Plan of Destiny

I was planning to visit Chandigarh city to meet with one of our prospective client for finalization of an order. I tried to book my ticket in Shatabadi Express, but due to non availability of confirmed ticket, I decided to proceed by car.

I left home early in the morning and stopped at a highway hotel for my breakfast. The highway restaurant was over crowded in the morning hours due to very heavy rush and I had to wait for more than ten minutes to get a seat which I had to share with another family of five members. One middle-aged couple along with an elderly woman and two grown up kids were having their breakfast. I was feeling very hesitant to share the table with them in the beginning but I had no other option except to sit with them and have my breakfast. If I did not do that then, probably, I would not be able to reach Chandigarh on time, which in turn, could cause a delay in my coming back home the same night. Finally I decided to order my break-fast along with a hot cup of sugar-free tea.

An old lady who was sitting next to me interrupted the steward to re-orders her tea without sugar for herself. Later, she gave me a broad smile and said thank you. Immediately, the couple with the old lady also instructed the service-boy to get for them also tea without sugar and all of them started laughing very loudly. The Lady wished me with folded hands and gave a brief introduction about her family member’s with a soft smile.

She first introduced her husband Dr. Ramandeep Singh; Mrs. Surinder Kaur mother of Ramandeep; Ravinder and Parvinder Singh, her twin sons and at the end she introduced herself: Dr. Sukhmani Kaur. Then, I got up from my chair wished everyone with folded hands and introduced myself.

After the breakfast, we were all served tea without sugar. The grown up boys asked for a cold coffee with lots of sugar and ice. I mixed one sugar-free tablet in my tea and offered the same to them also, which they accepted with lot of hesitation. And we started communicating with each other freely over the cup of 'sugar-free-tea'.

The couple came to Delhi airport last night to receive their mother coming from London along with the twins who were studying in senior Cambridge. Now they were going back home to Chandigarh where they are having their own Nursing Home. Dr. Ramandeep is a gynecologist and Dr. Sukhmani is a pediatrist. They completed their Post Graduation from one of the top Medical Colleges of New Delhi and for the last fifteen years or so they were successfully practicing in Chandigarh.

Since Dr. Ramandeep’s sister, who was also a Doctor by profession was settled in London from a long time. Therefore, they decided to send their twins to London for further studies and the old lady was also staying along with the kids to look after them. They came to India to meet with their parents on holidays and will be back to London within next four weeks.

I was wondering, when they are so well settled and earning fairly well in India, why then, they had sent their young kids and an old lady far away to London. May be they wanted to earn more money so that they could also get settled in London or any other country of their choice at a later date and live happily thereafter. It was anybody’s guess. Somehow, I was not comfortable with their present state-of-affairs. But then, since I was a stranger to them, it hardy made any difference to either of us. Moreover, neither I had the obligation nor any right to be judgmental in this case. Therefore, after saying good bye to them, I started walking towards my car.

I was about to start my car when I saw Dr. Sukhmani walking straight towards my car. I immediately came out of the car and waited for her to join me. She first apologized and later forwarded me her business card and invited me to visit them in the evening before leaving Chandigarh, if possible. She was looking very fair, tall and slim with long hairs and brown eyes. Although she was around fifty years of age but she was looking very decent, kind, matured, sober and quiet. Although her face was glowing and smiling but her deep dark brown eyes were looking very sad. I could not make out what was happening to her, and to be honest, it was rather very difficult for me to guess whether she was happy or sad at that very moment.

In exchange, as a matter of courtesy, I also offered her my visiting card and assured her that if I stood back at night in Chandigarh I would definitely try to visit them. She wished me good luck and walked back towards her car slowly with a very heavy heart. I was unable to make out exactly why?

I reached Chandigarh before noon and met with the client but thereafter the meeting continued with the client’s consultant till late evening and I decided to stay back for one more day and leave for Delhi next day evening after meeting few more clients. Meanwhile, I also made a hotel booking for my night stay and informed my wife about it.

