The café smelled of coffee and cinnamon muffins. Outside, traffic roared. Inside hummed with chatter. Both the girls sat down at their usual corner table.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Priya said, sliding into her seat. “I was sorting out a situation at home.”
Ananya smiled. “It’s okay. I ordered your usual cold coffee.”
Priya sighed, wrapping her hands around the frosting glass. “Thank you. I’ve been feeling like my head’s about to explode lately.”
“Pressures of life!” Ananya remarked, stirring her fresh lime soda.
“Home, relationships, expectations–you name it. I cannot find time to read or to pen down my thoughts.”
Ananya leaned back. “That’s exactly why I’ve been meaning to talk to you about meditation.”
Priya laughed. “Oh no, not you too. Every third person I meet these days says, ‘Just meditate,’ like it’s a magic pill.”
“It’s not a pill,” Ananya said gently. “It’s like learning to live with the noise without letting it control you.”
“Sounds poetic. But how does sitting still and doing nothing solve my mountain of problems?”
“First,” Ananya replied, “you’re not doing ‘nothing.’ You’re training your mind to slow down. Think of it like sorting your mental hard drive. You don’t delete the files; you just organize them to access them smoothly.”
“Nice metaphor. But honestly, I’ve tried. I sit there, close my eyes, and within seconds, I’m thinking about the calls I haven’t answered, groceries I need to order, and whether I am paying enough attention to my children.”
Ananya chuckled. “That’s perfectly normal. Meditation isn’t about emptying your mind; it’s about noticing where it wanders and gently bringing it back. Over time, your mind learns to stay present longer. That’s when the real benefits kick in.”
“Benefits like what?” Priya asked, leaning forward.
“Well,” Ananya began, “for me, it’s fewer anxiety spirals. My focus has improved. I’m less reactive when things go wrong. And the best thing is that my sleep is better. I used to wake up at 3 AM replaying situations and conversations. Now, I sleep through the night.”
Priya sipped her coffee thoughtfully. “That does sound very tempting. But I don’t have the patience to sit cross-legged and chant ‘Om’ for hours.”
“That’s the biggest myth,” Ananya said. “You don’t have to sit like a yogi in a cave. I meditate while lying comfortably in my bed. Five minutes, ten minutes are enough to start.”
Priya tilted her head. “So, you’re saying I could meditate in the position I find most comfortable?”
“Absolutely,” Ananya said, smiling. “Close your eyes, focus on your breath, let the thoughts come and go without attaching meaning to them.”
Priya sat quietly, thinking about what seemed like a good conversation. “Maybe it’s worth trying.”
Ananya’s eyes softened. “Priya, I know you. You give your complete self to your responsibilities and to your family. Meditation is the one thing that gives something back to you.”
Priya exhaled slowly. “You make it sound like self-care instead of a chore.”
“Exactly,” Ananya said. “It’s like watering a plant. You’re the plant. Meditation is the water. Without it, your mental growth will suffer.”
There was a pause. “You know I have felt like quitting all my responsibilities and trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. I’ve been carrying this tight knot in my chest for weeks. Maybe, I do need something to untangle it.”
Ananya smiled understandingly. “Start small. A few minutes during the day. Just breathe. Let your mind rest and let your body relax.”
Priya gave a small smile. “Okay. Five minutes to begin with.”
Ananya laughed. “I’m so happy for you.”
For the first time, Priya felt her shoulders relax. Maybe, she thought, peace doesn’t always come from escaping the noise. Sometimes, it comes from learning how to sit quietly in the middle of it.
And maybe, she thought, that was the first step towards her own garden of calm!
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