Power of A Hug

I have always been a 'hugs' person. Touch is important, I feel, to convey your emotions and warmth. And I completely and totally believe in the adage - Hugging is a good medicine.

My belief in hugs was reinstated in last two days. I was in Mumbai for two days. I landed in Mumbai sick; in every which meaning of the word. Bad throat, cold, bodyache, fever.....and frustrated with life and home-sick as well. Sunday, despite the sickness, I went for my cousin-in-law's 50th birthday celebrations. He's a Punjabi and his family knows how to LIVE. True to their character, the party had a rocking setting - DJ, khana-peena and chak de phatte! He gave me a bear hug and so did his parents, my cousin, their daughter and my other cousins...and that set the ball rolling. I, who had planned a quick exit because of my fever and bodyache, was pulling all and sundry on the dance floor. "Music made the fever run away?" asked my aunt. Little did she know of the famous quote of Tolstoy....or she probably did being a teacher and was referring to it...

Music is the shorthand of emotion.  - Leo Tolstoy

Music, yes, it's hard to stop me from dancing if there's good foot-tapping music. I can dance the night through and I don't need alcohol to do that. But...I think it were the hugs that did the magic. Energy came from the hugs. However, body gave up soon and I went home to Combiflam, Cetzine and steam inhalation while others partied till....I don't know when. Night again was with same companions and added members called khichadi and a sleeping tablet .

Next day I woke up with fever but the intensity was less. I religiously kept company of two Cs and one S in the morning. But stepped out in the afternoon to meet an old family friend, whom I had not met in a very long time. We spoke about careers, reading, present generation woes and dwelt in a little nostalgia. He gave me a bear hug when I got up to leave after more than a hour of great chat and cups of green tea.

I reached home little lighter to find one of BFFs waiting for me. He's my doctor and partner in a few crimes since last more than 25 years (we stopped counting after that!) And he, definitely, isn't  a hugs person. But I am an exception to many rules when it comes to him. He gave me some medicines, scolding for stepping out despite being so unwell and a hug! I had recovered more than 50 percent by the time he left. Rest 25 percent was taken care by medicines and steam inhalations and soup for the sick soul by Kaka.

I managed to stay awake till 12.30 am to chant my Shivastuti as it was Mahashivaratri.

The energies I got from Lord Shiva and all the hugs renewed me and woke me up a different person. I was unquestionably  more energetic than I was 60 hours ago. What I didn't know when I stepped out for the airport, was that I will be gifted two more bear hugs at the airport.

As I was walking towards the coffee machine in the Jet Airways lounge, I saw a very good acquaintance, a known film director, talking to another familiar face. While he took a few moments to place me, once he recognised he greeted me with his usual, "Arre kahan ho bachcha? What a long time?" The gentleman across too took a minute to recognise me, but managed 'hello' as he was leaving for his flight. 10 minutes of conversation later, the showman got up to leave....but not before heaving me up from chair to give a bear hug and reminding me to get in touch with his daughter....to bring me back to Mumbai, land of hugs.

I settled down with a newspaper and coffee. "Excuse me madam, can I join you?" These words jolted me out of my reader's trance. Standing near me was a long lost friend - someone who had moved to Delhi a few years ago and was unaware of my move to Indore. I jumped to my feet. He held me tight, close to his heart, like he always did and held me like that for the mandatory 20 seconds.

My healing was complete. I was rejuvenated. Cold, cough, bodyache, fever...vanished into the thin air (whatever was remaining!) I boarded the flight back to Indore healed and hearty!

The Power of A Hug!

I realised that this is what I was missing in Indore. Dose of an everyday jhappi! One thing that heals all ailments... and energises mind and body. Jadu Ki Jhappi. That one hug for 20 seconds for the Oxytocin rush to keep me happy, hale and hearty.