A STRONG TRIGGER CAN BREAK AN ADDICTION

Vinay Mishra was an avid smoker from his early college days. He came from an affluent family and was the stockist of the last resort for many of us in college. A jovial fellow, was always willing to “be exploited” for free cigarettes. ”Bumming” was the term used for a fag with gratis!

Vinay got married and even had a child. We often wondered how his wife tolerated him smoking upwards of 40 cigarettes a day! Strangely, he was fit and would always state that Krishna Menon, India’s former defense minister ,was also a chain smoker and lived upto 70+ without any illness. Krishna Menon was his idol!

Vinay and family went overseas. On the rare occasions we met ,I would ask about his smoking."I have graduated to Benson & Hedges/555/Rothman’s.” Here take one he would offer. “Gave up smoking..it is a costly habit and is unhealthy " was my reply.

Some five years later , we met at the airport and after the usual pleasantries, he casually mentioned that he had his last cigarette almost 5years ago. Apparently his daughter and he were watching a thriller on TV. During a break he pulled out a cigarette as usual. The television showed an image of a normal man which gradually metamorphosed into his skeleton with a foggy chest.A cigarette appeared alongside belching smoke..”SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH AND CAUSES CANCER” was the message. Almost instantly, his daughter with a pitiable look and tears streaming down her cheeks, turned around, requesting him to stop smoking."You are my only daddy" she said innocently!

“I don’t know what happened! I stubbed the cigarette into the ashtray.Hugged my daughter and said nothing." That was my last cigarette!

A profound trigger resulted in the demise of an addiction instantly!