What is love?

I googled "Love" two days before Valentine and got 1.03 billion results in 0.04 seconds. At first glance, I could choose between sites offering "love calculators", "love horoscopes", free e-cards and "relationship resources". I could also, at second glance, buy a whole lot of things to improve my love life.

Valentine's Day, of course, is a big commercial occasion today. You've noticed that already at malls and restaurants. Once all the chocolate is eaten, flowers smelt, cards read and jewellery admired, what are we left with?

We are left with a very real day that celebrates love - whether an infatuation or an everlasting passion.

We speak to three Gulf News Reader's Club members and ask them to share their love stories. They do just that, in their own words:

From friends to partners: Barbara Cummings, founder-member

In hindsight, it was love at first sight against insurmountable odds. A quarter of a century ago, two ordinary people brought together by ordinary circumstance where love was denied. Two ordinary people already trapped in loveless marriages where contempt, lack of respect, unhappiness and children brokered the tattered seams of life. And so, these two ordinary people found a deep and respectful bond through friendship.

Little did we know that very friendship formed the initial foundation for the future we would eventually enjoy, but we first had individual and turbulent waters to navigate.

Divorce is ugly, but sometimes it is the best remedy for unhappiness. Each of our lives is too short to spend wishing for something better - too short to lie on a death bed and wish for all that we never achieved or lived to see.
And so, after 15 years of marriage, I told my former husband I was leaving him "before I hated him". Once I found that courage, I embraced the world, moved to a new city and found a promising new life where I thrived in the business community while being a half time parent.

Never wavered

As for my Adonis, our friendship never wavered and we were in touch weekly by telephone as he, too, navigated the heartbreak of divorce two years later. And then he was free, as well.

I don't think either of us realised we were "in love" at the time, but, like two blossoming teenagers in a long distance relationship, destiny tested the calm waters of true love.

That was 17 years ago - and our love and respect for each other continues to grow each day. We have travelled the world; we have lived in London, Cyprus and Dubai and our adventures continue.

We have raised our children to respect all cultural differences and exposed them, and our grandchildren, to the differences in beliefs and societies through their visits. And while we live many miles away and the children sometimes bemoan the distance of separation, travel, visits, e-mail and the telephone keep the circle of family healthy and happy.

17th Anniversary

Next month we celebrate our 17th anniversary as each year continues to be a blessing and adventure as our world unwaveringly feeds and fuels our love. Our friendship formed the foundation; respect cemented it; and, the home was built on open communication and a continual exchange of ideas and values.

And yes, we do on occasion have differences, however, the last words spoken each night are, "I love you".

Happily ever after: Reg Cucal, founder-member

My relationship with my wife Eunice is wonderful. She's a great life partner! She's always there when I need her the most. And yes, she's a great friend.

We met as students at the university in Manila. We became good friends straightaway. Eunice had just been transferred to our university, so she had few friends at first. I introduced her to my friends, helped her in the enrolment process and generally showed her around.

I loved the fact that she was outspoken, not complicated at all and had a great sense of humour. For a full year we were friends, very good friends but just that.

Friendly banter

By then, our friends within the group had started teasing us. They knew before us, it seems! Finally, I had the courage to tell Eunice that she was much more than a friend. She didn't really say anything, but showed to me, in many little ways, that she felt the same way.

We've been married for 21 years now. She's been a great wife and mother - supportive, honest, understanding, fun-loving. We're all friends together.

I still feel the same way about her as I felt in the university. And every day, we never forget to tell each other that we love each other.

Every moment is special: Rekha Ram, founder-member

Love to me means understanding, giving and taking, being comfortable with each other, growing together as a couple. Ram and I have been married for 16 years and we've never been happier!

Ours was an accidental marriage. A boy came to see my sister (regular practice in an arranged marriage) and my husband happened to be his brother. Within 10 minutes our marriage was fixed - I didn't even know! I was away from the city, working, and I got a telegram saying 'come home'.

I rushed back, worried about my father's health, and there was a man waiting to marry me!

No more tears

We were engaged immediately. In the night I cried a whole bucketful, saying I wasn't ready for marriage and I wrote to Ram to say so. But he was smitten! And my parents also coaxed me into marriage.

Since then, it's been wonderful. We're not a conventional couple. We're really good friends, totally at ease. We don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but every day is special for us, even every moment.