Hug Stories - March Ink Drift by Assef Ali

HUG STORIES

Issue - 8

MARCH 2017 March Summers are Coming WWW.INKDRIFT.COM

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Hug Stories Volume 1 | Issue 8| March

CONTENTS EMBRACING MY IMPERFECTIONS.............PAGE 1 IN YOUR ARMS..........................................PAGE 2 THE HUG POEM..........................................PAGE 3 A HUG........................................................PAGE 4 HUG...........................................................PAGE 5 THE POWER OF HUGS...............................PAGE 6 HUG!..........................................................PAGE 7 THE EMBRACE THAT TRANSFORMED.......PAGE 8 SORRY TANGACHI....................................PAGE 9 HUGGING-ONE AND ALL...........................PAGE 10 HUG ME BED............................................PAGE 11 TEDDYBEAR OF MINE...............................PAGE 12 A LONG BUBBLED UP HUG......................PAGE 13

TEAM INK Editor in Chief: Nikita D'Monte Copy Editor: Aaksa Karuna Shah Content Analyst: Amy Johnston Communications: Annabelle Carrera Associate Editors: Aparajita Singh and Nidhi Panchal Ink Drift Publications www.inkdrift.com Email: inkdriftmag@gmail.com

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TELL ME.....................................................PAGE 14 GIVE THEM A HUG....................................PAGE 15 SHOULD FATHERS STOP..........................PAGE 16 YOU...........................................................PAGE 17 I READ LIKE THIS.....................................PAGE 18

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Travel Stories Volume 1 | Issue 8 | March

PREFACE

Each one of us is a traveler with a thousand of stories buried in our hearts. Ink Drift is an attempt to bring those stories out, in the form of literature. The word inside this magazines are treasures which are made available by various writers to all of the readers. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the contributors.

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EMBRACING MY IMPERFECTIONS BY ANUPREETA CHATTERJEE

I wake up everyday To hug myself again. I feel no pain In embracing my imperfections. I know I am not perfect But I express myself To embrace my imperfections. No connotations Can describe well The feeling when I hug myself. It is a beautiful expression In the form of love Which is beyond expectations. I wake up happily To embrace my life And my existence Which is beyond explanation. There is thirst Which provokes me To intensify my potentials. I am composing myself In the arms of words Which qualifies me and my potentials. The credentials described me Not so well. My heart soothed me Without denying and said that I cannot Be rude to myself and ask for a life in hell. My prestigious life is a jewel Which needs frequent polishing Without much mess. I embrace myself Without any hesitation And without creating any impression.

My politics is hidden in my expressions I live my life without Bothering about others expectations. My heart rules my decisions I do not work where There is a requirement for robotic precision. I live in the world of fantasy I am in love with my ecstasy. I do not live with regrets I live with lessons and enjoy Making mistakes as great as Mount Everest. I am a human, born in flesh And with a soul so innate. I refine and re-define myself Everyday in numerous ways. I embrace myself beyond annoyance I believe in a world Where we embrace relationships To learn and build a better world together Without any defiance.

IN YOUR ARMS BY HUSAIN ROKADIA

In times when technology has ousted hu- Frankly, this is an addiction I want to have! man interaction to the bare minimum, when sending snaps or getting insta-likes is more important than meeting people in-person do we realize the significance of human touch. various studies have concluded that one of the major reasons for depression among the youth is the addiction of digital interaction and the depravity of human touch. We underestimate the value of a hug in times of distress it becomes one’s saviour. Distress is anything from work pressure or the feeling of no-direction in life or the death of a loved one or a pet, every situation can be comforted with a hug, a hug from a friend or a relative or one’s better half. The feeling of human warmth in one’s arms is beyond compare and value. No economic status or social standing can assure one the warmth and comfort of a hug combined with pure innocent love. The perfect concoction therein is something that the universe itself craves. Many studies claim hugging is addictive. Whilst hugging, a hormone called ‘oxytocin’ is released, which is known to reduce blood-pressure and the risk of heart disease, and is called the ‘bonding hormone’. For a certain period, when a hug is not received, the brain faces withdrawal symptoms.