I finished my last call around eight in the evening and proceeded towards my hotel. After completing the check-in formalities, I enquired about Dr. Ramandeep’s Hospital and was informed that it was not very far from my hotel. Therefore, I made a call on Mrs. Sukhmani’s mobile number, but she did not pick up my phone. I then sent a sms on her mobile and informed her about my hotel stay. She responded by writing back that she was in the Hospital and would call me back as soon as she was free.

After half an hour or so, I got a call from the reception desk that somebody had come to pick me up from Dr. Ramandeep’s Hospital. I was bit surprised that she did not pick up my phone in the first place and now she has sent me a car, why? It seemed a mystery but never the less, I decided to visit her. Within next ten minutes I got ready and proceeded towards the reception desk.

I saw, one Sikh gentleman nicely dressed up, who on seeing me first wished then handed me a small envelope. It was a brief note from Dr. Sukhmani inviting me for Dinner at her residence at Mohali. I reached her place within half an hour. Her house was near the sports stadium in Mohali; it was a big three storied house constructed with lot of care and concern. At the parking place Audi, BMW and Mercedes cars were parked.

I was made to sit at the guestroom on the ground floor. First, the old lady came and greeted me with her big broad smile. She informed me that Raman and Sukhmani were still in the Hospital, attending one emergency pregnancy case, and they will join us soon. Meanwhile, the house keeping staff came with a hard drinks trolley and offered me a whisky to start with. I very politely turned it down and requested for one cup of tea without sugar.

Within next twenty minutes both of them came rushing to the guestroom and offered their apologies for the delay. Later they shifted me to the drawing room and went back to their respective rooms to freshen up. Finally, Mrs. Sukhmani came first and thereafter the service boy with tea tray and snacks.

Dr. Sukhmani sat with me and over a cup of tea she started unfolding the secrets of her life without any fear, hitch or hesitation. I was almost in a shocking stage and was wondering why such things should happen to good people but I was getting no answer. I spent three hours with her family and also took dinner together but deep down, I was very disturbed, sad and upset but why, I exactly did not know, but one thing was clear, nothing was right in Dr. Sukhmani’s life but still she was performing her duty with best of her capabilities, knowledge and skills but for how long, only my Lord will have the answer.

I was shocked when I came to know that Dr. Sukhmani was suffering from cancer. Although her uterus has been removed but the cancer germs have spread in the intestine and now she has to go for chemotherapy next week. She wanted her kids around during her treatment.

I was dropped at my hotel around midnight but I could not sleep for long. Although I had a very long day, but my sleep had gone away as if she was playing some kind of game with me, in the same manner in which Dr. Sukhmani’s destiny has been playing with her life. During my night prayer, I prayed for the wellness and well being of Dr. Sukmani and her family, but I could not understand one thing why such things happened with me; may be there could be some hidden message or link between us which I could not read and see today at this juncture, it’s all the plan of destiny which only God Almighty can understand.

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Awaiting her arrival with lots of patience and peace

My train, Rajdhani Express was running six hours’ late. In fact it started late from New Delhi station on Wednesday night due to late arrival of the in-coming train and by the time I reached Sealdah station it was almost 4.30-PM on Thursday evening whereas the schedule arrival time of my train at Sealdah station was 10.30 in the morning. I took two days’ leave for Thursday and Friday; Saturday-Sunday being weekly-off, so that the total stretch of the holidays became four days. I also booked my returned ticket for Saturday so that I can reach home on Sunday morning by the same train.

Now, due to the late arrival of my train at Kolkata, one working day was lost and I was left with one and half day only. On Saturday evening, I was to board Rajdhani Express train again for my return journey from Howrah station at 4.50 in the evening. Therefore, I decided to proceed towards my Hotel in South Kolkata for rest.

I wanted to visit my childhood friend’s home in South Kolkata where his mother was living with his younger brother. My dear friend’s name was Jagmohan Singh Arora but we used to call him Jagga. We were born and brought up together in Kolkata as they were our neighbors in the same building, where Biji (full for Bibi Ji, Jagga’s mother) used to look-after us since our childhood. Both of us were admitted in the same School by Darji (short for Sardar ji, Jagga’s father). After completing our Higher Secondary, I went to College and he took up his father’s business.

