Where It All Began

(Movies, Calls & You)

It started with movies. You'd ask for a movie, and I'd send whatever you asked for. Then came the calls. The random chats. The daily conversations that became a habit. And there's one thing I don't think I'll ever forget. The time when you were doing your eye treatment. You weren't even supposed to use your phone much. You were with your mom. Still, every day, somehow, you found 10 or 20 minutes for me. Maybe you don't realize how much that meant. But I do. Because when someone makes time for you even when it's difficult, you remember it forever.

The First Hello

(Kuthuparamba Stand)

The first time we met. Both of us quietly worried about our height difference. But I still remember seeing you for the first time. It wasn't like in the movies. You were in your uniform, just being yourself. But your smile was enough to steal my heart.

Our First Kiss

There is a version of me that existed only up until that day. Our first kiss. Our first touch. The first room we ever shared the way we shared it with each other. Some memories fade with time. That one never will.

A Few Kilometres of Happiness

(Scooty Rides)

It's funny because people usually laugh when a boy sits behind a girl on a scooter. But honestly, I never cared. I loved it. The rides were short. But every time I sat behind you, I wanted to hold your belly tightly, and I wished the road was a little longer. Even today, I want to do it again. Maybe on a beach road in Goa. Maybe somewhere we've never been before. Even if it was only for a few kilometres, those rides made me happy.

Where Memories Stayed

(Home)

Every visit to your home became a memory I'll always carry with me. Whenever it randomly comes to my mind, I find myself smiling without realizing it. Sometimes I still think about that one visit when everything suddenly changed. After that, you wanted distance. You didn't want to meet me, and it hurt more than I could explain.

The Place Where I Lost You

(Kottayam)

When you went to Kottayam, the distance between us only felt bigger. Things were falling apart, but the journey from Thalassery felt different. For a moment, I had you back. I still remember the hint of jasmine perfume you liked, and how tightly you held me. Then came my visit, the shopping, the quiet moments in our room, just being together—everything felt perfect that day. I was genuinely happy. Thank you for giving me that time. Yet Kottayam became the place where I lost you. Life was painful back then, but losing you taught me one thing: my love for you never faded. Even from a distance, it only grew.

The City That Gave You Back to Me

(Bangalore & Us)

The walks. The stays. The movies. The bus journeys. Wonderla. The rides. The queues. The terrible selfies. Every single one of those days became part of the memories I treasure most. You once told me you don't really like holding hands and walking, but I love doing that with you. I could hold your hand and walk endlessly, without needing anywhere to go. Maybe that's why Bangalore means so much to me. When I think about the city, I don't think about the place. I think about us, and all those ordinary moments that somehow became unforgettable. Somewhere between all those days, I got back the girl I thought I had lost.

Almost Six Years

(One Last Thing)

It's been almost six years. 2021 – Present ♾️. Not every memory made it onto this page. There are too many. But if there's one thing I know for sure, it's this: My favourite memories were never about the places. They were always about you. And if you'll let me, I'd love to spend the rest of my life making many more.

To My Butterfly, Shaalu

You came into my life quietly, but somehow, you became my favourite part of it. Years passed, memories changed, but somehow, my heart still finds its way back to you. Maybe that's what love is—finding the same person, again and again, in every version of your life. And if I get to choose one thing for all the chapters ahead, I choose you. My butterfly. 🦋