We are surrounded by people who are either in love or healing from one. Wherever I go, I see people doing things out of love and sometimes, for love but I also see people who are struggling in love and sometimes, looking for love in bright mornings, colourful nights and pretty eyes.

Since childhood, I had the same mentality as any other teenager that to be worthy of love, you need to have an intelligent mind, handsome face and witty mouth.

There came a time when I realised how much I had caused myself harm in order to be perfect, in order to be the perfect son, brother, student and man. I couldn't bring myself to cry because we, boys are not supposed to cry but be a man and face whatever comes our way with bravery. But, bravery had already lost its meaning in my life because I was not brave enough to stand for myself, for things that I wanted, for things I loved and for dreams I couldn't live as a kid.

I've listened to the word ‘love’ all my life, in songs, movies and conversations. But the word which was still unknown to me was ‘self love’ because nobody ever taught me how much it is important to love yourself and to embrace what you are made of, to wear your hardships as your possessions. It took me years to understand that no love is greater than the love in my own heart, that my soul desires love of none but myself.

I wish along with the arithmetic equations and logic behind the blue colour of sky, they had taught us the meaning of self love in school. I wish that they had not restricted our morning assemblies to sing the same patriotic song but also had asked us how our morning was or if we all ate at night. I wish our parents had not just listened to Sharma ji's son's marks but also had asked us if something was troubling us from inside. I wish Neha had not only looked at my crooked smile but also at my heart for once.

I wish for a lot of things to have happened but most of all, I wish I had known that I was no less than anyone, that my imperfections make me beautiful and that it is completely okay to be different, to want different things and a different life.