Expressions of Love

Reading out stories to my 5 years old daughter is most alluring and our favorite moment. As I read her the story of Nightingale, a beautiful tale of love and friendship by Hans Christian Andersen, my daughter and me took a ride to the world of a spoilt emperor who preferred fake song of mechanical bird over a real-life Nightingale. Finally, as death comes to claim old emperor’s life at the end of the tale, real nightingale returns to sing for him. Charmed by her song, death spares the life of emperor.

Though this story was written 175 years ago, this tale of love and friendship rings more relevance in today’s time as we have twisted the meaning to our convenience. Love in today’s scenario is mostly misinterpreted as “hormonal hijack” or else we equate it to attachment and clinging on to daily life needs and arrangements, which are gifted to us in the form of society, peer pressure, family and reputation. While friendship is measured by “likes”, “followers” or how many people respond to your posts. It’s time to introspect and ask some strong questions regarding love and friendships we are surrounded with. For each one of us inside our heart long for “unconditional love” and “life- giving friendship” but not able to give one.

If each one of us can recollect the moral of Nightingale story, may be this world will be a better place to live and our equations with relations, friends and love will be more beautiful.

True love and Friendship respect freedom
The emperor was selfish and kept nightingale in cage so that she keeps entertaining her daily with her melodious voice even if it made her life miserable. Eventually, he realized his mistake and left little bird to the flight of her freedom

Come what may, true love and friends always stand by your side
When Nightingale heard that death is taking emperor away, she quickly flew over and came all the way to sing for him in spite of having the risk of being caged again at the hands of the emperor. For she wanted to stand by him in his bad days rather than fleeing away for her self-interest.

True Love and Friendship are always unconditional and selfless
A true partner or friend will love you unconditionally. Regardless of what emperor did to little bird, she loved him from the bottom of her heart unconditionally.

True Love and Friendship believe in the language of Forgiveness
When the emperor got a new mechanical bird to allure him, Nightingale was forgotten. Little birds heart got crushed and she was deeply hurt. But she forgave emperor and flew back for him when he needed her.

This piece of work by “Hans” is just the perfect reflection of rich values and morals that are forgotten in today’s fast pace and digitized society. Reading it out to my daughter made me realize how trapped and complicated we have become. When some simple rules can liberate us and ours in life. Lest hold on to the language of Love and enjoy the song of life with each other.