The Theory of Love at First Sight

Love at first sight. At the outset, let me say, this is a concept that all of us have heard of. Boy sees girl (It could very well be girl sees boy, but here in IIT, the B/G ratio is as skewed as it can get, and so I can safely write this with my protagonist as a boy) at the railway station/at the movie theatre/a friend's birthday party/the morning MAL class. And there and then, he knows that she is the one for him. That's the classic definition of love at first sight. Falling in love with someone you hardly know. And that love would, in time prove itself. That love needs no reason, that love comes straight from the heart. Not a calculated step, a natural instinct. A truly romantic concept - love at first sight.

It might sound illogical to some, but it's possible. After all, haven't we met couples who say they knew that they were meant for each other right from day one. Of course, there are an equal number who didn't, and discovered somewhere during the course of their friendship, but let's leave those aside.

I present "The Theory of Love at First Sight".

So let's consider a hypothetical situation. Raj, a regular party go-er, goes to a party. He meets 8 different girls (at 8 different points of time in his life). Let's call them 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. (Not to say that these girls didn't have a personality of their own, only for the sake of convenience.)

So, when he sees her for the first time, his hearts skips a beat. Oh, she looks pretty, she's talking with great enthusiasm about something, smiling and laughing in between.(This happens when he sees each of the 8 girls) He feels a surge of emotions. He can't get his eyes off her. Somehow, he knows, she is the one.

Girl 1:

He keeps looking at her throughout the party, goes home and dreams about her, and by morning she's forgotten in the drudgery of daily life. End of Story.

The remaining 7:

He looks at her for sometime, then asks the host who she is, and gets introduced to her. He goes up to her and talks to her for a while.

Girl 2:

She puts him off completely. Oh my god, she is so irritating! She keeps cracking poor jokes and bragging about herself. He walks away after a while. End of Story.

The remaining 6:

He enjoys the conversation. She's funny, smart and fun to talk to.

Girl 3:

He learns she already has a boyfriend. End of Story.

The remaining 5:

She tells him about her hobbies, he tells her about his love for music and photography. They really seem to strike a chord. He takes her contact number before leaving the party.

Girl 4:

He has a very busy week at work. He keeps thinking about her, but doesn't find the time to call. When he does call, he doesn't manage to get through, after trying repeatedly. End of Story.

The remaining 4:

He calls her a few days after the party, and they begin to have regular conversations. They seem to have so much in common! A new friendship develops. They decide they want to meet again. The begin meeting each other once every few weeks.

Girl 5:

She moves away to the other side of the country after a few months. They stay in touch, but it's not as regular as before. She's busy with her exams, and then with her own life in a different place. In a year, they are merely Facebook friends. End of Story.

The remaining 3:

The friendship grows stronger and stronger. They meet every other day now. Raj takes the plunge. He tells her about his feelings for her.

Girl 6:

She tells him very politely, but firmly, that she doesn't feel the same way, and never will. As they talk further, he realizes that she isn't all that he had thought her to be. Why, she says she doesn't even believe in love! Unbelievable for die-hard romantic Raj. However, they continue to be friends. End of "Love" Story

The remaining 2:

She reveals that she has a soft corner for him, too. Raj's happiness knows no bounds. He knew it, he knew it all along that she was the one, and look, she loves him, too!

They begin spending even more time with each other, they can't spend even a day without meeting or talking.

... a few months later

Slowly the sheen wears off the trophy of their relationship. The fights begin, the clouds of unpleasantness casts themselves over them.

Girl 7:

They begin to realize that they have irrepairable differences in opinion. They decide to call the relationship off, and try to move on in life. End of Story

The remaining one (Girl 8):

They both try hard to sort out their differences, make compromises, and slowly but surely, they learn to respect each other even more. Now they do argue once in a while, but they can manage to solve their problems, their love for each other, stronger than ever.

They get married, tide over the rough times together, bring their children up. They both have good days and bad days, but they are always there for each other, and are an epitome of true love.

Now, when anyone asks Raj, "Was it love at first sight?" He beams and says, " Yes, from the moment I first saw her, my heart skipped a beat. I felt a surge of emotions, I couldn't get my eyes off her. Somehow, somehow, I knew, she was the one."

Hey dude, forgot 1,2,3,4,5,6,7? Didn't the exact same thing happen when you saw them for the first time?

"There is no such thing as love at first sight".

Hence, proved.