loneliness: A simple yet loaded word!

                        One of the biggest perks of moving to a city like Mumbai has been that I am reading so much more, and I have my new college to thank for that. While reading Pico Iyer today, I came across the concept of lonely countries, where in his book he talks about countries who are lonely in their existence due to whatever reasons, be it China, or Vietnam, Cuba or Greenland, Australia or North Korea. It got me thinking of the saying, every man is an island in him/ her (since I am a modernistic 'female' writer) self. Every individual is alone, something I had never as strongly before as I do now coming to Mumbai. Someone asked me today, is one lonely because one does not have people to talk to, and does not know anyone?
                       I sadly used to believe that the loneliness that I was feeling was a result of actually being new to a city, something that was confirmed by the closest friend I now have in the city. Yet, Pico Iyer got me thinking, is my loneliness really a part of something as simple as relocating to a new city filled with strangers? If so, why was it that in Delhi I was not so lonely ever, even though then I was fresh out of school when I had moved there and had never been away from home before? Iyer was correct in his conclusion that each country is lonely in its own manner, and the reason for the loneliness is all based in the though process that is followed. This holds true for individuals too.

                                  I know of someone, who I cannot name, whom I have known for only a week or so. This person is a well established well placed individual in society, brought up in Mumbai and has god knows how many people as friends, yet every time I meet him, there is a sense of loneliness that prevails around him, a smile that never quiet reaches his eyes, everything that is said is with a pinch of cynicism yet idealistic, and it makes me wonder if he is more lonely in his own life than I am in this strangely fascinating city. This struck me especially, as this individual is someone who is a well known, (although not crazy well known) figure, and has a lot of well built and defined relationships, some perhaps that I can't even imagine! If loneliness is a plague that even he cant avoid, is there a hope for the rest of us?
                        There are a couple of friends that I know who have deliberately closed off a section of themselves to the world, the most significant one, making them even more lonely, something that I don't comprehend, but the reasons cited make sense, "its easier to smile and be happy than to let anyone in and loose mental peace" says one of my delusional mates. But is being lonely really peaceful? Not if you ask me, I miss my friends, my endless chatter, but more than anything else I miss belonging to someone, without any questions asked or any explanations given. Loneliness is a state of mind.....for me a perpetual reality right now!