THE HUG POEM BY SNEHA DEWANI

Hug is an expression, By emptying the unwanted scars. They enlighten us by making us feel special. Hugs make you fly, Hug is a perfect gift, When you can’t even walk. Its warmth brings some spark. Hugs are the creators of butterflies in our Hug is the best place, stomach, Where one’s heart would love to belong. Brings us closer to the people who are special. Hug is only a part, But that make us feel complete. Hugs show us the whole world, In just one person. Hugging our special ones, Makes us feel safer. Hugs are the gesture, Of our love towards someone. Hugs are the lanterns, In the darker phase of our lives. Hugs are the combination, Of both tears and smiles. Hug is the medium, To touch someone’s soul with love. Hug is the remedy, For concealed scars. Hugs are the words sometimes, Without speaking touches your heart. Hugs are the source to know our importance, With its depth and pressure. HHugs are the answers, Of unasked questions. Hugs leave the impression in our heart, That can be felt even when a person is far apart. Hugs have the magic, Even simple ones can shine. Hugs fulfill the empty space in our heart,

A HUG

BY SIMRAN DHINGRA

I asked few people about the feeling of hug, Some were spontaneous, some strict to words. Asked different ages, Who had seen different phases. It was awesome, Experiencing each emotion. I asked an old man, what is hug? He was quiet and hugged me twice. Told me,” son it could even be once But the beauty of hug cannot be capture into words. The feeling you felt, the hardness it melts. The love it creates can only be taste”.

There was a mother hugging her son, Her eyes said about the victory she won. The deep love on her face and The magic of motherhood could easily be trace. How different it all seems, Some were pleased and some seem relieved. This is all a hug says, Even one hugging different people Could be in different ways.

Moving ahead, I asked a boy Who was busy playing with his toy. He said,” I hug everyone whomever I meet, Because my father told me to be pleased”. Then met a lover, for the feelings to discover. “Hug feels better, when you are low, But to hug that one person feels, Something inside you grow. Closing your eyes, everything just flies. The broken parts of yours are together And you wished of losing her never. It is something that, cannot be describe”. Told the man with teary eyes. There was a star fan, Hugged his favourite star when he came out of van. The eyes showed that something he achieved, But the superstar got a bit cheesed. Then heard a girl telling her best friend, That hug could be just a trend. But to hug you and mom feels same, It’s like, I have the power to fight for any change.

HUG BY SABARI RAM

Her heart shattered into pieces though she tried to move on she fell on the floor unconscious rushed to the hospital with us confused ICU was the name of the room tears rolled on with no-one to blame the oxygen mask hugs her nose to give air the needle hugged by her skin to give blood

I never meant to disturb you I never meant to annoy you I never meant to irritate you All I ever want is to gain your trust so that it would hug my mess which can give me bliss in my life.... I never meant to hurt you I never meant to disobey you I never meant to ignore you All I ever want is you to be happy so that I could hug my emotions inside myself without making you worry.

We sat on the chair with our hands hugging each-other doctor came out rushed and told us to donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry everything going to be alright we believed few moments after we were been called to the doctor room we ran it broke our heart into millions of pieces by hearing the news that our daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dead.

We both sailed on the same path but with different plots and wounds neither of us was ready for this but we hugged each other through our minds which made us smile that lasted a long time.

She was there looked like a beautiful angel by hugging a rose on her chest in her coffin it seems like she was alive at the moment but she was not said our subconscious mind standing there looking the earth hugs our daughter we both hugged her tombstone on a rainy weather tearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hid by the rain drops with every other dead corpse we were alone in that place saw my daughter rise from her grave she gave us a tight hug and together we marched for heaven.

That spark made us united as one our souls married to each other with the blessings from the sun which shines a joy in our life and from the moon that hugs our life by lightning the happiness into us.. Then came a new soul into our life which hugged our finger with her whole hand that moment made me realize to be more protective than ever she began to grow as a child and hugged her best companion teddy bear they play and sleep and eat together till the day it disappeared..

