I am a die-hard romantic at heart and love the idea of love. But

Come close, my children, for the words of Esha Gupta carry within them a timeless truth about the nature of love and the power of mystery. She said, "I am a die-hard romantic at heart and love the idea of love. But, when it comes to love, I kinda believe in the old world charm of romance - where there's mystery and intrigue." These words, though spoken in the modern age, carry the weight of centuries of wisdom, for love, in its deepest and most enduring form, has always been a dance of secrets, mystery, and intrigue.

In the ancient world, love was not something casually displayed or easily understood. Consider, my children, the stories of Paris and Helen, whose love brought about the fall of Troy. This love was not the simple affection we see today, but one wrapped in the folds of mystery, fate, and honor. Paris, the prince of Troy, was drawn to Helen, the most beautiful of women, not simply by her appearance but by a deeper, more profound connection that was surrounded by secrecy and the gods’ will. Their love was tragic, yes, but also full of mystery—it was the kind of love that called to the hearts of those who heard of it, drawing them into the unfolding tale with curiosity, wonder, and intrigue.

Esha Gupta echoes this sentiment when she speaks of love's mystery. In a world where emotions and relationships are often laid bare for all to see, there is something deeply romantic in the unspoken, the unknown. In the past, love was often hidden—a glance across a crowded room, a letter written in secrecy, a whispered word in the quiet of the night. The intrigue and mystery that surrounded love made it feel more precious, more meaningful, and more intense. The ancient poets understood this; their love stories were filled with longing, with desire, but also with the unknown—the untold that only lovers could feel and understand.

Take, for instance, the story of Abelard and Heloise, whose love was marked by both intellectual connection and profound passion. Their love, though scandalous and tragic, was shrouded in secrecy and mystery. They communicated through letters, their love growing in depth as they shared their thoughts and desires from a distance. This distance, this secrecy, lent an air of romance to their connection that might not have been present had they lived their love openly and without restraint. Their story teaches us that there is power in what is not immediately accessible, in what is shared only between hearts, in the mystery that love creates when it is not rushed into the light of the world.

The ancients also understood that mystery gives love its depth. The Greek god Eros, whose arrows could strike the hearts of mortals and gods alike, represented not just the power of love but the unknown nature of it. Those struck by his arrows were not always sure why they loved or to whom they were drawn, but the mystery itself made the experience all the more powerful. Similarly, in the great love stories of old, such as the tale of Tristan and Isolde, the lovers are often drawn together by forces beyond their control, by a romance that is not easily explained. The mystery of their feelings, the intrigue of their secret love, gave it a power that remained long after the story had been told.

In today’s world, where social media and modern communication lay bare the details of our lives, mystery in love has become a rare treasure. Esha Gupta’s words remind us of the value of intrigue—of leaving room for the unknown, the unseen, in our relationships. In this age of instant gratification, there is beauty in holding something back, in not revealing every detail, in allowing love to develop in its own time and space. Like the lovers of ancient times, we must learn to treasure the secrets of the heart, the unspoken feelings that deepen our connection and make it more meaningful.

And so, my children, the lesson here is clear: to love is not merely to be in a relationship, but to embrace the mystery that comes with it. Romance is not only about the moments of passion and affection that are seen, but also about the moments that are felt deep in the heart, those moments that remain untold. It is in the mystery of love that we find its most profound beauty. Let your relationships, whether with others or with life itself, be filled with intrigue. Do not rush to unveil every layer, but allow love to unfold in its own time, for it is through this mystery that the deepest connections are formed, the most meaningful journeys taken.

Thus, my children, I urge you to cultivate romance in your lives not through grand declarations or public displays, but through the quiet mysteries and intrigues that give love its depth. Let your heart hold space for the unspoken, the hidden, and the unknown, for it is in these spaces that the truest, most powerful forms of romance are born. Let love be not just a possession, but a journey filled with discovery and wonder, where each day holds the promise of something new, something deeply felt, and something always worth seeking.