|| Hari om ||
I offer a million pranam at the Feet of my Bapu who always keeps His word and stands by the bhakta. 'I shall never forsake you' He says and that is His word and reassurance. I am going to share the special moment of grace, of Bapu's care that I experienced in my life. I begin by offering my pranam at His feet.
My husband works on the ship. The pooja, the worship that was being offered in the home was only out of fear and to perpetuate tradition. It was never done out of love and faith and so there was just no question of surrender or loving trust in God. In 1998 we even got to hear about Bapu from Sushmaveera Sarnaik along with the experiences she felt blessed with. But with the kind of mind set that we lived with, we did not come to Bapu. We postponed for one reason or the other. Perhaps it was not the right time for us or we had not received the 'call' yet.
In 2002, we had to consult a specialist for my husband. Following the bone marrow test, he was diagnosed a case of CMC (primary stage of blood cancer). But we decided to keep it to ourselves. Except for two of our close friends, nobody knew about it. Neither my siblings nor my husband's had the faintest idea. We even kept it from our children for fear that this may affect their studies. This unfortunate situation had come our way and it would be we who would bear it. My husband was being medically treated. Life went on and in due course i.e. after 4-5 years we revealed all to our son and our daughter after they were married.
In 2009, once again we happened to meet Sushmaveera Sarnaik. That was our 'call'. We began to attend upasana regularly, write Ramnaam books, recite the mantras and even became part of the seva. No doubt all of this gave us joy but my husband's condition was a constant fear that nibbled at my mind. One day the doctor announced that then on, we would need medicines worth Rs. 50,000 per month instead of Rs. 6000 that we had been spending all along. All I thought of was visiting Suchitdada at the clinic. We did. Dada saw the reports and gave us permission to go to the USA as our son lived there. We spent a few months (June-September) in the USA.
We returned and my daughter got engaged and by November she was married. All went smoothly. In all the celebrations, we had neglected diet restrictions and in all probability it was due to this that we were in for serious trouble. My husband had severe pain in the legs and the knees. he even had to give up his job. More than the cancer, the pain tormented him. A colour doppler that we did in 2010, revealed that the root cause of the pain lay in one of the veins in the leg. Now we began treatment for this new issue. But that was not the end of the story! As a reaction to this medicine, my husband's right leg swelled up. There was big patch on the thigh due to haemorrhage. He was admitted to Holy Spirit Hospital. It was found that the reports of the earlier tests were all wrong! I heaved a sigh of relief. But then what could be the reason behind the swelling? Several tests followed. Every time my husband went in for the test, I would keep praying to Bapu, keep reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and other mantras and every time the reports would be normal. We were pushed to the edge but never fell over into the abyss, only because Bapu was with us and He was our source of support and care. It was only because of Bapu that the reports turned out normal. It was my firm trust then and it is even now.
On 20th April 2010, we consulted an Orthopaedic surgeon. He examined my husband and suggested we get the x-rays of the vertebral column etc. All the treating doctors discussed the case among themselves. My husband was as it is, a case of blood cancer; the doctors were suspecting a clot in the thigh and now these added tests. I just kept weeping. What could I do? But then Suchitdada's words, the trust we had in Bapu's love and the support and care that Sushmaveera sarnaik kept extending from time to time kept reassuring us and giving us the strength to go on. 'Instead of going to any friend or relative, stand before Bapu's picture and pour out your heart to Him, say all that you want to Him. He is the one support' Sushmaveera kept telling us.
That night (20th April) I lay wide awake on the bed beside my husband. I was just too worried to sleep. But then I remembered Sushmaveera's words – 'offer all your worries at Bapu's feet'. I did just that and was soon fast asleep. I happened to wake up at 1.45 am. I turned to look at my husband and decided to go back to sleep. Just then I felt there was a very beautiful woman sitting near me. Was I imagining it? No, I was quite sure I was not. I was curious but also quite scared. I began to chant Nandai's name. This beautiful woman kept her hand on my head. She was very gentle. 2 or 3 doctors then entered the room. One of them was tall and hefty. he passed his hand over my husband's body, did something around the stomach and waist region and then they all left.
The following day all the reports were normal and we were even discharged. After a few days, we saw Suchitdada at the clinic and as per His advice, consulted Dr. Karnik. In the month of May, we were at Dada's clinic again. But we just did not have to tell Him anything. He knew it all. Before we could say anything Dada said, "We have channelized everything. We have got rid of the unwanted. Do not worry at all. Everything is going to be fine." The moment I heard these words, I was more than sure that it was Bapu who had come to the hospital room on 20th April. That was neither my imagination nor a dream. It was the truth! They had actually come! It was owing to them that the painful had 'cleared' away from the body and from our lives. How else would a person recover from this practically hopeless situation?
Singular and whole-hearted bhakti coupled with loving surrender, when offered at Bapu's feet, He tides us over – however adverse the circumstances be, however stormy the seas be.
Finally, just the one prayer Bapu – "May the faith in our heart grow. May we always have trust in You. May we offer in seva. Show us the way Bapu, please do."
|| Hari om ||
