Choose to stay in love
While there is so much platonic intimacy around, The romance is always bewildered with compromises, conflicts but also deep affection and a hot-blooded passion. Bollywood often starts with platonic intimacy and struggles with the society to understand this and then later jumps off to the mystique excitement. It’s so dreamy to watch it in the movies that it has created such a superficial elucidation of romantic love. The kind that we see in movies and the one which we have around is just airy.
Our definition of love is something about the roles of affection, maybe having a sudden burst of butterflies or the sky turns out to be purple and pink. The idea just comes from different perspectives. Starting off with an honest relationship, where there are boundaries, appreciation, and a little intimacy. Platonic intimacy is the root of the romance that is literally expected to begin. Now, when the love gets all lovey-dovey (romantic), it takes a lot of effort, planning, decision making, and creativity. And so we find platonic relationships to be easier to pull off, stronger and we’d still embrace the conflicts. From Phoebe and Joey (FRIENDS) to Bunny and Aditi (YJHD) it seemed a little less intricate to pull it off even when it might have had long-distance phases, or differences of opinions. Platonic intimacy has more space for honesty, unconditional and deep deep love. There’s not even a stumbling block when you need cuddles or just bear hugs. It isn’t always that intimacy and romance go hand in hand. It’s even a better choice to have a platonically intimate relationship rather than putting your whole self into romance and then juggling. There’s a possibility that maybe that one best friend, might turn out to be the love of your life or maybe a soulmate! It’s easier to even pass on the tough conversations. Well, doesn’t necessarily mean you just have to get out of romance completely. It’s more like watching a movie where we know we will cry but just because we can’t cry at our own problems, we cry over someone else’s and then eventually start crying about ours. To just make a point here, that we don’t always find our soulmates in romantic relationships.
Although, I literally want love stories between friends who realize they’re platonic soulmates and build a better life together. It is easy to fall in love, but how do you stay in love? Are there any love languages? Isn’t it just like maintaining a friendship, nourishing the bond, and just getting through everything that lies ahead? We all have an innate need for affection, affirmation, and a pillar to hold our backs if this is what the Movies or Instagram taught us! It’s clearly the platonic relationships held up of love, faith, vulnerability (without any shrewdness) are just as important as a romantic one. So, LET’S JUST NORMALISE PLATONIC CUDDLING!
