Interlocked! : Continued observations in the land I live in

It was at my home some summers ago that my aunt (one of many of the same legion) came up to me, and by way of saying hello, held my hand. And proceeded to keep it held. the hand in question froze, and i fought every impulse to jerk it away. After a very long time, my hand, and the attached arm were freed! One is often at a loss when presented with this alien way of familiarity. A hug is normal, a handshake is acceptable too, but what are we signifying by holding hands like reunited lovers strolling on a beach?

Quite recently, after returning from a tiring wedding, we were simply sitting at the groom's place. Suddenly, a 2 tom weight plops on me. a grand- aunt, using me as a bye-pass to lean over. Acceptable, old age, et cetera. But why must she bloody grip my entire arm while leaning all over me?

I've been brought up in a non touchy way, and the last time i hugged my mother was when i had an amazingly scary bout of fever a year back. And i think with dad, it mustv been atleast 2 years back. and in school too, touching was limited to handshakes, boyfriends, and non european sterile mmwhas.

Thus, the touch culture in Kerala shocks me. By this, i do not condemn the concept of touching. But why are we prolonged-touching people. relative strangers. a pat on the back is a good way to meet a distant neice (me!). Spare me the the weird hand holding ceremony, goes the cry around the inner mind. (must-not-channel-PGW!!)

Another aspect of touching is the public man touching man scene. Befor eyou roll ur eyes and frame me as anti-gay, read on. There are 2 types of touchin in men that i have seen. Public : random ppl you dont know. the kind of person you see when u stare out the bus window. they sit on park benches, stand at bus stops and wear atrociously tight denim in outrageously sickening hues. Oh! and they grow one nail long- this is optional. and did i mention the hair color? In kerala, we get to see a lot of non gay touching. the next section proves it :
These are 2 guys i know to be absolutely straight. why on earth are they holding hands with fingers interlocked?! i just dont get it. no, they dont share an emotional friendship. the tall one barely talks for heavens sake. perhaps the HH was initiated by one party and the other was forced to follow suite. i wouldnt know. these are the kind of people who casually touch other men while seateed i a classroom, cafe, etc. nothing wrog in hugging the guy next to u on the bench. let your fingers caress his plump shoulders. aaaaaaaa.

I am at a loss. i hae not been able to dwelve into the psyche weird-malayali subsect of males and females. what makes them tick. rather Pick (my arm, and other arms in general)??