We don’t always fall in love with people, sometimes we fall for what they give us.
The sun was dipping lower, casting an orange hue over the pond. I tossed a pebble into the water, watching the ripples disturb the surface, much like her words disturbed my thoughts. She broke the silence first. “Anu, why do people leave the ones they once said they loved? she asked suddenly, breaking the silence, I don’t understand relationships anymore, why do people even get together if it’s not real?” she added, her voice quieter this time, almost like she was afraid of the answer. I leaned back on the bench, staring at the setting sun. It wasn’t an easy question, and I knew she didn’t want some shallow response. “That’s not something you can explain in a single sentence,” I said finally, my voice steady but thoughtful. “But it’s a question I’ve asked myself too many times. And maybe maybe there’s no one answer, but there are patterns.” Her silence told me she was waiting for more, but instead of continuing, I turned the question over in my mind. Why do people leave? The thoughts swirled, and that’s how this chapter began to form. They say relationships define who we are, that they teach us lessons we wouldn’t learn otherwise. But the truth is, not every relationship is about love, and not every connection comes from a place of good intentions. I’ve thought about this a lot especially after everything I’ve been through. Relationships can fall into one of four categories: love, attraction, need, or ego. Some are beautiful, some are fleeting, and some well, theyHere is the text extracted from the image, formatted as normal paragraphs: leave scars. Love Story The first type is the one everyone dreams of love. Real, raw, unshakable love. It’s the kind that makes you believe in forever. There’s a couple I knew let’s call them Rhea and Arjun. They were the textbook definition of love. It wasn’t just in the way they looked at each other or the way they could finish each other’s sentences. It was in the small, almost invisible moments: Arjun carrying Rhea’s favourite book in his bag just in case she needed a distraction, or Rhea making sure Arjun always had his chai exactly how he liked it. Their love wasn’t flashy or loud. It was quiet, steady, and deeply rooted. But love, even in its purest form, isn’t perfect. They fought over silly things, struggled with misunderstandings, and even drifted apart for a while. But what brought them back together was their commitment not to some idea of love, but to each other. This is the kind of relationship most people want. The kind I wanted, too. But it’s rare. It’s also the kind that makes the other types stand out so painfully. The Spark of Attraction Not every relationship is about love, though. Some are about the fire, the thrill, the magnetic pull of attraction. And it’s easy to mistake that spark for something deeper. Take Meera and Kabir. They were like a summer storm intense, passionate, impossible to ignore. From the moment they met, it was fireworks. They’d talk for hours, laugh until their sides hurt, and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. It felt like love or at least, that’s what they told themselves. But here’s the thing about attraction: it’s like a firework. Bright, beautiful, but over far too quickly. As time went on, Meera realised Kabir didn’t share her dreams, and Kabir found that Meera’s outlook on life clashed with his own. The connection they thought was love was just chemistry, and once the spark faded, there wasn’t much left to hold them together. I wonder how many people are stuck in attraction, convincing themselves it’s love. I know I was, for a while. But it never lasts. The Relationship of Need Then, there are relationships born out of necessity. These aren’t about love or passion they’re about filling a void. Need can be of lust too maybe the worst thing that could happen to you or the need to move on, or even a materialistic need like money. Let me tell you about Pooja and Ankit. Pooja was terrified of being alone, and Ankit needed someone to help him find his footing in life. Together, they felt safe. Pooja got the companionship she craved, and Ankit got the support he needed to chase his dreams. But here’s the problem: relationships built on need are like sandcastles. They look solid, but the moment the tide comes in, they crumble. Pooja realised she wanted more than just someone to keep her company. Ankit started to feel suffocated, knowing he couldn’t give her the emotional depth she needed. These relationships can last for years sometimes even a lifetime. But they’re hollow. They’re about surviving, not thriving. And the worst part? Both people usually know it, deep down. The Ego Trip The last type is the hardest to understand and the easiest to spot from the outside: relationships built on ego, FOMO, or the desire to flex. Varun and Sakshi were that Instagram-perfect couple. Match-ing outfits, vacations to exotic places, and captions about how much they adored each other. But behind the scenes, it was all about appearances. Varun was with Sakshi because she made him look good. Being with her fed his ego. Sakshi stayed with Varun because he gave her status someone to flaunt in front of her friends, someone who made her feel powerful. They weren’t in love with each other. They were in love with how the relationship made them feel about themselves. And the moment the validation stopped, so did the relationship. These relationships are frustrating because they’re intentional. Varun and Sakshi knew what they were doing. They weren’t confused like Meera and Kabir or desperate like Pooja and Ankit. They chose to stay for selfish reasons, and when they walked away, they left behind a trail of broken promises and hurt feelings. What I do know is this: not all relationships are meant to last. Some teach us lessons, others leave us broken, and a few a very few show us what love really looks like. If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: you can’t force love where it doesn’t exist, and you can’t fake it for long. So, if you ever find yourself asking why someone stayed, or why they left, remember it all comes down to what they were looking for. And sometimes, what they were looking for wasn’t you.
Some love with hearts, others with needs, Some stay for comfort, some for greed. A few are lost in lust’s quick flame, And some just fear they will lose the game.