• Landing Page
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Buy JNews
  • Login
Upgrade
The News Porter
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Page One
  • Exclusive
  • Nation
  • World
  • Fast News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Diaspora
    • Health
    • Legal Angle
    • Science & Tech
    • Press Release
    • The Blog Spot
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Page One
  • Exclusive
  • Nation
  • World
  • Fast News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Diaspora
    • Health
    • Legal Angle
    • Science & Tech
    • Press Release
    • The Blog Spot
No Result
View All Result
The News Porter
No Result
View All Result

What is Love? Do we fall prey to human foibles more often than not?

I’m reminded of the song by Haddaway, which goes on to say: “Baby don’t hurt me…” Love ought to be unconditional if it’s truly being experienced in its purest form, yet – are we capable of such nobility, or do we fall prey to human foibles more often than not?

Punam Bakshi Mohandas by Punam Bakshi Mohandas
July 29, 2022
in Blogger's, Exclusive, The Wisdom Tree
1

THIS TOO SHALL PASS


I always thought reading was a solitary pleasure and so it’s an awfully rum thing when you stop to think about it, but my love of reading has brought me into contact with some really good people, who have remained in my life as cherished friends. Here I’m going to talk about one such, who unwittingly taught me one of Life’s most important lessons.

I remember this one time I was just lazing in the sunshine minding my own business on the beach at Koh Samet, an island in Thailand. I was reading a Jackie Collins, something I’d never usually be caught dead with, but I figured it was apt, light reading for the beach – and then I could leave the book behind at the hotel with no regrets.

Suddenly, water droplets splashed all over me and I shrieked and sat up. And that was my first look at K, who was shaking water all over me like some large, friendly puppy. Turned out he was an Australian, who was so shocked that someone was actually caught reading a Jackie Collins in public, that he couldn’t but help amble along to censure my reading tastes! I explained, he was appeased – and he sat down beside me to chat, quoting Shakespeare! My interest at that was so piqued, that I agreed to meet him for dinner later.

As I walked to our meeting point that evening, I caught sight of K before he saw me and so I could see he was engaged in friendly conversation with a couple of guys, even taking a swig of their beer.

“Already made friends on the island, I see”, I commented, as I caught up with him.

“What? Naw, I don’t know them at all, just met them while waiting for you”, he replied casually.

But, but…I sputtered. From afar, it had seemed to me quite a real conversation, not the usual hello-hi between strangers; besides, what was all that beer swigging about, then? “Oh, I just asked if I could taste Thai beer”, he replied, as guileless as a child.

And that was K in a nutshell! His innate warmth, caring and friendliness came across so reassuringly that they were enough to disarm even the most wary person. He answered every query with candour, no hemming and hawing. Where had this gem come from into my life? cynical me marvelled. How is it possible for anyone to love his fellow man so unconditionally? Did he not have a mean bone in his body?

As the night unravelled, so too did his story. He had been married before, he loved children and couldn’t wait to settle down and have a bunch with her, however, she said she wasn’t ready for motherhood yet. Fair enough; life was still good; he was in the Australian Navy and enjoyed every moment of it; but naturally, shared a great camaraderie with his colleagues. What’s not to like in him, as I’ve made amply clear already!

And then. The love of his life asked for a divorce! To marry his best friend, whom she’d fallen in love with! K was devastated. This was betrayal on two fronts. Being the kind of person he is, he wished them both luck and bowed out of their way, leaving the Navy as well, as he couldn’t bear to keep bumping into them on official do’s. Worse was to come. This woman, who told him she wasn’t ready for motherhood, was already pregnant with the other man’s child when she asked for the divorce! So, he not only let her go, he gave up the life he loved entirely, even to leaving his hometown. Despite having had a professional naval career, he went to the furtherest corners of Australia, picking up odd jobs as he went along: sheep farming, fence repairing, meat packing. Anything to keep his mind busy and to save enough to achieve his dream – of climbing Machu Pichu.

Of such stuff are films based on. In such a case, a person can follow one of two paths, I discovered. One, to be a selfish, vindictive son of a b—-, which is something I’m all too familiar with, having seen my ex! The other, I learnt from K. Be giving, be loving, even in the face of the most horrendous betrayal you can face. I asked him how he could be so forgiving.

