Corona on Campus

Kavya took a deep breath and released it—exhaling deeply—just as her mother, a yoga teacher, had taught her to do. Last month she had finally set foot at the University of Miami campus—a day she’d been dreaming of since she entered high school.
True, college no longer looked as it had when she’d toured the campus in April 2015 with her mom and brother—at that time, crowds blocked the hallways and stairs. Kids here, kids there, everywhere, laughing, shouting, rushing to and fro, greeting one another, and talking over their plans for the school year. She’d spent the time roaming around, familiarizing herself with the layout of the campus, and learning the names of the various fraternities and the buildings where they were housed—some old and vine-clad, others new and shiny in the sun.
The Big Fat Indian Wedding in Quarantine (I\’m a Fly on the Wall Part V)

Day 103 of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The sun gleams on my glassy back, the small dark garnet of my eye in its silver socket twitches as I flit from house to house. Slowly swinging myself on a whisker, I balance my little body on the ledge of a window as I peer inside.
* * * * *
It is a beautiful ceremony. The sacred fire is huge under the wedding mandap, a pergola, and Pinky feels the heat from about halfway back in the rows of seats placed six feet apart from each of the guests in the Iyengar’s backyard. She worries a little for Bhumi swath in glittering diamonds and an elaborate red and gold brocade lehenga, which splays out in multiple folds and drapes around her feet.
It does, however, seem to bring greater resonance to each of the seven steps.