Conceiving continued
A shadow fell over the Morgensteins. They looked up from their chapatti and O.J. to see the plump visage of Tharthang Changdu, one of a triumvirate of Buddhist monks cum medical doctors who founded Pure Planet. Mr Changdu's name sounded truculent to Marla's American ear and seemed incongruous to his person. He was a round-cheeked man in his fifties, with Bambi eyes and soft, dainty hands. A scholar of Kumari, an esoteric Buddhist fertility practice, Tharthang Changdu was perhaps the sole reason the Morgensteins were there.
"Mr Changdu!" Marla said heartily. "Join us, please."
Mr Changdu smiled benevolently. "May I introduce you to the Johnsons of Los Angeles, California. Douglas and Denise."
The couple emerged from behind Changdu's robes. The wife was the blonde woman Rob had amused at the buffet.
"I believe we've already met," smiled Rob as he extended his hand. "A pleasure."
The blonde woman giggled. Her husband, advancing into old age, was more than forty years her senior. A quick glance revealed to Marla that the bimbo was there to get Buddhist fertility treatment so she'd bear the old man's child, a guarantee of financial security.
"How's the goo?" the blonde asked Rob, gesturing at his plate. She flashed a bright, lipsticked grin in Marla's direction and turned her full attention to Marla's husband.
"Googoogaga!" said Rob, licking his lips then mashing his lips together for the shiksa. She exploded with laughter. Laughter that, to Marla, said I am aging and a tinge desperate and very eager to please. And, sure enough, in the Blonde's lean thirtysomething face, around the Blonde's black-mascared eyes, were crows' feet. Compassion, Marla forcefully reminded herself. Mindfulness. We are all mortals here. Mortal yet immortal.
Breathing in, I determine to live my days steeped in mindfulness and not spite.
Breathing out, I know that my actions are my only true belongings.
"You both might be interested to know that Douglas Johnson is an entrepeneur," said Tharthang Changdu. "In fact, he is a co-inventor of a company that makes virtual reality software."
"I'm an intellectual property lawyer," Rob volunteered, now having an idea of the old man's net worth. "On vacation of course," he laughed smoothly. "Or I guess you could say on vacation to the extent possible."
"Rob is from a well-known family," said Mr Changdu to the Johnsons. You've probably heard of the Morgensteins of Manhattan and Chicago. An illustrious line of former bankers."
It suddenly occurred to Marla that there she was in a spiritual hotspot on planet Earth, a place where she hoped to conceive a child, and these people, famous monk included, were discussing money. Rob had cleverly slipped in the bit about his recent inheritance -- given the current economic climate should he invest it in gold bars, he mused aloud. This disclosure clearly riveted the blonde. Registering her excitement, he touched her shoulder and made a joke about casting a golden Buddha. "It's holier than a golden cow," said Mr Changdu, chuckling. The blonde brushed against Rob in that feline way of bad, money-hungry girls. Rob dropped his arm and casually grazed her round bottom. The old husband glanced at them with a grinning scowl. He knows and he's too jaded to care. Marla's stomach churned.
Why, she thought, do I want to bring a baby into this world? A world so superficial, hypocritical, petty, impatient, harsh, and traitorous? A world in which my husband no longer loves me? Why are we here? What are we doing? How long will this last?
Breathing in, she thought, I realize that thanks to impermanence, life is possible.
Breathing out, I realize that thanks to impermanence, life is impossible.
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Bio: Ada Mantine is a scientist living in Manhattan, exploring Buddhism and fiction writing whenever she can.
