Kathmandu, Feb. 8 -- My father isn't a love expert; expressing emotions isn't his strength. Yet, one childhood conversation with him is stuck with me. I asked him why everything is based on love, noticing it all around-ads, TV shows, movies, and cartoons like Ninja Hattori and Doraemon, where even kids like Kenichi and Nobita showed passion for love.

His response to my question was straightforward yet profound, "Love is the essence of life." This wasn't merely an explanation; it was a philosophy that reverberated through the years and resurfaced when I found myself holding a copy of 'The Forty Rules of Love' by Elif Shafak.

This book was gifted to me by a close friend who had learned of my scepticism regarding true love. I've never felt...