Rithivik Singh’s book offers a poignant and relatable exploration of love’s highs and lows, providing solace and insights for those navigating the pain of unreturned affection.
Love is the essence of this universe. It is love that sustains us—yes, love of superpower God for his creation. We humans also possess an element of love. And it keeps us going in this world. Had there not been love, the concept of families, friend circles, societies, etc. would have been nonexistent. At some point in time, our love, however, looks beyond the circles of family and friendship. Our feelings grow for people who we want to be closer to us, be more than our friend, be our inseparable shadow, and even breathe.
We love them with all the love we are filled with. We look for them, think about them, and talk about them. Imagine a future with them. And they become our only hope of survival. We bend over backwards to connect with them. We lose our identity and self-esteem and seek to unfurl our true identity.
But our love is not responded to in the same measure. Worseningly, our love is overlooked as nought, and therefore the story of unrequisition and heartbreak unfolds.
Truth to tell, every person goes through such phases in his/her life. Some prefer silence, in their story, and move on. For some, silence becomes unbearable, and we see poems, prose, and novels as an outcome. One such story is that of Rithivik Singh, penned down in the form of the book ‘I don’t love you anymore’.
It is, in fact, a collection of poems, prose, and one-liners in which the writer expresses his experiences with unrequited love. It punctuates the intricacies and ups and downs a person faces in the journey of love. It is an emotional rollercoaster that lights up the joyous and saddest aspects of his relationship. While making turning pages sound, optimistic and pessimistic vibes take over a reader. It also touches on some significant ideas required to deal with one-way love that include self-respect, self-love, letting go, etc.
The author reveals his boundless love, indirectly informing us about the efforts he made for it and how he thought of it, and on occasions, how he was showered with respect. All this is succeded by brute realities of indifference towards him. He doesn’t get what he deserves. In an attempt to create a space in the heart of a loved one, his heart is rendered desolated and dilapidated.
He doesn’t lose hope amid hopelessness. He doesn’t feel suffocated amid suffocation. He doesn’t feel low while being at his lowest. He might have felt so, but he reemerges. He believes in taking care of the heart and stopping it from further ruin. He advocates letting go, which to him seems a lifelong process but endorses it as a solution. He advises you to vacate the place where you aren’t heard, where your emotions aren’t valued, where you stand as meaningless and worthless. Simply put, one can find this book better for moving on. Genuinely, on the back cover of the book is written, ‘Your heart needs this book.’
The best thing about this short book is its relevance. The authenticity with which it has been written and the empathy that is woven into the writing make it relatable. The reader feels as though the character’s challenges and victories are very personal. Every person with a kind, warm, and tender heart can relate to every word of it. In other words, it can put at their heartstrings.
Book lovers can find it worthwhile to read. It has an emotional depth. The writing quality is evocative and lyrical. Also, the language is simple but powerful, making it a quick and immersive read. It can be finished in a single sitting. Readers interested in this genre must try this one too.
By Zeeshan Rasool Khan