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| There is veracity in randomness |
When everyone seems to be serving BS
for handshakes, it has been my crime to go in for a hug and show the
world that we can actually kill people with kindness. It doesn’t
necessarily work all the time but hey, at least it melts hearts one
cold person at a time. It is so hard to fake a hug and yet so easier
to spot a monster with a firm grip.
A few months ago, me and a new found
Central European friend were bidding farewells from the rest of rum
set, sunset crew of travelers that shared passion for well, you
know, and admiring that sun set every primetime by the beach. Hugs
were made, promises of visits in each other’s countries were
exchanged - the typical goodbye stuff. But out of all the hugs that
morning, there was one that stood out. And by unanimous decision made
by my friend and I while discussing on the bus, it was from
someone we did not expect at all; a very funny bloke from the UK.
Who would’ve thought, but looking back, it all made sense! The
hilarious one has got to have the warmest heart.
It made me realize that there is so
much truth in hugs. And so much more in a particular kind; the
airport hug. People saying goodbye to their loved ones, lovers,
friends and family in the Departures knowing that they will be gone
for a very long time brings out the humanity in everyone. Everyone
has a soft spot despite what the world thinks. And not to be
considered less is the opposite kind in the spectrum; a husband
hugging his newly-arrived wife and twirling her around was such a
sight to behold that everyone clapped for them and made everyone’s
day.
And in this realization, we begin to
appreciate those hugs with finality. Not everyone will stay in touch
or keep their promises but at that moment when you were hugging them
and the world froze and the time stood still, those tight hugs that
lasted forever and yet still felt short, it was all real. It may not
be real the now but at that moment in the sweet past it was
everything and the truth.
I remember being stuck in the pier for
more than 12 hours one time that I befriended fellow happy souls –
a couple from Germany and China. We only had to cross a narrow strait
and it was everything but rainy and yet the coast guard would not
allow anyone to leave the island. So while everyone else was
miserable we threw our own shindig and party we did. What started out
as standing in line went to lunch went to card games with random
people went to karaoke and eventually led to a mini street party. The
coast guard finally gave a go signal and suddenly everyone’s mood
was up. Some middle-aged Scandinavian took over the microphone and I
was able to capture a heart-warming moment of my friends on camera.
There is veracity in randomness.
And so my friend and I arrived in the
city. He had to catch a flight and I had to get back to reality. We
exchanged hugs as we bid farewell and at the back of my head it was
funny I was overthinking and pressured to give a
decent and genuine hug after that much discussion on the bus. I was
genuine by the way and I’m hoping he was too. But then again, if he weren't then I’ve
had worse; I shook hands with the devil. They look you in the eye and
give you a strong and firm handshake. Scary, believe me. So next time, go in for a hug. Besides,
don’t you think a warm hug is so much more comforting than a
handshake, a milk shake, a fruit shake or whatever shakes that may
try to shook you?
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