Valentine’s Day remembers love and special moments with loved ones, whether it is between a couple, a parent and a child, friends, siblings, etc. This year, we decided to speak with prominent people in Hyderabad about their definition of love as also their version of celebrating love. So we took our questions to not only couples, but also people in different relationships.
The topic of unconditional love conjures the topic of mothers. Shilpa Datla, the president of Young FICCI FLO, who is also a mother of two daughters shares how lucky she feels to have daughters. Shilpa, who lost her mum to cancer, says she realised love has no boundaries. “I enjoy expressing love and creating something special for my loved ones. Now, as my girls are growing up, I have noticed they enjoy sharing things with me. While before I would be protective of them, now, I am more of a friend to them. So the plans for celebrating Valentine’s Day are to just hangout together and have fun — may be pull each other’s legs as usual, or go shopping together,” says Shilpa.
Mallika Murlidhar and Murlidhar Kadambi are a couple. “We don’t believe love is dependent on feelings or emotions. It’s about sharing with your partner day-to-day ups and downs of life. For instance, to Mallika and me, love means sharing, so that we can multiply our joy and hold each other and dividing grief with unconditional acceptance,” Mulridhar tells us.
Film stars may be busy but even they take out time to connect with family. Actress Lavanya Tripathi talks about her love for her family. “Everyone has their own definition of love and for me its trust and someone who totally understands you,” she tells us. “And for me, that is my family. We are extremely close, and with time, we have grown extremely stronger. Even though I live away, this distance has only brought us closer than before. I love them for what they have given me not only in terms of money but also education and the support, which I know has been incredibly important. I am assured knowing that my family is always there with me,” she says.
Hephzibha Smith, who runs an LGBTQ+friendly café in the city, shares with us her idea of love, which she shares with her friend Tilottama. “I believe you can fall in love with different people in different forms. My best friend is beyond love — she is my peace. She came into my life six months ago, when I have been at the lowest in my life, but she stood by me through thick and thin,” Hephzibha tells us. “The bond we share is very special, she makes me believe that life is beautiful. Sharing life with her gives me immense joy.”
