God leads...never leaves in lurch

 God leads...never leaves in lurch

5:00 Hrs, 29^th 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.