The inscrutable ways of God

 A change from a macabre story of a few days back to a purely devotional one.

As Hema and her husband were silently watching TV at their Washington home, Hema broke the silence to say, “My cousin from Ernakulam rang me up to invite me for his son’s wedding. He insisted I should be present. It is eight years since I visited India and I have a vow to discharge at Guruvayoor temple. I undertook this vow when you were in the hospital with a serious respiratory problem in the initial stages of the pandemic. I wish to go for a week early next month.”

“You are past sixty and not so young. Still I have no objection. I am told these days the crowd in the temple is unmanageably large with a long queue somewhat like Tirupati. I am only concerned with your frequent pain in the knee and whether you can stand for long. Take good care,” her husband replied.

Hema could not visit the temple before the wedding. She was however assured by relatives at the wedding that the crowd at the temple was not large during this short lean season. Nevertheless, when she went there the next day there was a long queue moving at snail’s pace thro the rows of parallel railings that seemed endless. The jostling crowd of perspiring devotees and the continuous chatter all around would not allow her to focus her mind on the God. After every 15 minutes, the wicket gate opened to allow a small batch only to close again for another 15 minutes. She had come alone for a day to discharge her vow She was to catch the plane early next morning

She was incessantly praying “Guruvayurappa, please enable me to have a good darshan of you. I am afraid whether this heavy crowd would permit me to stand even for a few seconds before you to offer my prayers in peace. I have been waiting for this visit for several years and was made possible only through your grace. I don’t not know when my next visit to India will take place. Om Namo Narayana, please bestow Your Grace on me.”

The crowd slowly inched forward. She was at last nearing the main entrance. An elephant, a little yonder, was swinging its trunk and eating coconut leaves. While she was watching, a young girl of nine years in a green skirt up to ankle and a matching blouse suddenly appeared before Hema and gave her a plantain fruit telling “Keep this fruit, aunty: you will have a good darshan. Do not worry.”

‘So sweet of you, there is too much jostling by the crowd. Can I take the fruit when I come outside after the darshan lest it gets crushed? replied Hema.”

The girl replied with a bewitching smile “No, no, please keep it with you. You will see me again no doubt”

Even as Hema accepted it, the crowd pushed her inside the gate. Being short, she could not get a glimpse of the Lord like many others who tried by craning their necks at the point of entrance. She could just see the lamps shining inside. She was disappointed and her appeals to Him became more intense and passionate.

As she was approaching the point in the sanctum opposite the God, she saw the officials virtually pressurizing the pilgrims not to stand for even two seconds. It was then someone from behind pushed her and she tripped on the plantain that had fallen down and fell flat before the God.

 As she broke down into tears in embarrassment and at the hurdle, the officials nearby who saw her predicament stopped the pilgrims behind her till she found her feet and told her unbelieving ears” Please have a good darshan of the Lord without hurry.” They gave her some flowers and sandal paste even as she stood before Guruvayurappan to her hearts content. It was then she noticed to her great bewilderment, the Lord appeared to her decorated as a young girl in green skirt. With goosebumps all over the body,she rubbed her eyes only to see the same bewitching girl. The next moment she found Him to her great surprise as Balakrishna in His usual form.

She thanked the officials for their unusual gesture and moved away quickly. When she asked other pilgrims by her side outside the sanctum whether they saw God dressed as a young girl in green skirt, they looked at her quizzically and said that He was decorated only in the usual Balakrishna style with flute in His hand.

Confused with the differing version to what she saw. she rushed to the place where she met the girl only to find no trace of her. Then it struck Hema like a sledge hammer that God Himself had come to her in the form of a girl in green skirt and gave her the plantain, only to make her trip before Him as if in prostration and gave her extended time to have His darshan. The ways of God to show kindness to His devotees are indeed inscrutable.

 

The help at the shop

 

It was Deepavali/ Diwali only on the next day. Even then, the air was thick with smoke but full of fun and revelry and the atmosphere echoed with the laughter of children. The apartments in the posh complex were all decorated in multi-coloured serial lights. There were festoons and glittering lights in the pathways and common areas added magic to the cheerful ambiance. The children were seen running hither and thither bursting crackers and lighting sparklers. The smell of elachi, kesar and other spices wafted from the kitchens that were preparing scrumptious sweets and namkeens. One could see the well-dressed and well-heeled men and women hurrying in cars to make last-minute purchases of dry fruits, gift boxes, sweets and clothes.