THE POWER OF HUGS BY HANADI FALKI

There I was, sitting at a bus stop, waiting for the dreaded bus journey to work yet again. I had a bad day so far, and wasn’t excited about the rest of it knowing pretty well how that would end. As I sat on the crowded bench along with other similarly frustrated souls, my glance fell on the scene that was taking place across the road. A cute Chinese guy and a tall Indian girl were standing in the middle of the footpath, holding up signs that read ‘Free Hugs!’ I sneered at the tactics people resorted to in the name of collecting for charity. I turned away trying to engross myself in the latest app in my phone. In today’s time all these gadgets at our fingertips keep us occupied every moment. No one seems to be alone. Yet everyone is quite lonely. I soon found myself glancing at the duo again and again. It was fun to watch people’s reactions to those two. Some were passing by with astonished looks. Some were sneering at them like I first did. And some just moved along oblivious to their efforts to connect. Occasionally a person would come who would actually give a shrug and hug them. Then leave with a smile. By and by, the number of people who hugged them grew. Stretching myself to get rid of the stiffness in my back, I noticed how a grumpy old man stopped for a moment, hesitated and then started walking past the Indian girl. How long had it been since he last received a hug from someone dear, let alone a stranger on the road? The girl then approached the old man and said something (out of my ear shot amidst the passing vehicles). He then moved his shaky arms and extended it towards her. The girl then gave him one of the warmest hug I have ever seen. Warmth coming out of love… love for a stranger?

The old man walked away with a twinkle in his eyes. And the girl’s smile grew even wider. I couldn’t help smiling myself. That was a really sweet thing right? And it wasn’t for donations too. I had noticed a while back that they weren’t taking anything in return for their hugs. As I sat there watching them, I saw most of the people around me doing the same. And there was one thing common amongst us. We all had a smile on our faces. People have a childlike need to be loved, and hugs represent an unconditional flow of love from a person to the other, even if it’s temporary. The brief jolt of happiness is all it takes to cheer someone up. That warm, fuzzy feeling that that you experience after a hug will keep you upbeat for the better part of the day. Scientifically speaking, hugs cause the brain to release endorphins, which in turn lead to better healing throughout the entire body. Hugs are also known to lower blood pressure and get rid of stress. The profound power of human embrace generates feelings of well-being that is a form of therapy in itself. With such strong benefits, hugs should be more socially acceptable than they currently are. Not the fake obligatory social-greeting type hugs, but a genuine heartfelt hug will leave you smiling all day long. To all those who spread love in this unique way of theirs, I just have one thing to say, God bless your wonderful souls.

HUG! BY NIHARIKA BHARIA

I never meant to disturb you I never meant to annoy you I never meant to irritate you All I ever want is to gain your trust so that it would hug my mess which can give me bliss in my life....

tears rolled on with no-one to blame the oxygen mask hugs her nose to give air the needle hugged by her skin to give blood We sat on the chair with our hands hugging each-other doctor came out rushed and told us to don’t worry everything going to be alright we believed few moments after we were been called to the doctor room we ran it broke our heart into millions of pieces by hearing the news that our daughter’s dead.

I never meant to hurt you I never meant to disobey you I never meant to ignore you All I ever want is you to be happy so that I could hug my emotions inside myself without making you worry. We both sailed on the same path but with different plots and wounds neither of us was ready for this but we hugged each other through our minds which made us smile that lasted a long time.

She was there looked like a beautiful angel by hugging a rose on her chest in her coffin it seems like she was alive at the moment but she was not said our subconscious mind standing there looking the earth hugs our daughter we both hugged her tombstone on a rainy weather tear’s hid by the rain drops with every other dead corpse we were alone in that place saw my daughter rise from her grave she gave us a tight hug and together we marched for heaven.

