Page 41 of The Love Position

‘Passports,’ she snapped, then turned to Mohan. ‘Have you fixed the washing machine yet? Swami Saraswati is asking again.’

She didn’t wait for a reply, brushing past him and entering the side door of the reception building.

Mohan strode briskly away without a second glance.

The woman poked her head through the large opening that faced the path. ‘I’m Anisha,’ she said, ‘and that is my boyfriend, Mohan.’

She thrust two pieces of paper through the window. ‘Sign and date these.’

‘What are they?’ Sophia asked, taking them and passing one to Jessica.

Anisha huffed. ‘Just a standard liability release and acceptance of the ashram rules. No drinking, no smoking, no drugs, no meat, no fish, no eggs, no caffeine, no chocolate, no swearing, no sex, no mobile phones. Attendance at morning and evening Satsang is mandatory, as well as all your classes.’

Sophia glanced at the piece of paper, covered front and back with dense type.

‘No sex?’ Jessica asked, gazing up the path in the direction that Mohan had fled. ‘So how do you and your boyfriend get it on? Does the rule just cover penetration? What about oral?’

There was an excruciating pause.

‘Passports,’ Anisha spat, holding out her hand.

Sophia quickly found and handed hers over, then turned to read through the form. She thought yoga was all about peace, love and relaxation, but the ashram seemed to have more rules than a prison. She hastily scrawled her name at the bottom, then gave it back.

‘Can you tell us what time lunch is, please? And if there’s somewhere I can fill my water bottle?’

‘There’s no lunch,’ Anisha replied.

‘What?’ Jessica interjected.

‘Breakfast is at ten a.m., and dinner is at six. You may purchase granola bars from the shop and fill your bottle at the station by the dining area.’

Anisha passed Sophia a piece of paper containing a map of the island. ‘I’ll take you to your dormitory now.’

Jessica handed her signed form and passport over, then Anisha emerged from the small building and set off up the path.

Following her, and trying to keep pace whilst wheeling her suitcase, Sophia caught Jessica’s eye and the two women exchanged bemused grins.

There wasn’t time to take in the surroundings as they jogged to keep up with Anisha, finally coming to a halt when she stopped in front of a two-storey building with steep, narrow wooden steps leading up to the first floor.

‘The women’s dormitory is up there. Tomorrow, after morning Satsang, you’ll have the course orientation.’ She turned and stomped off.

‘Ommmmmm…’ Jessica deadpanned as soon as Anisha was out of sight.

Sophia burst into giggles. ‘This isn’t quite what I expected.’

‘Hell no. What with Captain Asshole, fuckboy Mohan, his pissy-as-hell girlfriend and no freaking lunch? The only thing stopping me from turning around is the fact I’ve paid four thousand dollars to be here.’

Sophia knew what Jessica meant. She’d dug deep into her own savings for the course and flights and was determined to stick it out.

Her stomach growled. ‘I’m so hungry. I didn’t think to bring any food with me.’

‘I’ve got some trail bars you can have. Wanna dump our stuff and explore?’

Sophia nodded, and they hauled their belongings up the steep steps.

At the top was a small balcony and a door. Jessica pushed it open, and they entered a large room with six single beds, a nightstand by the side of each one.

‘You choose which one you want,’ Jessica said. ‘I’m easy.’

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