The Stray Bullets, Chapter 2 : The Mosaic Club

THE MOSAIC CLUB

Preethi's plants are healthy. She knows everything about indoor varieties and even more so about the rest. She got us this plant, which looks so much like wings and feathers. And we have cat-tails! Its a Funny plant which flowers look exactly like a cat's tail. What's funnier is it's purple. Purple cat-tails Inside the room, the room gets great sunlight for four hours around noon till later because of the rectangle dome above. We've installed curtains on the sofa which sits right side of the room. It looks like a tent now, cozier than ever. Preethi wanted to style the room, Chic-Minimalist. It looks so. It feels like Karuna's inside. I move lazily towards the room on the right side, but the red sofa seems like calling me. "Psst!..Hey, you want to relax hear a bit? You look like you're tired. Busy day today? Yeah, lie here. Forget the sorrows. Come here." It's my imagination talking. I take a seat on the left cushion, sit for a few breaths, head tucked to my chest, Slouching forward. 10 Deep breaths. I take 10 Deep breaths with patience. Breathe innnn... Pause... breathe out. It's my meditation practice I usually try on the bus. I was a bit excited throughout the day, and the scene in the alleyway drained some of my energy. My meditation teacher taught me this. He says, "if ever you find yourself in a hurry, take 10 deep, slow breaths. You'll be a better, more patient person instantly. And even more so in time." Breathe innn... Breathe out... Nine. Breathe innn... breathe out... Ten. I Open my eyes and look towards the right. I can smell, incense, sandalwood is it? It must be karuna inside. I head in. He's having dinner. "Oh Hey dude... I was waiting for you. Couldn't let the soup get cold." He conversed. He was happy about the soup and seeing me. "Come quick, Wash your hands and sit by me. Your Roti won't stay put for long. Haha." I smiled at him gladly. I grew hungry too. The soup was steaming before me. "Coming Karuna" I nodded and faced sink In the first room. The sink is a mosaic. It's majorly strawberry-red and deep-blue-colored along some yellow and green shades. It's magnetic for how much it encourages people to wash up. I take my jacket off, Give it a sharp tug to dry it off the water, Hang it on the Hang-stand near the entrance. Rush to the sink and soap my palms up. After threading my slippery fingers between themselves, and running those on some warm water, I shake my hands to dry them off, Jogging towards hot fragrant soup. "Welcome." Corona spoke Dramatically, Comically. I sit down to Karuna's right. The round-table is Japanese inspired furniture. We sit cross legged around it whenever we're feasting and playing board games. This place I sat, gives me luck in chess and has become my favorite place. Cozy and safe. Karuna passes me a square roti, called a 'Naan bread'. I can tell it's still hot the way karuna passes me the thing. He's shuffling fingers while holding the thing, pours me soup from the hot pot. "Here, have this. The soup is fragrant of masalas. It's mutton soup. My favorite. Restaurateurs here make it with an addition of sandalwood root. It makes it smell so soothing and calming. Increases, the taste, three folds. It's become a preferred breakfast for many here. This is the ultimate comfort food for me. Now, no talking while dinner right? Let's begin.