Rangaraj just had tea with his wife in the balcony. When he was enjoying the scenery around from their third floor, he found his wife Malti morose with a vacant look. He knew the reason. Though fortunate with wealth, personal attainments and all the comforts, the couple had not been blessed with a child even after ten years of marriage. Doctors had explained that there was nothing medically wrong with them and that in some cases it took inexplicably a long time to conceive. 

Both of them when newly married were fond of buying various varieties of crackers and sparklers and spent a lot of money. He liked long Lars that would bring to a stop the entire neighbourhood with its noise and dazzle. She had a fancy for the multi-coloured fountains and flower pots and rockets. Since some years, the complex association has restricted the use of loud bombs and rockets. To cheer her up he said, “Let us go to the bazaar, buy some crackers and sparklers and pick up some sweets. Why should we be moody when we can join the others in the celebrations? Come on, I will be ready in five minutes after a wash.”

“Sorry, Ranga, I am having a dull headache and would prefer to lie down for a while. Please go and get the things. Buy some namkeens and sweets for the maid. Do not forget to get some harmless crackers,” said Malti.

When he went to the crackers shop, he found it heavily crowded with buyers jostling for space near the long counter with many sales men. It took considerable time and maneuvering for Rangaraj to reach the front row. There were mind boggling varieties and it was hot and sultry to stand there with bright lights. He asked the owner who was seated prominently near him to give him two big packets of assorted crackers.

He then heard a squeaky voice of a young boy of 10 years telling, “Sir, if you buy gift boxes you will be paying more than if you buy item wise in smaller boxes of better sound and quality. I know the prices of all and can help you.”

He looked at the boy, in ordinary clothes with unkempt and curly hair but with an innocent and charming face. He took an instant liking for the boy when he thought of his younger days in poor circumstances when he would hover around cracker shops and derive joy by merely looking at them.

He bent down and said, “Yes, I need your help in buying some more besides these two big boxes. What are your suggestions for a boy of your age? My budget is Rs 500 and it can be Rs 100 or 200 more. No bombs or rockets. Now tell the sales boy to put them in a separate box. I will be watching you and you do not have to seek my approval for your choice. Go ahead and finish quickly.”

“Give me 10 minutes, I will finish buying the stuff,” the boy said with enthusiasm as he started choosing the items.

“Ask them to pack separately. We must hurry as I have to buy some sweets and namkeen too. You must help me there also and help me taking the boxes to my car. Will you?” asked Rangaraj

When the shop owner produced the bill for all the purchases, Rangaraj put his hand on the back pocket. To his shock, it was empty with the purse missing. Shocked, he tapped all the other pockets in vain In anger, he held the collar of the young boy and shouted, “You little rascal, I should have suspected you when you snuggled close to me and had my pocket within your reach all the time. Tell me where is the purse, I will beat you blue if you do not hand it over.”

Baffled the boy said, “No Sir, I have not taken your purse. I was only trying to help you,”

Rangaraj slapped him in anger and screamed “There is no way the purse can mysteriously disappear, you scoundrel.” 

The shop owner intervened to say,” I know this boy. He has been coming daily for the last 10 days and helping the clients. In fact, on a few occasions, he had drawn the attention of customers to the things or bags dropped inadvertently. You must calmly think before you accuse the boy.”

Rangaraj rang his wife only to be told, “You in your usual hurry left your purse on the table in the balcony. I rang up immediately and your phone was busy.” Sincerely regretting his mistake, Rangaraj was on his knees rubbing the boy’s cheeks softly and cursing himself for his rashness.

When the boy kept quiet, Rangaraj lifted the boy in his arms and asked the boy his name and whether he had any crackers for himself.

“No sir, my name is Satyan.We are poor. I have only my mom and a sister. My dad had deserted us.”