THE EMBRACE THAT TRANSFORMED HER BY SAMTA GOEL

‘I am proud of many things in life but nothing beats being a mother’ Meera’s phone beeped with this message from her mother Neelam. Even though Neelam loved sending such messages applauding self but today these messages were meant for her daughter. Neelam was over the moon on hearing about her daughter’s pregnancy who, on the other hand was still grappling with the news. The double whammy of twins on way only exaggerated her anxiety. “How will I mange two together? What about my job and career? Finances and savings will go for a toss.” A hundred more questions plagued her mind as she struggled to feel happy. On top of that two babies in tummy meant twice the usual symptoms for would be mommy. Weakness made Meera dizzy as she strived to eat without throwing up. The never ending suggestions from family to eat healthy and read religious scriptures made her crazy. It was also the longest she had gone without coffee, her addiction since past fifteen years. By the end of four months physical and hormonal changes had turned Meera into an emotional wreck. She was perplexed and longed to be her cheerful self. As her little ones kicked, Meera felt bemused, the term butterflies in tummy took on a whole new meaning for her. Two days before Meera’s ‘baby shower’ she felt cramps in her stomach. She went about doing her office work but by the end of day it couldn’t be ignored. She frantically called her husband who asked Meera to rush to hospital and agreed to meet her there. Ninety minutes later Meera’s world had turned upside down. She was dumbfounded when doctor informed her that she had an incompetent cervix which led to premature rupture of membranes. In simpler terms an extremely rare condition leading Meera into early labor and there

was nothing that could be done to save her babies. An agonizing eight hours later Meera delivered her precious babies. Two perfect little ones who couldn’t survive as they had come into this world too early. Meera requested her doctor to let her hold them. Always known as the strong one, Meera had not cried till then. Not when her water broke, not even while she endured the excruciating labor pains. Embracing her lifeless babies she could not hold anymore. It was as if the flood gates had been unleashed. That hug had transformed Meera. In the middle of death a mother was born. Nothing helps you understand the fleeting nature of life more than death. Nothing helps you understand what really matters until you lose it. More than two years later Meera gave birth to healthy little girl. But it was that hug which had transformed her, taught her the power of love and the true value of gift of life. Meera was a mother of three, an angel on earth and two in heaven.

SORRY TANGACHI BY OKEKE GIDEONCHIZOBA Gayatri looked Lakshmi directly into her eyes. Her eyes were filled with pity as she lay on the hospital bed. She had been brutally gang raped and thrown off a moving vehicle. Gayatri’s prying eyes searched through her eyes as if she could see down to her heart. She is the only one who understood what she has been through and what she is presently going through. Gayatri has been standing there for what seems like forever. “Am sorry” was all she could finally muster out. Sorry? Why and what for Lakshmi asked with curiosity written all over her face. Gayatri: for everything Lakshmi: what everything, ayoo!!! Akaa you are confusing me. Gayatri: Lakshmi, i might be everything you can think of but am certainly not blind. I see every single one of them. The pain behind your smiles, the desires of unfulfilled dreams, the beckoning of unlived life yet feeling trapped, the daily struggles between who you really are and what society says you must be. I see the fight you put up as a widowed single mother. Lakshmi: Akaa!!! Gayatri: shhhhhhh she whispered placing a finger on her dry and dehydrated lips. Lakshmi gave up in surrender. I can’t help but wonder how cruel life has been to you since you were born. In fact the midwife had told i and Apaa that you came out of Amaa into this world crying. I remember the sudden change of Appa’s countenance at the mention that you were a girl. Apaa had expected that you would be a male child but was disappointed when you were

not. My little mind couldn’t understand all these then but i just knew things were no longer the same with our little family after you were born. I remember when you had the courage to fall in love, i and Amaa never gave you the chance to love and be loved. We unleashed every amour we had in our arsenal until we succeeded in packaging you away in a hurriedly arranged marriage to that licentious drunker Muthusamy. With regret and heavy heart we observed from a distance how you were an object of abuse, assault and battery. We couldn’t bring ourselves to ask you how your marriage was because we knew you were not happy in it. It was not wedlock for you it was a dread lock that made you felt you were under a padlock. Divorce was entirely ruled out for you until death finally divorced you both. Am sorry i didn’t protect you from all of these. Look who is talking Lakshmi forced a smile amidst tears; we are both in this together. Your condition is not better than mine so there is nothing to be sorry about. She reached out and hugged Gayatri so passionatly refusing to let her go. It’s was their first hug after they lost their father ten years ago .it’s the creation of a synergy with which they would face their unfair world

