God
leads...never leaves in lurch
5:00 Hrs, 29th Jan 2015.
“Chennai Central”, “Chennai
Central, Sir”-
I woke up to this waking up call from
the porters.
Sprang up.
Caught hold of my roller brief.
Alighted from the stationary train.
Began my way out.
The aroma of Saravana Bhavan Coffee –
May it cost heaven! Doesn’t matter – in
that
Chilly morning halted my stroll out.
Had a heart-full of this steamy coffee.
Energized resumed my way out.
Just then a lanky aged gentleman,
so fresh in the morning sporting sandal
with
kumkum in the midst of his eyebrows,
stopped me.
A young woman – Don’t know why
God was so cruel that he deprived her
of the sight –
Kept holding the hand of the lanky
gentleman.
She wanted to be led out of the
station.
She didn’t have the stick, which people
of her group carry usually.
Gentleman asked me, “Can you help?”
Perhaps, the so cruel God wanted to
show up His
Benevolent side.
This morning, He showered that blessing
on me
And made my life at least a tiny bit of
purposeful.
The girl got hold of my hand.
We started out meandering through the
Auto and taxi
Friends who came in and looked for
their
Prospective hirers.
She said she wanted to be left at Park
Station
Opposite the Central Station.
I told her I could take her across the
road
And try to find another goodsam to
Take her up to Park Station.
Across the road, autos were waiting.
Crossing, there was an auto driver,
also so fresh in
The early morning itself.
He too was sporting sandal with kumkum.
I told him let’s wait for a goodsam and
Leave the woman to his care for guiding
her
To her desired destination.
Sometimes God does not delay his mercy.
Just then, crossed a boy, must be a
college student.
He volunteered to help the lady.
Thanking God, and leaving the lady in
the volunteer’s care,
got into the auto towards home.
While on the way, the driver turned
philosophical,
“Sir, perhaps God didn’t want this lady
to see the good and evil of this society”.
I just looked ahead.
Lord Ayyappa’s sticker was glued to his
front glass on the left extreme.
On the right extreme, it was Shirdi Sai
Baba’s sticker.
I just said, ”you get ready and afresh
in the morning itself?”
He replied, “Yes, Sir. You know I take
bath in cold water only. That’s how I have a sound body”.
Dropped me at home.
Something in me said, this man must be
chewing Paan.
Taking care not to sound preachy,
I said, ”Sir, you would still have a
more robust body, provided you give up your Pann masala”.
May be he did not expect it from me.
He just said, ” in home I don’t chew
Sir. Only while riding”.
From the moisture that swelled in
his eyes,
May I gather – rather wish and pray,
That the idea to give up Paan will
linger in his soul
And one day he will give it up once and
for all.
May God bless him.