At the sweet shop, Rangaraj bought many sweets and namkeens for himself and ordered one big box assorted sweets and namkeens to be packed separately.

When things were kept in car, the boy standing outside the car said,” Thank you sir for giving me an opportunity to help. I derived immense joy in handling several crackers and by their smell.”

“Is your house nearby. Hop in and I will drop you there and then proceed. Sorry for being rough. I should learn to be patient.”

When he saw a dimly lit old tiled house, where the boy resided in a single room with mom and sister, Rangaraj was choked with regret.

He came out of the car with the packet of crackers the boy had selected and the packets of assorted sweets and namkeens. He walked to the bewilderment of the boy to the side door where his mom was standing.

“Namaskaram. Nothing can make amend for my rashness in slapping your son on mistaken suspicion. He was only helping me in buying crackers with no expectation at all. I wish to help him. We have no children and doubt whether we can ever have one. I am wealthy enough to take care of the education of your children. Our house is not far and you can work in our home. Come the day after tomorrow with the children to meet my wife. These packets are a small token of my affection for Satyan. Kindly accept, “said Rangaraj as he gave the packets of crackers, sweets and namkeen. I had forgotten my purse at home and will give you some money for buying new clothes when we meet next.”

The bewildered lady hugged her boy with flowing tears at the prospect of a good turn in her life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The barbeque

 

When Ranjit woke up in the morning, he felt a dull pain on the head. He was somewhat hazy as he felt his head. The room was dark and the bed hard, unlike his usual bright room that opened up to the sky with birds chirping from the trees and the noise of vessels from the kitchen. He faintly remembered that he had left his friends and entered in the evening the reserved forest area across the road where he saw a young spotted deer. No one entered the place. He could remember nothing more of that evening except the thud on his head till he went blank.

It has been more than a fortnight since the boy of eight years found himself in a tenement with a tall and big man, dark in colour, yellow teeth and matted hair. He evoked fear when he smiled but he did no harm. He provided him with food that seemed different and unpalatable but he brought many fruits of different varieties. But his cries to send him back to his place elicited a stony silence. When he asked where he was, he signaled he would tell later but warned him never to stir out of the dwelling. He was however kind often patting him and rubbing his chin and arms. He could speak a little Hindi with a heavy accent of his language.

It was a week later, he heard one day a lot of people playing drums and indescribable shouts and what seemed like singing in hoarse voices till late in the night. Ranjit felt the smell of acrid smoke and something burning accompanied by screams in pain and shouts of joy. The boy shivered in fear and lay cuddled in the bed. The entire atmosphere was eerie and there was no way of seeking the help of his parents. There was no inkling of what his parents did to trace him. He always cried when the big man was not around and dozed off to sleep.

When the man arrived later and the drum beats became louder and the voices shriller, Ranjit asked what they were all about. He spoke slowly, “Today is a festival day. There is a gathering to sing and dance followed by an annual dinner where many animals would be roasted as in barbeque. The entire village would rejoice, drink and dance and have their dinner. A festival much looked forward,”

“I am scared to hear human voices and our language amid the shouts. Are people from our parts there?” he asked

The heavily built man did not reply but just showed his yellow teeth in what seemed to be a smile.

“Are you not going for dinner?” asked Ranjit.

“No, I prefer to have a tasty homely meal tonight. It is getting late. Go, have a bath and scrub well,” he said softly.

 

The unexpected miracle.

Vanamali was watching with disinterest the news channel repeating the same lines under Breaking news when his phone rang.

“Vanamali here,” he said. ​​

“I am Inspector Ambrose calling from XY police station. Would you mind coming to the station for a few minutes to identify a lady whom we have picked up from a shady place along with a companion? She tells me she is related to you.” said the voice from the other end.

“I am quite busy. How did you get my number? Who is the lady you were talking about? “replied Vanamali.

“The lady who calls herself Sharmila gave me your number and name telling that you are related to her and that she is an activist working for upliftment of women generally and specially those suffering from domestic violence, alcoholic husbands, women abducted by deceit and forced into life of shame and destitute women harassed at work places. She was saying that she visited the place as a part of her duty along with an assistant who does also the duty of security. I would not detain you beyond a few minutes as I wish to release them before sunset if they are on​ the​ clear. Kindly come immediately,” said the Inspector.