HUGGING - ONE AND ALL BY AMBALAL CHAUHAN Lilian shouted, “ Emily , where are you ? “ “Emily.” she shouted more loudly this time . Her charm, beauty, all faded away. She was brisquely walking uphill, in front of her small house , looking here and there , far and afar , up and down too. The breeze was not that cold , as at times , it used to be in Anderson , this part - the village in Alaska . She saw some randeers little away from her. Two males were locking horns, no female cared for them. One, among the others, stopped for a while , and looked at her , as though , it were Emily. And she too wished, it really was her , as the little eight year old her cute daughter was out since last two hours . At that time, she was making cookies for her . John was snoring. “Not a caring dad at all . “ she’d burst within. And her heart was sinking, getting faster and colder. Sledging of some chaps on far slopes could not make her stare there or smile. On the contrary, the faint day -light erected a wavy translucent curtain in front of her eyes . She was now trotting, as she realised that merging with the wavy curtain was a mother bear with her kid on the next hillock. She looked around and picked a staff, “ John, “ she excitedly looked back and shouted with her full throat but she realised that he was away since for drinking in the village bar . Emily had left for collecting the woods with her small shawl. “Ma, for night fire.” she had twitted. “Nay” she had retorted, but Emily was Emily, hardly obeyed mother . She was running now. Little further up and

her heart missed few beats. Her eyes got stuck. Yeh, Emily was there with a bundle of small cut wood - pieces in her hand and...... She saw her world crumbling down. The mother-bear, too, had spotted Emily and it was chasing her. In Emily, it looked for a feast and an opportunity to taste her little kid, may be a first something other than the stuff from breast. Lilian was now on sprint with her left hand raised and the staff grasped in it tightly. Soon, she started panting, and released the staff at the mother-bear with her full strength. In the process, she tumbled down and the last she could see, she missing it, and the mother-bear jumping her darling daughter, and........ Few seconds, she was flat on the ground. She could see the clear sky as she opened her heavy eyelids thinking she were dead. She collected herself with a great effort, rose a little and saw both - the mother-bear and Emily entangled, as though they were wrestling. She got up and ran and ran, panting wildly, reached there, the cub also reached along with her. And her eyes were wide open. “Oh, my God!” “ Ma..... look, it’s Jolly , the cub, we’d raised years back , it’d left us, it’s mummy now.” All the four, all in fur, two mothers, two daughters, were hugging one and all! Jolly was most happy, it was licking all the three, simultaneously and one by one too.

HUG ME BED... ERR HUG ME BAD BY SARANG KAWADE 21 days remain. Rs. 2100 remains to be earned. I need a bed to sleep. And it costs Rs. 3000, you see. My day revolves around mocha, latte, cream and cappuccino. I scold, curse, insult and blatantly mock my customers. Wow! Did you really believe that? Oh, I was kidding! It’s just a fantasy. Customers do that to me, day in, day out. Anyway, 15 days remain. Rs. 1500 remains to be earned. I need a bed to sleep. And it costs Rs. 3000, you see. Fever tiptoed on my health last night. A shameful breach, I must say! I couldn’t sleep for there was no bed. I, wrapped in a blanket, kept humming, sitting on my rocking chair. 3 days of work lost, so were Rs. 300 and my sleep. A bed could have certainly cured me earlier. 12 days remain. Rs. 1500 is the glum sum. Scold, curse, insult and mock—motto of my customers. But it’s okay. I need a bed to sleep. And you know the bed’s cost. Look at the brighter side, pals. 6 days remain. Rs. 900 stares at me; the

