I had closed my last call at eight o’clock in Jaipur city where I had gone on an official tour by my own car. It was already late evening and by the time I left the city it was half past eight o’clock. I had just crossed Neemarana town, covering 150 kilometers approximately in four hours flat, on Delhi-Jaipur national highway number eight when suddenly speed of my car lessened. I also found some burning oil smell. I pressed the accelerator but it did not pick up the speed. After going further by few more yards the car stopped with a jerk in the middle of the highway road. I was sitting all alone in my car without knowing what to do next and how to come out of the present crises.
I came out of the car and started pushing it down to the road-side. After parking it at little down the road, I opened the car bonnet and saw lot of hot air coming out of the radiator; the whole engine-area was filled with smoke. When I tried to open the cap of the radiator with my bare hands, it burnt my fingers. I used my handkerchief to open it and with great difficulty I succeeded also. As soon as I removed the cap, heavy flow of hot air came out of the radiator and I could feel the heat on my face. I was literally shocked to see such things happening in my car; this being the first time, I was encountering an awkward situation where everything was happening beyond my experience, expertise and expectations.
All my crisis management knowledge, skills and class room training could not help me in solving the problem and rescue me out of the present crisis. Although it was very late at night but the highway was still bustling with traffic; after every few minutes one bus, car or truck would pass by but nobody, just nobody, bothered to stop for my help; rather it was too much to expect help from the strangers at this hour of the night!
Meanwhile, hoping against hopes, I was still frantically waving my hands for help to every passing vehicle but nobody stopped. Suddenly, one passing truck stopped after few yards from my stationed car. The driver came out of his truck and started talking to me in a local language which was a mixture of Hindi-cum-Rajasthani. He first made a thorough check of the engine, battery, engine-oil and radiator and asked me to start the engine, but it did not work-out. He asked me to put water in the radiator; I was carrying half bottle of mineral water in the car but that was not sufficient. He then instructed his helper to bring plastic water cane from his truck. The moment he poured water into the radiator, it came out of the radiator with a very heavy force and hot water started blowing out of the radiator profusely.
The truck driver told me to keep plastic cane with me and instructed me to keep the bonnet open for at least half an hour for the engine to cool down before pouring more water in the radiator. Before parting, he advised me to stop at the next highway hotel or gas station for further assistance, if required.
I thanked the truck driver for his help and offered money for the plastic cane, but he refused to accept the money. Then, he left with his truck and moved ahead towards his destination after wishing me luck. As instructed, after waiting for half an hour, I poured the water in the radiator and started the engine without any difficulty, put my car into gear and moved towards Gurgaon in a very slow speed.
After driving for few more kilometers, it again started losing its speed and I was forced to stop the car in the nearby highway hotel for help. In front of the hotel few buses, cars and trucks were parked. I parked my car at one side of the hotel and went straight to the reception where an old man, who seemed to be the owner, was doing some calculations with his account-books. I first wished him and then briefed him about my problem. He listened to me carefully and then called his son who was sleeping inside, in the store room. His son came out after few minutes and looked at both of us in anger and straight away asked his father why he has woken him up so early. The old man told him about my problem and instructed him to do the needful in this regard. The boy proceeded towards my car, opened the bonnet, and after thorough inspection, informed me that the radiator is leaking and proper cooling is not taking place hence the engine is getting heated. Therefore, I must drive slowly without switching on the car AC and keep on pouring water after every few kilometers drive. He was also informed me that, I will not get any mechanic in the nearby village at night, before going back to his room to catch his lost sleep.
First, I thought to call my friends but after looking at the watch I did not dare as it was mid-night. Then, I thought of ringing up my wife but if I did that then I would be bringing her also in my present crisis and she will also be disturbed and lose her sleep. Finally, sitting in the hotel cot in desperation, I remembered my father who had left me eleven years back, though I could not forget him till date as he was, he is and he will always remain very close to my heart. Without even realizing I started calling him for his help, as tears started flooding my eyes. Something inside was saying he will definitely send some help.
It was three o’clock at night; I left the car keeping the bonnet open. The old man advised me to stay tonight in his hotel and move early in the morning. May be I will get some help in the morning. I could not resist the temptation, and called my wife to tell her about my present location and problem. She sounded very tensed and worried. I tried to pacify her but she could not control herself and started crying over the phone. I requested her not to worry at all and hung the phone.
I could not control my emotions and started cursing myself for using my own car instead of hiring a taxi to visit Jaipur for an official visit. The more I tried to convince myself it became more difficult, painful and uncontrollable. I was thinking, it would have been a more comfortable way to travel by taxi but due to my stupidity, I decided to drive myself which has landed me in the present situation. I was feeling totally helpless and the things happening around were beyond my control. I was left with no option but to accept the situation without any anger, leaving everything in the hands of the God-Almighty. While still doing some self-introspection, I don’t exactly know when I fell asleep lying on the wooden-cot without any bed sheet, mattress or pillow that too under an open sky; but the touching of cool breeze over my body gave me a deep sense of satisfaction.
Suddenly I woke up with a jerk not knowing what was happening and saw flood-lights spread all over my wooden cot. One white horse standing nearby and a very fair, slim and tall person were sitting on the horse. He was wearing a milky-white robe and his hair was of silver-grey colour. His two bright black eyes were very sharp, piercing and gazing straight into my eyes. I immediately stood up and wished him with my folded hands. He reciprocated by raising his right hand in the air. I felt very deep sense of satisfaction, happiness and joy inside me as I could hear melodious music playing around me. I cordially invited him and within no time he was sitting on the cot. Meanwhile, he also instructed me to sit along with him but somehow I could not gather enough courage or strength to sit in the same cot and decided to rather sit on the floor showing both my folded hands in gratitude.
After mustering lot of courage, I asked him in a very hesitant voice: “How come you are here, my Lord?” He answered with a very soft smile: “I was worried about you my son, since your car had broken down in the middle of the night far away from your home, besides your repeated calls to your father had forced me to come down for your help. You see, he has gone to the other world and there performing his duties as per the instructions of the God Almighty. Since he could not come, my Master has instructed me to visit you and help you in solving your problem.” Again after a pause, I asked him another question “How is my father, my Lord?” He pulled both my hands with his big long fingers which were very soft, smooth, warm and spoke in his deep, sweet and silky voice: “My son, you love your father very much, but remember one thing, whosoever has come on this earth, has to go after completing his/her duty. It is the rule of the Mother Nature and every one has to obey her instructions without raising any objection.”
“Therefore, please don’t forget to perform your duties with hundred percent dedication, devotion, determination, honesty and move ahead without developing so much of attachment, attraction, affection or love with any individual on this earth. You are a drifter here, a traveler who has come on this earth with a definite purpose and don’t forget, this is not the destination but a transit point in your journey to the final destination which is HIS ultimate abode.”
Suddenly, loud noise of vehicle movements woke me up from my deep slumber. For a few moments, I was stunned seeing the surroundings, while still trying to remember where I was and where was the tall slim fair man or his white horse. Was I dreaming or was it a sort of an illusion. Whatever it was, it was the best experience of my life by all means and an eye opener.
When I woke up and sat on the cot, I saw the old man of the hotel walking towards me holding a glass of hot tea in his hand. He informed me that he has already arranged for a crane going back to Delhi to toe my car till Gurgaon and that I don’t have to bother any more about the radiator problem. I got up from my wooden-cot and fell down on the feet of the old man who came into my life as the reincarnation of my beloved father. He pulled me up and embraced me with both hands and kissed my forehead with lots of love and affection and said: "Don’t cry my son God is very kind!"
With Prayers
Gurcharan
