As I ran my hand through her hair, I noticed she was falling asleep, quite content and at peace with the world around. I never realized I would've had such a profound effect on her. For, a couple of days ago, I probably did not even expect to be in this state of being.
I am an educated, well-spoken person who enjoys work and enjoys having long winding discussions on a variety of topics over a cup of coffee, maybe multiple cups of coffee. Being at Chennai, I enjoy the long walks at Marina alone post my yoga workout in solitude whenever the opportunity presented itself.
During one of those monotonous days, it was a colleague who asked me if I could offer some traditional yoga based therapy to a friend of his who had met with an accident. Though not too sure, I offered to help and it was how I found myself at the Adyar house door step one Saturday.
The lady of the house, the mother and the protagonist of our scheme of things, very warmly got me comfortably settled in. As I understood the details of the accident and the pain he was going through, I felt I wanted to start the poor boy of 16, the victim of a bike accident on what would be a permanent recovery.
I religiously went to the house 2 days a week and on the occasional Saturday for 3 months to teach the soul to stretch and move his body, just like before. The boy seemed better and the mother friendlier each time. She had been working and seemed to be well-off with her work which was what i understood from the conversations.
One Tuesday morning as I reached their house, the mother opened up a little bit more into their lives. The boy had gone with his uncle on a trip to the north and was only to return by the month end. She offered me some coffee and her company so as to make me comfortable. Over the conversations, I was feeling good and also enjoying the company of an imaginative and articulate woman who was smiling and laughing over our imaginary jokes.
Though I thought I needn't go, something made me go there on Thursday too for a similar session of coffee with the lady and her jovial talks. I was slightly depressed as things at work were not working out well and I needed to do something about it. As we talked she held my palms and said that she had been hoping I would come on Thursday to provide her some relief from the boring routine. Though surprised, I was happy to know that the feelings were mutual.
As the hour went past and I had to start back she asked whether I could teach her some stretches to get her to loosen up a bit. It was agreed and the subsequent Saturday I was back with the mat to train. Her choice of loose clothes made me feel quite uncomfortable as the view of the cleavage and the shapely legs were proving to be a distraction.