bed awaits my embrace. I found a way out—overtime. After 3 days of overtime, bed is within the sight. Despite the loathing eyes of store owner, flooded with disbelief, I paid the advance for a new bed. 3 more days, Rs. 300 acquired and the bed would be mine. 8 hours of work stands between me, my sleep and by extension, the bed. Scold, curse, insult and mock—motto of my customers, she didn’t follow. The pretty young lady, who ordered a latte, was a pleasant exception. All the same, all the same, I thought. Because all I needed was a bed to sleep. My eyes were tired, robbed mercilessly of sleep since a month now. As a kind gesture, she hugged me. And I fell asleep in her embrace. Within 5 minutes of our hug, I had already slept for a month. The bed was never bought. Because all I need is a tight hug to fall asleep.

TEDDYBEAR OF MINE BY TWISHA RAY

My dear grandfather, a wonderful man, Always believed in me, knew that I can. Wisdom of life, openly shared, Comforted me, when I was scared. My dear grandfather, routinely amaze, Since I was little, you gladly helped raise. Countless things, with patience you taught, You listened to me, whenever I thought. My dear grandfather, I truly care, Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been, much more than fair. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to wish you, only the best, With the dearest grandfather, I have been blessed.

A LONG BUBBLED UP HUG BY ASHA JACOB

We Each In A Lofty bubble. Hearts Unrelenting Egoistically Bubbled up. Each Every Minute Shrinking with the bubble trap. Tarry a little more and lo! We Each Go aloft Never to meet again. Soft breeze forces each forward. Bubbles graze, hands extend, A N D We HUG Violently breaking through the bubble. 13

TELL ME BY SHIVANI JHA

When people wrote long illustrating poems on the kisses; when there were erotic novels written on communion of two bodies. And as she read divine descriptions of the gaze of the beloved, she wondered. She wondered, why hugs were never talked of in such scintillating ways? Hugs have always been under-rated, she thought. And she wrote to ask: When you lie wrapped in the belovedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arms, A light comforting envelope, that calms you down to stillness and peace. As the arms pull you closer, your world starts to shrink and condense in your heart, like a glacier like a frozen lava. Tell me, it does not happen? When you put your arms around your world, Everything ceases Your mind, your thoughts, your very existence, You stand still As if gawking at the pace that your heart picks, As if gawking at the hurricane that rises from these entangling breaths. Tell me that does not happen? Tell me that a hug does not slowly melt away all the ice that was frozen in your heart since ages. Tell me that it does not invite a raging storm. Tell me that all your lonely corners do not become a land of grand carnival in your belovedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embrace. Tell me that all your sore wounds do not heal with that warmth that holds you two together. Tell me if you will, That it is not so, When you are trapped in a warm, encapsulating, Big, Bear Hug... And I will believe you.

GIVE THEM A HUG BY PRATEEK SUKHNANI Life, dreams, desires, parents, relationships and there are many other things one has to deal with, almost every day. Sometimes we just find ourselves in worst situations and that’s where you need some magic. Yes, a hug from the right person. Again, we have many people to spend time with, some are called friends, best friends, etc. But here’s the thing- We’ll find many people to have fun with but only a few or just the one who will stand by your side , no matter how much deep you fall in life, that one will always lift you up and say things like “I’m there” “Don’t worry” etc. Even some of them fail to say such things but then they very well know how to act the same rather than speaking. And that’s what I think is the definition of a Right Person. And seriously a hug from that right person is capable of preventing you from the stress you’ve been carrying within yourself. It’s a kind of magic which makes you forget all the problems and sets you free and you literally don’t feel like leaving the person particularly at that time. A hug is a physical way of expressing your love towards a person. So in case if you had a bad day, STOP. Call them, talk, meet(if possible) and just give them a hug. That’s it.

