One of Those Tiru Moments

I was sitting with a friend at the chai shop. We’d gotten to know each other pretty well during our time in Tiru. He was a good man, vulnerable, open, and honest from the first moment I met him. I’ve always admired that in people.

It took me nine years to get to that stage myself. Some never get there.

We had planned to have lunch and say goodbye a few days earlier, but as it often happens in Tiruvannamalai, we ended up crossing paths naturally and our farewell happened spontaneously.

“Make sure to stay in touch and let me know how it’s all going,” I said.

No worries, man.”

We sat and chatted. He told me he’d almost quit his job back in California, the one he hadn’t even started yet. He was meant to leave Tiruvannamalai, go back to work, and get some cash together. But he was torn. He had plans to return… but still, he wasn’t sure what to do.

As we wrapped up, I went to shake his hand, but he pulled me in for a hug.

“Man,” he said, “I don’t know what it is with this place… it’s fucking loud, it smells like shit… but I love it. I don’t want to leave.”

I laughed, and he laughed.

What to do?