We hardly met in these 30 years since I left Kolkta. We got married, have our own families and a busy life. Though he had attended my marriage, I was not lucky enough to witness his marriage. But I always used to get updates about him from my mother and younger brothers who were still living in Kolkata.

Last week, when I was out on official tour, I got the shocking news of the sudden demise of my very dear childhood friend Jagga from my mother. First of all, I couldn’t believe it, but since this news came from none other than my mother, I couldn’t raise any doubt on the source. Still, I asked my mother twice if it was true, and in reply, she started crying loudly over the phone. So, I was left with no option but to accept this heart-piercing truth with a very heavy heart.

Jagga, my childhood friend, how can he die so young? He has left back his wife and two kids, both are married and well settled in life. The daughter is married in a big business family of Kolkata and his son tied knot to his MBA class mate and now both are working in a foreign Bank at New York City of USA. He left a big fortune for his family in the form of two flats, four shops, one running business and lots of liquid cash but in spite of every materialistic thing which can give basic comfort to his family was very much there except his physical presence.

I was totally moved with this tragic incident and was in the grip of a shocking state of mind. Not because I was afraid of dying so young but because it reminded me that I am also in the queue now and my turn will also come sooner or later, though the fact remained, I was not yet ready to die at this very moment. Given the choice I don’t want to think about it at all. How could I die so early? It sounds so absurd, impractical and stupid. So many things are left incomplete, pending and unfinished in my life and moreover I am not yet prepared about this particular crises at this point in time. You see; so how the God Almighty could shut my life in between? Oh my Lord, please listen to me and give me a break, will you please? My dear Lord, please try to be more practical, professional and reasonable and act smartly by not saying “Pack-up”. Oh my God, please give me some more time to live, so that I could finish my very important work which only I can do, trusts me.

While sitting in my Hotel room, I started preparing my list of pending work where my presence is very much needed, necessary and required. Therefore, I have made very exhaustive list where more than 52 pending works were short listed, now even my Lord can’t deny this, I am sure of that.

But deep down within me, I was not comfortable with the said list and I thought to scrutinize it one more time to make it more authentic, genuine, practical and realistic so that my Lord may very kindly approve it without raising any objection. Say for example, marriage of my two daughters in fairly decent families; fully furnished flat for my wife; sufficient stock of food items; ready-made garments; medicines for her diabetic, gastritis and sciatica pain; sufficient amount of fixed deposits along with uninterrupted monthly income flow to meet her day-to-day expenses; besides additional funds exclusively for my daughters so that they could also lead a comfortable life even in the absence of both their parents.

After combining everything I came out with such an unrealistic figure that I couldn’t convince myself forget about convincing my Lord with it. Besides, I have one more list of personal works which needs to be short-closed immediately, say for example, due installments of my two flats, one car and personal loan; credit card payments; golf club, health club and social club’s membership fees and due installments of 20 years advance Holiday-package etc.

The whole night I could not sleep properly in my hotel room. I was only thinking about my family and it was so difficult to think of living alone without them and how will I survive of my own alone after my death, this was the biggest question of my life today. Secondly, I have also realized the mess I have created in my life which needs to be cleared immediately so that I could lead my life on daily basis, without keeping anything pending for my family, friends and relatives after my death.

Today, I have realized about those lessons I have learnt through a very hard way in my past life about, ambition, career, future and peaceful retirement life; all these things seemed to me baseless, irrelevant, meaningless, untrue and the ultimate truth remained the ‘Death’ the final destination, which was certain, definite, on-schedule and the final verdict of the Mother Nature which nobody, just nobody could deny or delay.

As soon as I saw Jagga’s mother, I don’t know why, I could not control myself and broke down in her feet and stared crying very loudly. She tried to console me but to no avail. As a matter of fact, I was very scared of dying and was not getting any assurance from the Lord for an extension of my lifespan. The more I thought about my death louder became my moaning. And with lots of affection, consolation and love Biji made me calm, quiet, comfortable, silent and at peace with myself, in-spite of losing her own son recently. Oh my Lord, why all the mothers are like her, so loving, so caring and so godly.

