everything is so sweet but after few years everything is the opposite. Please marry only within your culture and get permission from your parents. If they don't agree, don't take thestep. You will ruin your life like me. We live together now only for our children. We both married without our parents' permission - maybe we're being punished for that. Guys, be careful: this is my real story it is told with tears.
Umar

It's not a love at first sight but love at first fight.
She worked as an administration manager and I worked as an architect. We had a fight at first regarding office files and then never spoke to each other. But later on we became good friends. I realised that she would be my better half in my life and I proposed to her. She agreed. We both agreed we get our parents permission before marrying. I got a job in Dubai and was in a position to work for our future. So we decided to declare our love to our parents before I went to Dubai. From my side my parents didn't give me a lot of trouble me a lot. But from her side there was very big problem because we belong to different castes. With lots of hope I came to Dubai. We communicated through mails because her mobile was seized. This communication lasted for five months and suddenly there was no mail from her and I felt there was something wrong. So I went back to India to see her. As I thought, she was prevented from communicating with me. I went with my parents to try and convince her parents but they were very stubborn. My parents thought that everything was over. But I was confident that one day I would have her in my life. With lots of pain I came back to Sharjah to start a new job. We didn't contact each other for 18 months. One day I received a letter. It carried a New Year wish. I replied to that letter asking ‘Is this my GF? I got a reply and it was her. Now we have been in contact for the past month. And we both are still waiting for her parent's permission. One day we will succeed. We took all this pain because we both don't want to hurt our parents or to make them feel that we were wrong. I pray to God that her parents will understand one day.
Vinod

I come from a village in Goa, India. This incident happened about 10 years ago when I was still a school kid. There was one girl, stunning and pretty, who took my breath away. She was amazing then and still is today, she always left me speechless whenever I saw her.
There was no way I was going to be able to build up enough courage to tell her I liked her. I was terrified with the thought of standing in front of her - forget telling her I loved her! I made a card for her, it took three weeks of work. Really proud of my work, bicycle in hand and card in another I walked straight up to her and placed the card in her small hands (we were kids and she really had cute hands!). Right in the middle of the village street I gave her that card and stood there wondering what to say. I looked at her and said “It's all in the card, but read it only after I cross the turn ahead.'' I pedaled away not daring to look if she had opened the card before I passed the bend in the road. I rode like crazy until I was safely home.
I felt quite brave but disappointed with what happened. Then my mother came rushing to me telling me there was a telephone call for me from a girl. It kept crossing my mind that her mother was the phone line waiting to have me killed.
Fearing the worst I took the call and there was this faint voice at the other end that said, “Hi Glenn, it's me, Fatima. I love the card, it's beautiful. I thought you were never going to ask me out. Of course I feel the same for you. I did from the first time I saw you.'' Then she said “Come to my house, I need to show you something.''
As fast as I could, I rushed down the road to her house. She handed me a small notebook. What I saw shocked me that evening and still does. There in the book were photographs of me on stage at school events, pictures I had drawn for drawing competitions as a kid before I had even noticed her around. She looked at me and said “I loved you as much.''
Today 10 years later, we're still going on. There never has been a time where we have let go of the desire to keep a smile on each other's faces. We plan on marrying next year. Today I'm an artist and she is a lawyer, but she still collects my work and makes me paint cards and pictures for her the same way I did when we were kids. I am one of the very few people who are really lucky to be loved so much and have the chance of loving her as much.
Glenn

We'd been classmates for three years and in university and also had attended the same school. I took up Computer Engineering and he did Mechanical Engineering. Since high school we had always been at war, because we could not accept that one of us was smarter than the other. It was not until our graduation that we found out that our hearts were one. We did not force each other to love. The courtship began from being close friends, to best friends and finally to loved ones. My family loves him, and his family loves me also. In our relationship, I admit that all that happens is my fault, because of JEALOUSY.
Then we started planning our marriage.. But you cannot always hold on. The best recipe of love is: TRUST & COMMUNICATION. Because of the lack of this, I started to let the relationship down. We've been apart for two years now. It's really hard to let go and move on because I really love him. I'm sharing this to let everybody know that you should learn to fight for the love, if you love him or her why are you allowing yourself to go? You should make a move, whatever circumstances you might face, because at the end you only feel sorry for yourself. "DESTINY IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE, ITS A MATTER OF CHOICE". I miss that best friend of mine. The memories we had together are really unforgettable. I'll keep them forever. I hope the story that I have shared will touch one heart.
Rhodalyn

I was reading the pen pal section of a magazine once. One name stuck in my head. The name was Sarah Anand, and it kept speaking into my ears and spirit. Sarah means all and Anand means happiness in Hindi. It kept on going like this and after15 days, I said to myself: ‘God wants me to do something with this name'. So I wrote to her. She sent her pictures to me and wrote that she is not a good looker, and therefore I will not write to her soon after getting these pictures. I said to myself: ‘This girl does not know my heart, I will surprise her". I wrote in my next reply: "As soon as you get this letter, believe that you are my wife, and I am your husband". When I went back to Goa for a holiday and was eating my first meal, my mother had a surprise planned. She had sent my brother to buy a Bangalore bus ticket in order for me to visit Sarah. This was the first time I would be seeing Sarah in real life. I met Sarah and she was wild and untamed. I could understand her because she was the last girl in the family. She was like an innocent child and she still is. We got married within a fortnight. She is a good wife and mother now.
She is a wonderful person who gave up her career to bring up children. But right now I have been jobless for a year. Sarah and the kids were with me here for the last 15 years but have now moved back to Goa. Sarah please forgive me, if I could not give you happiness. I know you are a good wife and a mother and a person who never gossips about others. My spirit will never separate you from me, and I will remember your love eternally.
Jose

I still recollect the day when my best friend Arsha first walked in the college stadium and sat next to me. We began talking casually. The next moment, the stadium burst into roars as the commentators announced the arrival of the captain of our college: HASSAN. The girl sitting next to me was under his spell. We won the match. This was the first time that Arsha had feelings for this guy. In studies, Arsha got paired with Hassan. She always wanted to share her feelings but couldn't. Hassan treated her like a best buddy and nothing more. They shared winters, summers, springs and came up with strong bond of friendship.
Soon the farewell eve came. Hassan came up to Arsha and said, “I am leaving for America next week .'' Her world came to an end. Hassan smiled and uttered these words: “Stupid, wave me good bye with a smile, after all ‘we meet to depart and depart to meet'. He left her after giving her a tight hug. Arsha couldn't understand what he meant. When she got home, her mom told her to get ready as they had family coming to visit. “I am not interested!'' Arsha exclaimed. She, however, managed to control her nerves and stepped into the hall to greet the guests. She was amazed to see Hassan standing in front of her with a lovely bunch of roses. He proposed to her in front of everybody. She blushed with happiness and then Hassan said: “Didn't I tell you we meet to depart and depart to meet.'' Arsha got her first love. Don't lose these precious moments. On this Valentines Day express your love without giving a second thought as time once gone never comes back .
Nadia