But Shiva,
I ask him,
Why did you send me someone so different from me?
Don’t you know how hard it is to keep up with a person whose values, worldview, and mindset are all so unlike mine?
Why doesn’t he think the way I do, and why don’t I think the way he does?
What if I slowly begin to adopt his habits and thoughts, but he never takes anything from me?
How will we ever last?
Shiva takes a pause, looks at me, and says,
Daughter, you are so precious to me.
And just as much as you love me, you also love the idea of relationships. You always wished for someone who would go to any extent to keep you close. So, I sent you to him.
If he were just like you, or you like him, would you have truly lasted?
You wouldn’t.
If you found comfort in your not-so-comfortable thoughts, and he didn’t challenge them, you would’ve stayed trapped inside them. And if you didn’t challenge his ways either, how would he grow?
Love is growth.
And growth comes from friction, from tugging and pulling, from questioning and rebuilding.
If one person doesn’t push you to your limits, doesn’t make you rethink what you believe, is that love, or is it just convenience?
You point out his weaknesses, he struggles with yours.
But in that struggle, don’t you both become better?
Isn’t that what love truly is, an expansion of the soul?
Yes, it’s hard.
To change. To unlearn. To pause. To act.
But it’s worth it, as long as you’re teaching each other and walking beside each other.
You didn’t leave him.
He didn’t leave you.
You both chose to stay, even when it was hard.
Would you have ever stepped outside your comfort zone had I not sent someone so different into your life?
Would he have pushed himself every day if you hadn’t nudged him first?
Probably not.
So yes, I did this to you.
Because an easy love is often a fleeting one.
And you, my girl, you needed something real, something that asked for commitment, demanded effort, and promised to last.
So cherish your growth.
I’m always here.
~Sailaxmi.
What is the central theme of the poem?
The poem explores how true love isn’t just comfort, it’s the friction and growth that come when two very different people choose to stay, learn and evolve together.
Who is Shiva speaking to in the poem?
Shiva is portrayed as a guiding figure addressing “daughter,” explaining why she was placed in a relationship that challenges her, so she and her partner can grow.
Why does the poem suggest differences in a partner are beneficial?
Because when partners have distinct values and mindsets, they push each other out of comfort zones, provoking growth and deepening connection rather than just staying in easy sameness.
Is the poem suggesting we must change who we are in relationships?
Not exactly. It suggests change is part of the journey: to pause, reflect, unlearn, act — the point is not losing yourself but expanding your soul alongside your partner.
What message does the poem send about “easy love”?
It warns that easy love may be fleeting. The poem suggests love worth keeping demands effort, commitment and the willingness to walk the hard path together, that’s what endures.
