The Idea –
This ballad is about a friendly and warm person, whose life takes him through the myriad stages of a Greek myth-like love affair. The stages of love and war have been depicted by the Greek Gods and demi-Gods, Erotes. The protagonist is a student of science, and has a huge group of friends whom he keeps mingled together, and a family who loves him dearly. He has a giving and peaceful nature, and through the horrid stages, is not able to comprehend how to fight for his love and people either, when circumstances arise. He is tormented by the constant battle between friends, lover and family, even though he tries to love them all.
He loves to sing, and sings it real good too. He loves to cook, and he cooks it real good too. He loves his family and friends, and he loves them real good as well. But through the stages, he finds he has to give them all up. Because of love? Or because of her, the ambiguous Aphrodite?
Behind the Scenes –
What makes this ballad real is the fact how I have been part of this ploy. The protagonist is my dear friend, who has been a shoulder I’ve cried on a zillion times through the stages, and more even after. Each of us, enacted by the characters of this ballad, have been deeply touched by the incidents, and learnt and unlearnt the ways of social relationships.
Although, this love story is his, and his alone, and we all are mere flanking aspects of his story. It is his love story alone, not in the manner of unrequited love, but because of the personal touch of his character. He has agreed to share this with all of us through my words.
Extracts from the Post–
“It is said in Greek mythology, that Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, Lust and Beauty had an entourage of winged Gods and demi-Gods, known as Erotes (singular: eros, or 'desire'). In some versions of this myth, these eros are the children of Aphrodite and Ares. Ares, the God of War, represents the "overwhelming, insatiable in battle, destructive, and man slaughtering". Each of the eros had their own responsibilities.
- Anteros, (litrally, counter-love) the God of requited love, punisher of those who scorn love
- Eros, …”
“Pothos did visit himper diemHe longed to fill his hollowAnd desired for his 'The One'Who shall make him, a man to follow
He liked a fair lady whom he hadBefriended some time agoHe did all her taskings, and aft a certain timingCried how he had bent so low"
Endnote: This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.
