Half way in Love - Chapter 24

The Mall was starting to pick up crowd, as Dev and Revathy sneaked out of its parking lot in Dev' s fortuner.

She had come in her scooty at 10 AM.

"You never get out of your banker skin? Right? "

Dev asked jokingly about her timing.

"Once a banker, always a banker."

She laughed.

"Where do we go now?"

Dev asked.

"I have full day. Take me where ever your heart says. "

"And..." she drew on

"…Do tell me your story. I am waiting to hear it for past few months."

Dev turned his car towards Coimbatore.

"Have you been to Isha Yoga center?"

"I have heard about it. But no."

"We are going there. You should see that place. Worth going 70 odd kilometers"

"Anything you suggest Dev. Am with you."

The Isha Yoga Center, situated at the foothills of Velliangiri, on the outskirts of Coimbatore, is the headquarters for Isha Foundation.

Isha Foundation is a nonprofit, spiritual organization, founded in 1992, near Coimbatore, India, by Jaggi Vasudev, or Sadhguru. It hosts the Isha Yoga Centre, which offers yoga programs under the name Isha Yoga. The foundation is run "almost entirely" by volunteers.

The center offers all four major paths of yoga – kriya (energy), gnana (knowledge), karma (action), and bhakti (devotion), drawing people from all over the world.

It has Dhyanalinga, The Linga Bhairavi temple, The Theerth khund, Surya Khund and the recently added 112 foot tall Adiyogi and Aadiyogi aalayam as the main attractions.

People throng from all over the world to see this place.

Dev chose that place, as he had been there once. He liked the peaceful ambience there. He was impressed not only by Sadhuguru's vision, but also his architectural skills, in building that beautiful place. And in so less time. And that tasty lunch and other savouries in the canteen. Everything prepared with home grown vegetables and rice.

He told her the history of the place. Revathy was impressed.

"Thanks Dev, for taking me there."

"Now, let me hear about my own Sadhguru."

She said, beaming at him. Dev struggled to meet her eyes.

So much energy in her eyes. They radiate like two miniature suns. Dev thought.

By the time Dev finished his story, they had reached Isha center. Revathy was listening earnestly. With tears in her eyes.

"Inspiring Dev. Your story. You came up all the way from ground zero. You are such a good person."

She wiped her eyes while getting down from his car. She was wearing a red top and blue jeans. Her hair was tied into a pony, and it danced beautifully behind her, as she walked smartly towards Adiyogi, the 112 foot idol.

It was an impressing scene. Both the magnificent statue, with its impressive emotion and the girl walking towards it now.

Dev followed her with a smile.

She ran around the idol like a little kid and kept taking selfies with him. And they walked towards the Dhyanalinga entrance, with the maize fields to their left. It was a beautiful setting. With the Velliangiri hills in backdrop, the relishing Adiyogi behind, beautiful maize fields spanning out on their left, and the impressive Dhyanalinga in their front.

Lots of naagas in its architecture. And beautifully used.

It was pin drop silence inside. Truly, a welcome silence. People just hung around the place for the peace it offered.

They skipped the dip at Theerth Khund. They went inside Dhyanalinga, and sat in meditation. Revathy had never experienced the power of meditation or positive energy. Through half open eyes she now looked at Dev. By that time her eyes had got used to the darkness inside.

Dev was staring at her. With folded hands to the front and face turned to his left, where she sat.

She felt shy for the first time. She closed her eyes.

Now, they walked around, really close. They were now ok with an occasional brushing of their shoulders.

They had their lunch at Isha Canteen. A fabulous vegetarian lunch.

Rice, sambar, Rasam and all those ubiquitous items that made a South Indian Thali.

"Dev, it is really tasty."

she curved her left hand fingers together to indicate its superior taste.

"All made with home grown veggies and rice, Revathy."

Dev smiled. He was happy that she was enjoying.

It was 7 PM, by the time they got to the Mall parking.

Both sat in silence for some time, after the car had been parked near her scooty.

"Thanks Dev." Her eyes were moist again.

And with a sudden motion, she opened the door of the car to get down. May be she wished to hide her tears.

"Bye Dev."

She got down from the car and walked to her scooty.

Swaying beautifully.

It would be days, before Dev could see her again. Dev sat, broken, at that damn thought, holding the steering wheel.

Any time, before she reaches her scooty, he could still get down the car, stop her, for another couple of minutes with her.

But, something held him back tight in his seat.

The days without her...

The thought almost choked him to death.

Revathy, now positioned herself on her scooty and turned to face him. She smiled one last time, hiding her tears, and whizzed past.

Dev sat there, burning inside, unable to move.

Cont . Chapter 24