Dating : A love Negotiation

“There are no negotiations in love, Radha”. Kabir replied in his usual tone to Radha’s remark on ‘bringing it all on the table’. Radha & Kabir would often get into these ‘Love Negotiations’, as Radha loved to call them. Radha was sitting with her legs stretched on the low swing, with her long skirt trailing below. Kabir was lying down, looking up at the sky, with his head on Radha’s lap. The swing would get a gentle nudge intermittently, with Kabir pushing the ground below. This was their favorite place on the quiet Sunday afternoons. Radha wanted to debate on the disagreement they had this past week and Kabir never indulged in discussing ‘things of the past’. Radha was speaking, ‘Kabir, enough of ‘nipping in the bud’ attitude. You get up the next day and forget what you have said. I keep thinking about it for days on end, only to realize you have no memory of it.’ Kabir replied, ‘Isn’t it a wonderful thing, my love. This only means that nothing you say ever bothers me long enough to keep pondering on it.’ He added, ‘All acceptance, all embrace.’ He knew very well Radha reacts to this remark of his’. Radha responded before Kabir could take a breath, ‘You and are your acceptance! What about acknowledgment, love? What about addressing it and ending the discussion all together? I want us to be one hundred percent direct from now on. Whatever it is, that bothers us about the other, we will ‘put in on the table’, right there and then. It will give me peace of mind. Do you agree to that?’ Kabir pretended to not give in so easily. He argued, ‘But Radha, why waste those precious moments of our lives discussing matters, which makes no difference to our love. I accept you as you are, you accept me as I am. Why put our minds to soulless discussions?’ Radha said, ‘Kabir, addressing issues is important. It gives me clarity.’ Kabir said, ‘I can’t change overnight, Radha’. Radha replied in urgency, ‘Change? When have I asked you to change, Mister? I want us to take this step to grow. Are you with me or not?’ Kabir knew it was time to surrender, which he meant to do from the moment she said it. It was a lazy Sunday discussion and Radha loved to win these small debates. Kabir was powerless when it came to the ‘love negotiations’ they had. Radha always had her way.

Radha laughed loudly as if celebrating another win, she began to sing.