The series Encounters Of The Third Kind is dedicated to memorable encounters with people, both good and bad, that have left a mark on me.
THE HUG
This was a few years ago. My father's cousin had come down from Pakistan with his family and we were meeting then for dinner. I had never seen them before.this would be my first time. I knew he had a teenage son and a daughter and I was looking forward to meet my distant cousins. As we waited outside the restaurant for them, they arrived and got down from the car. I had that initial awkwardness that we have when we are meeting someone for the first time. I was wondering what type of people they would be- conservative? Modern? How do i wish them? What will I say first? Will they be friendly? Uptight?
As all these thoughts were playing in my mind I saw them walking towards us. There was this girl, their daughter I presumed, and as she approached us I noticed she had Downs Syndrome.She was smiling wide at us and even before we could exchanged niceties or made introductions , she just came up to me and hugged me. So tight. Like we were long lost friends or something meeting after years. It was not a normal slack hug. It was a warm tight hug: the kind that immediately loosens you up, and makes you forget all your troubles for that moment. A hug that acknowledges the goodness in your soul, the human in you. A hug that overwhelms you and chokes you up, yet comforts you. You don't know what it is about such hugs but they are contagious and I couldn't help but hug her back in the same way.
While I had all these apprehensions about meeting new people, this girl Sarrah, never bothered about all that. She didn't judge us, she didn't care if we would like her friendliness or not. All she knew was to spread cheer and love with that constant smile on her face. She greeted everyone with equal warmth and a cheerful manner. I couldn't take my eyes off her that evening. I wondered if I would ever open up like that with a stranger. I noticed how overprotective and conscious her brother was of his sister and kept supervising her through the dinner so that we didn't feel awkward with her mannerisms. Oh I didn't care how she held her spoon or how she ate her food. All I cared was how she acknowledged the human in us without any qualms or prejudice. The friendly manner in which she met us for the first time.That day left me anew. I went home feeling so good.
A few months later I got the news that Sarrah is no more. I was shocked. I sobbed like I would have for a dear one. I had only met her once briefly and we hardly spoke. But something about her had stayed with me. It was the warmth of her endearing hug that had connected me to her and that was why I mourned her.
I have big time trust issues while meeting new people. I take time to study them, even judge them by their appearance before I can open up completely and be myself. But Sarrah taught me how a single encounter can leave an everlasting impression on you and make you feel good even years later. We meet new people ever other day. But do we make the effort to connect at such a deep level? Just a smile can break that barrier but it won't mean anything if it doesn't come from the heart. People cross our path for a reason And Sarrah came into my life to teach me how one meeting can leave you with a lifelong memory.
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