Anu looked at him quizzically. ‘Pete, are you going to Mysore or running away someplace? Why are you making this a goodbye lunch?’

Pete shook his head. ‘Not running yet. I will be back in a week but I am going to get busy with work and travel after that. Also, I am here only for another month-and-a-half before heading back to Florida. Pooja might be leaving too by then. So I thought this was a good time for presents.’

Anu’s heart sank. What kind of cruel game was the universe playing with her? Shipping away everyone dear to her to different countries? But she smiled at Pete. They only had fun times and she was not going to ruin it by getting all emotional.

She fiddled with the Kindle. ‘Pete! You have loaded it with books!’

Pete smiled. ‘Mostly what you like and some, what I want you to like.’

30

30

From the next morning onwards there was no Pete at the class. His work had become painfully intense, in his words.

‘I had forgotten that he is here on work,’ said Pooja spreading her mat.

‘Same here! Thought he too was on a holiday like me!’ said Anu and looked around.

‘But you are not on holiday here. You live here.’ Pooja corrected Anu.

‘Pooja, darling, no need for truths, got it?’ Anu’s reprimand elicited a giggle from the teen. Anu was going to miss that too.

Sitting down on the mat, Anu glanced at her new family. A few had already gathered and more would join in within minutes. The elderly were very punctual. Well, most of them. Those who brought food were sometimes late, but nobody minded that.

‘This yoga you make us do is is so weird it is kind of cool,’ Pooja said looking at the people around her. ‘What an odd bunch!’ Most men were in sweaters and dress pants, and women in track pants and kurtas.

Anu couldn’t help gushing. ‘I can’t believe we are twelve of us here now!’

One of the gentlemen, Mr Ranganath, a retired bank manager, replied. ‘That is because all other classes kill you. I went to one but had to crawl back home on all fours. This is nice and low-intensity.’

‘Almost like the laughing club exercises.’ Another Gujarathi woman, who routinely got high-calorie sweets or dhokla smothered with ghee, chimed in. ‘Good exercises. I have got Rasmalais for all of you today.’

‘Did you hear it? We are like a laughing club!’ Anu whispered to Pooja.

‘We should start laughing at the end. That would be cool!’ Pooja suggested.

‘You are a very brave teenager now.’

‘Yup. Once I decided not to try fitting in with the crowd here, I feel liberated. Maybe this is how Buddha felt.’ Pooja declared solemnly.

‘Start a sermon after the class, then.’ Anu laughed at Pooja. ‘This can be your Sarnath.’