Summary

The short story “The Man Who Hugged Women” tells the story of two good friends, Freya and Pearl. Even though their age is not mentioned, the reader can assume that they are in their forties, as Freya has a daughter in college. The story begins with Freya critically analysing her friend’s physical appearance and secretly admiring her openness and her lighthearted way of being. Throughout the story, although Freya scrutinises every gesture and peculiarity of her friend, deep inside, she wishes she could be more like her. Pearl mentions the existence of a guru, a healer of the soul, a man who is visited mostly by women who have problems in their marriages. He is the man who hugs women, as his method of treating his patients is hugging them and...