“If I truly claimed to love her, then I should have only her interests at heart, even if that does not include me”, he said simply.

Since he’s an Aussie who knows his Shakespeare, let me end this with a very wise, profound quote from the Bard: ‘Love is not love, which alters when it alteration finds’.

Also, by the same author: https://thenewsporter.com/are-we-dead-yet-we-need-to-speak-up-against-injustice-and-not-just-stare-into-the-abyss/


The main/featured image by Peggychoucair from Pixabay has been used for illustrative purposes only

Tags: AustraliaIndia newsJackie CollinsKoh SametMachu PichuShakespeareThailand
Previous Post

Fear of failure should be left outside the ground, says legendary cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar

Next Post

Songs that lift me from deep mental agony grip and sporadic mood dips

Punam Bakshi Mohandas

Punam Bakshi Mohandas

Punam Bakshi Mohandas is a journalist and writer with close to 30 years of work experience across India, Dubai and Thailand. A nomad at heart, having travelled over 47-countries at last count, Punam is also a film critic. She was a weekly columnist for the Hindustan Times (New Delhi edition), Delhi Midday, The Financial Express, The Statesman and the Times of India (Kolkata edition). She is also the author of the book, ‘Fallen Angels’.

Related Posts

Bihar Politics Heats Up After Caste Census Announcement
Exclusive

Bihar Politics Heats Up After Caste Census Announcement

by Dheeraj Sinha
May 2, 2025
Backpacking through Bulgaria
Blogger's

Backpacking through Bulgaria

by Punam Bakshi Mohandas
April 28, 2025
An illuminating look into John Lennon’s post-Beatles activism with his partner Yoko Ono
Art & Culture

An illuminating look into John Lennon’s post-Beatles activism with his partner Yoko Ono

by NP Team
April 20, 2025
‘The Thucydides Trap’: Phrase that refers to a line from ancient Greek historian Thucydides, and its relevance today
Blogger's

‘The Thucydides Trap’: Phrase that refers to a line from ancient Greek historian Thucydides, and its relevance today

by NP Team
April 20, 2025
New Year Festivities Spread Cheer Across South and Southeast Asia
Art & Culture

New Year Festivities Spread Cheer Across South and Southeast Asia

by Nava Thakuria
April 17, 2025
Next Post

Songs that lift me from deep mental agony grip and sporadic mood dips

Comments 1

  1. mitolyn reviews says:
    1 month ago

    This blog is like a safe haven for me, where I can escape the chaos of the world and indulge in positivity and inspiration

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News Categories

  • Art & Culture
  • Blogger's
  • Books
  • Business
  • Cities
  • Diaspora
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Exclusive
  • Fast News
  • Foto Feature
  • Globetrotter
  • Health
  • History
  • Interviews
  • Latest News
  • Legal Angle
  • Lifestyle
  • Nation
  • National Panorama
  • Op-Ed
  • Page One
  • Photo of the Day
  • Politics
  • Premium Content
  • Press Release
  • Science & Tech
  • Sports
  • The Blog Spot
  • The Wisdom Tree
  • Travel
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
  • World
The News Porter

We are a small group of media professionals with rich and diverse experience in Print, TV, and Digital, in
India and abroad.

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Content

Tags

Art & Culture Blogger's Books Business Cities Diaspora Education Entertainment Environment Exclusive Fast News Foto Feature Globetrotter Health History Interviews Latest News Legal Angle Lifestyle Nation National Panorama Op-Ed Page One Photo of the Day Politics Premium Content Press Release Science & Tech Sports The Blog Spot The Wisdom Tree Travel Trending Uncategorized World

Recent Posts

  • IPL 2025 Halted for a Week Amid Escalating Indo-Pak Tensions
  • Virtual replicas of real-life models are transforming the landscape of fashion advertising
  • Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago Becomes First Pope from the United States
  • After a glorious Test career, Rohit Sharma decides to hang up his boots; to continue playing ODIs
  • India Conducts Airstrikes in Pakistan Amid Escalating Tensions

Copyright 2021 - The News Porter © All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Page One
  • Exclusive
  • Nation
  • World
  • Fast News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Diaspora
    • Health
    • Legal Angle
    • Science & Tech
    • Press Release
    • The Blog Spot

Copyright 2021 - The News Porter © All rights reserved.