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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cLet it go, Priya,\u201d said her father who was listening to the conversation from the living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s easy to say but hard to do,\u201d Parvathi replied. \u201cMy friends tell me great things about Swami Paramananda, in Santa Monica. He has an ashram near the beach. Let\u2019s go and spend a week there. I have heard that his very presence drives away one\u2019s troubles and tribulations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I don\u2019t think anyone can help me now. Perhaps you need a break. But, if you insist, I\u2019ll come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ashram faced the Pacific Ocean. Swamiji sat in Padmasana<\/i> pose surrounded by many devotees, each anxious to share his or her problems and receive wise advice. He patiently listened to their troubles and succinctly replied, which seemed to immensely satisfy them.<\/p>\n
Priya didn\u2019t talk but her mother, Parvathi, spoke.<\/p>\n
Swamiji calmly listened and smiled. He looked at Priya and said, \u201cThese things happen, Priya. Karthik always said that he loved you, but did he ever say he would marry you? You assumed so. Now, please accept things as they are and give it some time. You\u2019ll be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Priya was not impressed. She whispered, \u201cMom, Swamiji is a bachelor. He doesn\u2019t know about falling in love or the pangs of rejection. How can he give me practical advice?\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end, Swamiji started community meditation. Everyone closed their eyes. Priya got bored, silently got up and went out for a walk.<\/p>\n
Several adults and children were on the beach. For those resting on the sand, the sounds of the waves gently touching the shore was a lullaby. Sea gulls glided effortlessly in the breeze without flickering even a single feather. A few sailboats floated lazily far away. The ambience was peaceful.<\/p>\n
Near the water, she saw a young couple playing with the waves, getting their feet wet. As she approached from behind, the young man\u2019s walk seemed familiar.<\/p>\n
\u201cKarthik,\u201d Priya called.<\/p>\n
Karthik spun around. For a second he turned pale. \u201cYou? What\u2019re you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman with Karthik, whom Priya assumed to be his wife, Anushka, stood silently, looking puzzled.<\/p>\n
Priya approached Karthik and faced him. \u201cYou cheat. You spineless worm! Listen. The ocean breeze, the waves, and the sea gulls are my witnesses. Take this.\u201d With all her might she slapped Karthik on his cheek, the power gushing out from months of bottled up anger and frustration.\u00a0 Karthik fell. Hearing the smack, several people looked at them.<\/p>\n
Karthik got up. His cheek was red and swollen. \u201cYou hurt me,\u201d he whined.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou hurt me here.\u201d Priya pointed to her heart. She turned around and walked briskly towards the Ashram. Parvathi was looking for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I feel fine now. I got rid of my pent up emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you, Beti. This Swamiji performs miracles.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Priya sat at the edge of an Olympic size pool at the seaside Paradise Hotel in San Diego, dangling her feet in the water, splashing bubbles. \u201cLook at them, Karthik, how silvery but transient these bubbles are. Is love too, evanescent?\u201d \u2013 @Siliconeer #Siliconeer #Fiction #DrRaghavendraRao #Literature \u201cPriya, don\u2019t say that,\u201d said Karthik. \u201cI\u2019m with…<\/p>\n