I know the single-track minds some of you have, and I also know you're already wondering...Him? Who? Oh well, He's just a valued, respected and precious friend. So, this is one of those updates from my Delhi trip that I guess, I'm now ready to share.
An online friend, whom I met through an online forum, was in Delhi on the second day of my trip and we decided to meet in Gurgaon because he had a meeting there and had to leave and it was raining so we did not want Him to come to Del in the rains and end up missing His flight. So, He asked me to reach trident and I waited for Him in the coffee shop there, with a litchi ice tea, not knowing what to do with it.
And then, there's this seemingly perfect gentleman (not just seemingly, but actually perfect), young professional, no paunch, no bald, approaches my table and looks at me, for a few seconds before I raise my head up, and asks me almost wordlessly if I'm myself (asks me about my name :P ) And, I know it's my friend. I rise up, we shake hands and then before we settle down again, something just sweeps over me and I end up asking....mind a hug before anything else?
He's all grins and agrees and we hug !!!
The only reason why I'm writing this post is because I know that *this one hug* is something I'll never forget :) By nature, I'm a touchy feely person with the right people and obnoxiously distant with those whom I cannot correlate with. I like embraces, hugs, tender forehead kisses (as long as they aren't leery and cheep). I like holding hands, caressing hair and cheek, cuddling as well. But, like I said, with the right person and in the right manner.
And, this one hug was perhaps the warmest, friendliest and most relieving and serene hug I ever received in life!!! And I just loved my friend for doing it :)
The rest of the time was so sweet. We talked, laughed at pj's and He looked at me with such a sweet smile as if He was in awe with my nerd like personality and my carbon frame specs and my JNU student like countenance, and I looked at Him with a soft, delicate, revered, and yet amused smile,. But, I already like Him a lot and love him like a friend :)
And then I never knew there was more to come. A hug again at the airport when we saw each other off and a sudden kiss on my forehead in such a gentle, friendly, but an elder-like manner, almost brought tears of relief and joy to my eyes.
My friend is married, and He's way too elder to me, and He's such a sweet, well-educated, intellectual, intelligent and a charming person that I cherish Him as one of the precious people in my life. Someone whom I look up to and someone whom I remember with all fondness for laughing at my foolery, gently correcting my mistakes and helping without being judgmental to me.
I haven't written this post to praise Him to no end, but just to say that there are some people and some hugs/touches You cherish for the life. And there are some people who are always a ray of Hope no matter how dark it is.
He is one such person in my life.
Lord,
I thank You for granting me,
The people in my life.
Good, bad, beautiful, not-so-beautiful,
each precious and each different from the other.
Help me Lord,
to protect them,
to be able to love, honor and respect them.
And grant everyone in this world,
the fortune of beautiful friendships,
relationships and even beautiful acquaintanceship and strangers.
This I ask in thy Holy name.
Amen!!
©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)
