Isn’t life strange? And aren’t people stranger still? No matter how hard one tries to delve into the workings of a human mind, its vagaries, in the end, trumps even the most astute of observers. So, are we such complex beings that understanding each other’s thinking pattern is nigh impossible?

Let’s analyse love, for instance. What is it? Does its meaning vary from one person to the other? And does it even exist — the proverbial unconditional love? If not, what binds humans together, our meagre needs?

I think I am in love. At least, that’s what I have been telling her. But what do I mean when I tell her ‘I love you’? Love what? The way she looks, her mannerisms, or a hodgepodge of traits, both physical and psychological, that I can’t put a finger at? Or could it be that I have chosen to wrap my lust in the garb of love?

But if forced to pick one quality in her that makes me love her it would be her ability to understand me like no one else. But even so, how can I be so sure she understands me? Maybe she only ‘thinks’ she does. I know. Reading this, you whiff an utter cynic. That I am. For I often wonder if people mean what they put forth. That’s how I have survived so far. The circumstances were such that I could not live without being sceptical of everyone around. So, what’s life for a cynic?

I think our ilk spend most of the time questioning people’s motives, querying ourselves about everything we do, not being sure of anything under the sun. As you may have surmised, life for us is a great conundrum, which we have decided we cannot solve. Hence all attempts to do so are futile.

I find it strange to hear some cynics talk as if they are happy being so. But how does one find any hope, that ‘something’ to hold on to, when he doesn’t believe there is anything worth living for? How does one get by while not being able to ‘love’ someone, to believe that someone ‘really’ cares and that there are higher things to aspire for? While doubting the relevance of one’s existence itself?

My advice: Don’t scratch your head more than you should. Easier said than done. But if there is one saying that sums it up, it’s “An empty mind is the devil’s workshop.” Indeed. I’ll attest to that.