He took an Uber and reached the police station in the outskirts of the city.

“Thanks for coming. Before I call the lady. can you kindly tell me who you are and what do you do?” asked the inspector.

“I am Vanamali and work in Delhi as a consultant for a big corporate doing liaison with the government at high levels. I have come on tour here for a week,” replied Vanamali, producing his card.

The lady was brought by a policeman into the room when Vanamali jumped up and almost screamed to say,” Hey Sharmi, how come you are here? You were supposed to meet me tomorrow. What is all this unfortunate happening?’ and turned to the Inspector to tell him, “Yes, she is my niece Sharmila and has a degree in sociology besides various diplomas on social work. Yes, she is an activist on woman related issues. Her mom is in Mumbai with her brother.”

Meanwhile the guy who accompanied her came into the room. “I have not seen him and I cannot identify him except that ​he was aware she employed some people on ad hoc basis when required.”

“Actually, I got a tip possibly​ ​from​ a​ public booth to raid an apartment at a posh building complex. I learn there were one or two complaints earlier but have no idea what happened. When I went this time, I found the apartment empty except for these two. The others must have made a hurried exit. This lady was also telling that she was surprised no one was there. I am thinking of releasing both but…” he lingered looking at the face of Vanamali.

“Tell me what is the problem?” asked Vanamali.

“Normally we should have a written document of happenings during the day. But considering the status of the individual and the clarification given by you, I am wondering what I should do,” he said with a sly grin, simultaneously asking the others to leave the room.

It is not known what happened subsequently but within a few minutes, Vanamali was on his way to his hotel along with Sharmila.

Later in the late evening as he was ensconced with her in business class on a flight to Delhi, he looked at her and smiled. “It was pure luck that I visited the place two days ago to spend the evening with you for the first time, when you related your story of how you were deceived and brought to this ​ wretched ​place a couple of months back to be forced into a life of shame and that your attempts to escape were frustrated by the vigilant staff there,” Vanamali said.

“You only gave me the idea of for an escape by giving your number to me and about your plan to tip the police from unknown source. Somehow the other women there got the scent of a raid and vanished in a trice, while I consciously stayed put to get caught along with the poor guy who I mentioned as my assistant. The rest you know. ​​” ​she said​

“You might have doubted my promise to rescue you was also  ​like the ones that many others ​promised but failed to keep. I assured with the full intention of giving you a dignified life by marrying you regardless of your past as I took a liking for you. I am single and in a good financial position to take care of you. You can take up a job if you like. My only request to you is that you put behind your past and take a pledge along with me that we would be loyal to each other for life. I am willing to wait for a couple of months​, if you need, ​ for you to give your willingness to marry me. You can in the meanwhile stay with me,” he said in a determined tone.

“Show me your card to know more about you, Vanamali? I must confess my name is not Sharmila but actually Vimala.I have no degree in sociology or any diploma as you said to the inspector  but am a programmer in an IT company.”

He laughed and said,” I am no Vanamali or a consultant as indicated in the card hurriedly printed after my visit to you. I am Vikram and in the same field as you are, though I am in a senior position​ in a different role​.”

“By the way, who is the cousin of yours living in Mumbai whose daughter I am supposed to be?” she asked with a mischievous smile.

“Oh, you are referring to my cousin? She is as fake as Sharmila and Vanamali are,” he replied even as he pinched her slightly.

“I am so grateful to you, my saviour, on two counts. If you had just saved me by bringing me out of the despicable dungeon and left me to fend for myself, I would have ​still ​saluted you for being kind and humane. But you went a step further and have done something unimaginable, by promising me a life of honour with dignity and self-esteem. Your trust in me is incredible. I will abide forever by every tiny wish of yours and swear upon God that I will be true to you till my death. You may choose any day convenient to you  for our marriage. My heart is suffused with joy at the sequence of events in the last two days that seems a miracle” she said with tears from her eyes.

As the lights in the plane dimmed, he put his arm around her gently patting her back even as she moved closer to him fully relaxed at the happy turn of events​.​.