Manoj's predicament (401 words)

 

Manoj was in deep debt and was threatened by recovery agents with dire consequences if he failed to return the money. He was the sole breadwinner for his parents and younger siblings. He could see no way to clear the debt except to seek refuge in God He left a few hundred of rupees with his parents and told them he would be back in two days.

He travelled to Tirupati ticketless and stood in the long queue for a free darshan safe from the recovery agents for two days. As the queue moved slowly, he prayed with closed eyes, “My lord, show me a way out, other than suicide. I cannot think of any other way to resolve the problem. The ruffians have given me the ultimatum that if I do not pay immediately, they will break my limbs and throw us all out of our house. If I am freed of this burden of debts, I promise to renounce the world and be your devotee and at your service forever.”

Everyone around in the vicinity saw the handsome and young Manoj praying intensely with tears flowing from his eyes.

When the queue pushed him, he opened his eyes and was surprised to find a bundle of yellow cloth lying hidden behind a pillar. Someone must have dropped it, meant for the Hundi, by mistake. He hid the bundle securely in his dhoti. All his problems vanished in a trice like snowflakes before the sun. God in his infinite mercy, he thought, had answered his prayer. He rightly decided to honour his promise from the very moment he found the bundle. 

As he left the temple and walked into the bazaar the thought, of missing fancy dress, a motorbike, and a binge of good food with beer, tormented him. Undeterred, he wore an ochre robe. His mind was restless as he sat again in the temple in his yellow clothes. Tears trickled from his eyes as he realised it would not be easy to take to Sanyasa. It was a promise he foolishly made in haste. He was now in a quandary not knowing how to get out of this tricky situation he had invited upon himself. His eyes with tears flowing were closed in deep thought. 

Then he heard a voice,” Pack up. The day’s shooting is over,” even as the director patted him and said,” Well done, Manoj.”