What is it that makes us think, at some point in time, that we can spend most of the rest of our lives tolerating a person?
What is it that makes us abjectly surrender personal space and expect that willingness to surrender to last any significant period of time?
What is a reasonable period of time before boredom sets in? Before loathing sets in?

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Epiphany

This evening, I went to a social event - the wedding reception of a friend.

Apart from the couple, I knew about 2 people among a gathering of maybe a hundred. And these too were only acquaintances. And I was going alone. So I thought I would greet the couple, hand over the gift I spent 3 hours choosing, stay for a polite half an hour and make my exit.

Like they say, the best laid plans of mice and men...

I had initally fallen in with the acquaintances whose conversation was going nowhere. After a couple of generous coats of the social lubricant we call alcohol, the Non-Sensei decided he would 'mingle', which is contrary to the Non-Sensei's usual social tendencies. As it turned out, this was an excellent idea. I joined a group more or less randomly.

In the middle of a very stimulating discussion with a businessman, a physicist, and a social worker, I realised that from almost any perspective, the one word that carries the most meaning and importance for mankind is "Free".

Not 'love', not 'survival', not 'peace'.

"Free".

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