There’s no better platform for a one-sided, bordering-on-obsessive love story to play out than social media, TBH.
You’ve got your pick of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – hell, why not all three – and a soapbox on which to declare your feels for a stranger who’s unable to judge your advances as creepy, because ~anonymity~. Oh, and a network of followers to lean on if you get locked up nothing comes it.
The reasons outlined above gave birth to the newly-launched “silent love story” (read between the lines: unrequited) between an anonymous Aussie chick who goes by Layla and her local petrol station attendant, Manesh.
It’s called ‘Love Pump‘ (not the porno).
If you can imagine Bridget Jones’s Diary-meets-Babe Walker of White Girl Problems, you’re halfway to understanding what ‘Love Pump’ is all about.
Ooh, or if you can imagine Julia Roberts‘ character in Notting Hill telling Hugh Grant “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a petrol station attendant, asking him to love her”, you’re 3/4 of the way.
Except Manesh, who BTW works for Shell, remains blissfully unaware that Layla wants his babies – which makes her posts about navigating the trials and tribulations that come with any silent love affair all the more entertaining:
Manesh is the kind of guy who would totally give you his ketchup satchel when the bitch at McDonald’s under delivers. #lovepump
— Layla (@lovepumponline) September 14, 2015
P.TV spoke to Layla – a 23-year-old Sydneysider who works in film production – for the inside scoop on her “6-month, silent but steady relationship” with Manesh.
HEY LAYLA. SO, HOW MUCH OF YOUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH MANESH IS FOR REALS, AND HOW MUCH FOR SOCIAL MEDIA LOLS?
Um, none of it is for social media. Our love is legit.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SHARE YOUR STORY?
It’s a burgeoning love story for the ages. It deserves a platform, and also takes some of the focus away from the Kardashians and politics. But that’s just a bonus.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT MANESH THAT MAKES YOU WEAK-KNEED?
As soon as I saw him, I was done. Like, it’s rare to see a man in uniform who’s genuinely gorgeous so when I was Manesh, I was just ‘Is this real life?’ He’s of Indian descent and looks like a cross between Jay-Z and Aladdin. Yum.
DOES MANESH HAVE ANY IDEA YOU’RE FROTHING ON HIM?
That’s still TBD. We do speak, but it’s more conversations about the weather and price of oil than it is the future of our relationship. At this stage.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS OBSESSION WILL LAST? DOES IT HAVE STICKING POWER?
I wouldn’t say it’s an obsession. But let’s just say I’m patient.
NOW YOU’VE GOT ‘LOVE PUMP’, HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY GOING IN THE SHELL TO SEE HIM?
I don’t get petrol that often, obviously, so I buy gum and chips very regularly – about 3 or 4 times a week.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS GOING IN AN IDEAL WORLD?
I hope for the same thing every girl who falls for a gas station attendant thinks – that one day he’ll notice me and we’ll sex. I’ve also thought about writing a script based on our love story. It could happen.
Images via Love Pump.
