Page 101 of The Love Position

Isaac was sideswiped. Swami Saraswati had run the ashram on Tranquillity Island for over twenty years. He couldn’t imagine the place without her.

‘Where’s she going?’

‘Alaska.’

‘Alaska?’

‘We’ve been gifted a small estate and I want her to establish an ashram there. It’s a tremendous opportunity for both her and the organisation.’

‘And she wants to go?’

Swami Vishnu frowned at him, as if Isaac had just asked an English person what their favourite sexual position was, and how much they earned.

‘Hanuman, we devote our lives to the organisation. This is her karma yoga.’

‘Who’s taking her place here?’

Swami Vishnu spread his palms. ‘I am.’

‘But what about the ashram in India?’

‘I’m sending Mohan and Ganapati to act in my stead. They know the place well, and I expect both of them to be swamis in the not-too-distant future.’

Isaac’s head was reeling.

‘But Guruji. Ganapati is…’ A grumpy bastard at the best of times. ‘Not the most customer-facing person within the organisation, and Mohan is in a relationship with Anisha.’ Not to mention incapable of keeping it in his pants.

Swami Vishnu sighed. ‘Hanuman… Mohan and Anisha ceased intimacy years ago and I’ve instructed Anisha to follow Swami Saraswati to Alaska. As for Ganapati? Was not Arjuna a fierce warrior? In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna himself counsels him to follow his dharma by fighting, even though it will mean the death of his cousins. Ganapati’s devotion to the organisation should be commended.’

Isaac didn’t know what to think. He’d always trusted his guru implicitly, but he couldn’t understand the rationale behind these decisions.

‘And I want you here, Hanuman, leading all the TTCs. You’ve become a wonderful teacher and your talents need to reach more people. The issue with your house and land is a cosmic sign. No matter what happens, your path lies here now, helping the TTC programme grow.’

Isaac froze, knowing this was the first direct commandment from his guru he was going to ignore. The Devanandara organisation had always been his sanctuary, but for the first time in his life, he was counting the days until he could leave the island. His home and heart were now wherever Sophia was.

Swami Vishnu patted his knee again. ‘Keep this news to yourself. We’re making the official announcement in a couple of months. I appreciate you’ll need to return briefly to England to tidy up your affairs, but I want to have you back here by November. Mohan will take some pictures of you for our promotional materials, so make sure you’re wearing one of his vests. You can’t show off what yoga can do to the body in a shapeless t-shirt.’

The ashram bell sounded in the distance and Swami Vishnu held out his hand for Isaac to help him up.

They walked to the door together, and Isaac opened it.

‘At least the rain has stopped again,’ Swami Vishnu said as they passed onto the boardwalk. ‘Is it tomorrow Sophia has the staples in her head out?’

Isaac nodded. ‘We’ll take the eight o’clock boat after Satsang to Tortula and return hopefully by early afternoon.’

‘Good. She can then move back into the dormitory.’

No way.

‘Guruji, she’ll still be using a crutch, and those stairs are too narrow and steep. It’s not safe.’

Swami Vishnu let out a dismissive snort in response, and Isaac’s skin prickled with anger. Where was his guru’s compassion?

‘Please, can we wait until we hear what the doctor advises?’

‘Humph. I suppose so. The last thing the organisation needs is a lawsuit on their hands.’

Isaac kept quiet. No matter what the doctor said tomorrow, Sophia was not being kicked out of her room.

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