Of chemistry, connection, and affection

At any given point of time, there are millions of neurons in our brains, firing away at the speed of light, making and breaking connections, forming and dissolving thoughts. While the connections of neurons are invisible to us, it is the connections that we form externally, that we perceive and react to.

The deal with connections is that they have very little to do with love. While being in love may result in a connection, having a connection may definitely not lead to being in love. It is the interplay between the two that often results in a world of confusion.

I think of the possible kinds of chemistry human beings develop and sustain, excluding of course, familial ties. Chemistry that leads to generation altering music, such as the Beatles; the kind of chemistry that lead to fame of an unprecedented nature. Chemistry between Francis Crick and James D. Watson culminating into the discovery of Deoxyribonucleic acid. Chemistry amongst con men leading to complex, ingenuous, baffling heists. Chemistry between an actor and a director leading to seminal work. Chemistry can, undoubtedly, be palpable and mysterious at the same time.

But what makes me wonder is the truth behind a connection with another human being. What keeps it going? What burns it out? What makes it fade away? Most often than not, a connection may only be with respect to a singular aspect of a personality. Sometimes a connection is reactive like sodium, other times comfortingly inert like gold. Sometimes a connection burns faster than it should, and leaves nothing behind. As it would appear, it is possible to love someone and yet have lost the connection that once existed. On the contrary, it is possible to meet someone after years and revive a connection with as much ease as setting fire to dry leaves. Connections can be comforting, making us feel like someone shares our wavelength. They can be oddly confusing too, making us wonder how someone like us can be so unlike us as well.

I blame the human brain for the fuzzy lines between chemistry, connections, and love. If only there were separate boxes for each; the people we love and the people we connect with. It would probably result in extremely measured relationships in terms of expectations or maybe all of this is a far shot. Maybe we're meant to muddle up the love with the chemistry and the connection and lead ourselves into believing a whole new story.