Arrangement - Part One

Arun inhaled the cool, delicious air as he watched the sun slowly rise above the haze.  Standing on the balcony, the smell of cardamom teased his nose from the sweet creamy tea in his hand.  He took a sip and leaned over to observe the city three stories below as it slowly woke up.  In the community park he watched a middle-aged woman walk to a quiet corner with a rolled mat tucked under her arm.  She unrolled her mat and began her suriya namaskar gently flowing into various other aasans.  Outside the park, Arun watched a man balance multiple large containers on either side of his rickety old bicycle as he made his rounds in the neighborhood delivering milk.  A crow perched on a branch of an ancient tree nearby cawed out in its shrill call, drawing Arun’s attention to the vendors setting up their stalls under it or spraying water on the vegetables ready to be hawked to doorsteps of all the houses.  He sipped his tea and reveled in the feeling of being home again.


He remembered the comforting feeling he got just the night before when he walked out of customs at the airport into the open air to his waiting parents.  A blast of warm air greeted him even in the wee hours when it is neither night nor day.  The stench of car fumes and blasting horns hit him like a slap but then settled into his being as sounds of comforting familiarity.  He saw his parents in the midst of the waiting crowd looking tired and much older than he last saw them several years ago.  A rush of guilt engulfed him for not having visited more often, but looking into their warm, forgiving eyes he melted into their embrace.

Having caught three good hours of sleep, he was up before the city and enjoyed these tranquil moments as he watched the day unfold.  When his parents woke, he enjoyed a second cup with them, sitting comfortably on their large bed as he had always done, dipping Marie biscuits in his tea before each bite.  They spoke of plans for the two weeks he was to be with them, the list they had prepared, even pictures and resumes they wanted him to peruse.  He nodded uncertainly thinking of the gentleness of the woman in the park, her flowing movement from one pose to another.  He hoped his transition would be just as smooth and effortless.

TO BE CONTINUED.....