About 30 years back, I told her, "I love you."
"Have I done anything to deserve that?" she asked.
"No," I replied.
"You know that I love another guy, right?" she asked.
"Yes," I said.
"Ah!"
"Ah."
"So, are we done with that?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean...are you going to put this under unrequited love, write idiotic poems, get drunk..."
"I don't drink," I interrupted.
She continued, "...tell your grandkids some 30 years from now about a long lost love?"
"Maybe..."
She glared.
I grinned.
"Can we get back to the debate topic?" she said.
"Ok," I said. "How are we going to speak against bravery awards and customs honouring heroism?"
"Heroism is a fictitious idea created by ingenious cowards who want to benefit from the foolish acts of a few," she declared.
"Like love?" I asked.
She thought for a while. "Like love."
"I don't think we should put it that way," I said.
"Won't work?" she asked.
"We might get lynched," I said.
"Hmmm..."
After some time she asked, "By the way, with regard to that declaration of love..."
"Yes...?" I said hopefully.
"When was the last time you said that?" she asked.
"About 3 months back," I admitted.
"Got the same response?" she asked.
"Of course."
"One of these days, some fool is going to spoil your act," she said.
I smiled.
I met her recently. She has grandkids.
"Have you told them about your long lost love?" I asked.
She looked at me blankly.
