Love, but Subtle

My illustration is a simple representation of the love between elderly married couples in sophisticated societies like India. Often in the earlier times, girls and boys had to marry strangers. They never really had the chance to fall in love before marriage. This would often spark love after marriage. But couples wouldn’t express love directly even though they loved each other a lot.

My childhood has paid testament to the love between my grandparents - the purest form of love. I have never heard my grandpa say “I love you” to his wife in the entire time I’ve known him. Nor did my granny. They loved each other a lot. Their love didn’t go by hugs, kisses or the magical words but beyond them.

In my illustration, the expression of love towards his wife was to put a garland of jasmine flowers on her hair. Women love their hair. Even more so when they decorate it. Her husband knows that. His shyness keeps him from directly handing to her. She reciprocates the gesture by making him his favorite fish curry later that evening. This kind of love which is shy, indirect and subtle brings a little smile to my face. I hope it did for you too.