SHOULD FATHERS STOP HUGGING DAUGHTERS AFTER PUBERTY? BY Q THEWRITER While the orthodox person in me would say ‘No’ almost immediately on seeing such a question, there is more to it than just me. While this is predominantly a question a girl must answer, I think I can give a perspective as well. Personally speaking, if my mom or dad tried to hug me, I’d run away as fast as I can because I feel weird. There’s nothing wrong in it mind you but a hug is seen that way in our country. The fact that the lead actress makes an orgasm face for just a hug in several films makes you wonder if you actually need such a thing in real life. However, a hug is something different from what the movies portray. Between a father and daughter, it is completely different. As a child, when the child has to sleep the parents in India have a method where they place the kid over their chest with the kid’s head resting on their shoulder. Touch is very powerful to the baby. The baby feels safe and goes to sleep. Even the contraption they make with a saree to make the baby rest is supposed to remind the baby of the womb. Traditional Indian methods had a lot of science in it. Whenever the baby cries or gets scared, the most reassuring thing that a parent does will be to hug the baby gently and lift. There is nobody more reassuring than the father. To most kids, the father is the first hero figure. He becomes the first symbol of authority. While in the past the son was the heir to the property, the woman has been called as the ‘heir to the pride’ because she is the one who highlights the positives of her birth family to her adopted (family she marries into) family. The hug is blemished by the people of our society. They see something as pure as a hug to be something sexual. Hugs are now called PDAs by most people and they intend it in a couple’s perspective. A hug is not sexual. It never is. A hug is a show of affection/a show of friendship and a symbol of bonding. It never is going to be sexual. To all those people who call friends (same sex) hugging each other as ‘gay’, friends (boy,girl) hugging as ‘relationships’, cousins hugging each other as ‘inc**t’ and condemn fathers hugging daughters, I say SHAME ON YOU. Fathers should hug daughters even if I am skeptical about the hug culture. My grandmother feared to even speak to her father. My mother spoke moderately to her father. My sisters argue in a friendly manner with their fathers. This is progress. Let us not take a step back. Not here. Yes, fathers should hug their daughters not just when they hit puberty but even at a stage when they hit menopause

YOU

BY BIPUL BANERJEE You are the stars in the sky You are a sunset on a warm summer day I see the sparkle in your eye And I never want to look away You are worth a 1000 of my tears I give you every piece of my heart Because we have grown stronger over the years I will always be there for you when you come apart You are everything dreams are made of When it?s darkyou are my light Because it is you whom I will always love And that feeling is so hard to fight You are worth a billion mile walk And, baby, you make my heart melt I feel closer to you every time we talk Those are feelings I have never before felt I feel so secure around you You make my heart pound so very fast I have found myself falling for everything you do And every night we are together is a night I want to last This is something that has never happened to me before Every time I sleep I see you in my dreams You lift my heart and soul up from the floor I’m so blown away, my cheeks flow with tear streams I can’t help the way I feel I can hear your voice whisper in my head And you’re way too good to be real I can’t stop thinking of you when I lie in my bed You got me running around in circles in my mind What I see in you now I’m sorry I never saw before I guess my heart was closed or my eyes were blind But, right now, I could not have ask for any more You are the best thing that has ever happened to me There is not one thing I ever want to miss Now my eyes are open and I can see so clearly I will cherish every moment we have, every hug, every kiss.

I READ LIKE THIS BY NARINDER KAUR

I read like this Here and there Drifting in and out of pages Sometimes i begin At the last page Flip off to somewhere in the middle Leave it in the middle of a sentence Put my bookmark Somewhere near I write like this Catch hold of a random thought Read a line and save it Begin and never end Or finish it before I begin I love like this Slip in and out Of your skin Weave my fingers In your hair And my dreams Into the stars I will kiss you And leave you Touch you And begone Rise to an ecstasy But leave The orgasm For later on. Thats what i do Beginnings and ends Dont coordinate I will take up the thread Where i will Leaving a scope To carry on Catch up with you When i will Where i will

“I had embraced you... long before i hugged you.” ― Sanober Khan