She shook her head. ‘I cannot, because then you would look for a name not for his spirit. You must recognize him, look into his eyes and connect with that soul you have known many times. If I give you a name, it would influence your search.’ She regarded me again with her birdlike eyes. ‘You are still sceptical, yes?’

‘I’m sorry but I am, Saranya Ji. I’m afraid I don’t believe in past lives or even soulmates, although it’s a lovely, idealistic notion.’ I didn’t add that I thought that what she had said was ridiculous, preposterous.

Saranya Ji looked at me with a kind but weary expression. ‘My dear Bea, open your heart and try not to be ruled always by your head. Change is coming to your life. Allow for possibilities that are …’ she raised an eyebrow and smiled, ‘ridiculous and preposterous. See where they take you. Life may surprise you yet.’

4

‘So, what did she say?’ asked Pete as soon as I got back to the courtyard and went to sit with them at a table where they were drinking ice-cold beers from tall glasses.

‘Anything about what’s coming?’ asked Marcia.

I shook my head. ‘She said something about change but didn’t elaborate. I guess that could apply to anyone, though. Life is all about change, isn’t it?’

‘Did she say you’d meet the love of your life?’ asked Marcia.

I laughed and shook my head. ‘Not exactly, no.’

‘So what did she say?’ asked Marcia.

‘I’m still processing it,’ I said. ‘It was … weird.’ Despite my cynicism, I felt shaken by my session with Saranya Ji. She had not been what I expected at all and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. ‘You tell me what she said to you first.’

‘She talked about my soul’s purpose and journey,’ said Marcia. ‘She talked about how God is within all of us and the importance of recognizing that.’

‘Yes, she said that to me too,’ said Pete. ‘And that we are not all born equal but eventually will reach a point where we are all equal.’

‘And how’s that supposed to happen?’ I asked.

‘Through knowledge and learning, through cultivating charity, hope, faith and love,’ said Pete. ‘And in my case, the importance of balance.’

‘Good. You need that,’ said Marcia. ‘All or nothing, that’s you.’

I smiled. It was true. Pete never did things by halves. One week, it was red wine and fine food, other weeks green tea and brown rice.

‘And she spoke about making time to meditate,’ said Marcia. ‘Time to stop and tune into the peace inside.’

‘No prophecies?’ I asked.

‘Not exactly. She spoke about my father, though, said he is with me in spirit and he was fine and that he said to tell me that I worry too much.’

Pete laughed. ‘He was always telling you that.’