She insisted that I must have lunch with her but I could not eat any thing except a cup of tea; I don’t really know where my hunger disappeared. At that point of time, my only desire was to simply fly back home to be with my family because I didn’t exactly know how much time I was left with me and there were so many unfinished agenda and work left in front of me which had to be completed without any further delay so that even if I go, my family must not face any kind of problem and they live happily thereafter, even in my absence.

My dear friend Jagga was the patient of hypertension and he died of brain hemorrhage at such an early age of 50 plus. I am also having high blood pressure problem. Does that mean I will also …? No-no, how could it be? After all, my Lord couldn’t be so cruel and HE must have planned something different for my exit, I am sure of that, simply because my Lord is so perfect in all respect and HE never makes any mistake, come what may. And finally, I have to wait for my beloved angel of death with lots of patience and peace; but for how long it is anybody’s guess?

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Noble gift of Love and Affection

By the time I finished my last client’s call of the day, it was three o’clock in the afternoon and my flight to Delhi was scheduled at six-thirty in the evening; the reporting time was 5pm at the airport. Although Jammu Airport was approximately 7km away from my Hotel but still I did not want to take a chance and rushed back to the Hotel to collect my suitcase, which was kept at the Hotel-cloak-room after I checked-out in the morning. Therefore, I requested my cab-driver to first stop at the Hotel so that I could pick my luggage and then head towards the airport.

The cab-driver seemed to be a very decent and simple man as he was talking to me in very short and simple sentences from the time I hired his car, three days back. Since then we had hardly spoken much with each other in that span of time. Immediately after leaving the hotel premises, he asked me very hesitantly about my flight timings to which I replied by saying: “6:30 pm”, He said in his soft voice: “Sahib ji, it’s too early to go to the airport now, it would be better if you could spent some more time in the city?” I replied “Why are you saying so?” He answered that within next ten minutes we will reach the airport and still you would have two and half hours in hand. I also felt that it was too early to go to the airport at that moment.

Meanwhile, I also realized that we both had missed our lunch, so I asked him to stop at the nearby eating-place for a quick bite. He followed my instruction and stopped the car at a Restaurant which was much closer to the airport. We went inside but we both sat at two different places and his table was far away from my table. I instructed the waiter to send the cab-driver to my table. He immediately came in front of me and asked me with both his folded hands: “Sahib ji, you did not like this place? Shall we go back to the city; there we will have many more good restaurants??” I simply asked him to sit down at my table and join me for lunch. He was a bit hesitant in the beginning but when I insisted he sat down in front of me. I offered him the menu-card so that he could order the food of his choice. He politely returned the Menu card and requested me to order one vegetable dish and three Chappaties (bread) for his lunch.

I understood fairly well that he was feeling very hesitant and shy to have lunch with me at the same table. Therefore, I told him to sit wherever he felt comfortable and ordered lunch as per his choice. He refused to move and again with folded hands said: “It is an honour to sit with you and have lunch, but Sahib ji, I am in this driving profession for more than twenty years and nobody has treated me like a human being. I was mere a driver for them and today you have given me so much respect and not only treated me like a human being but also offered me lunch in this manner, that’s why I am totally confused, I don’t know what to do now, it’s very hard to believe, if this is true or I am day-dreaming? I am sorry sahib ji.” His eyes were filled with tears and he could not speak further. I could sense, he was deeply moved and I also could not control my emotions and simply hugged him to make him more comfortable, put him at ease and normal, as early as possible.

Thereafter, I ordered lunch for both of us and at the end, I wanted to order two cups of tea but he suggested me one more place where creamy-masala-tea was served. During the lunch time, he told me that he is 51 year's old, married for last 26 years and blessed with a son only 11 years back. This taxi-car belonged to his relative. He owned only a small house of his own. His wife was working as a lady-tailor from home and earned reasonably well. Both of them wanted their son to go for higher studies and become an Engineer. Meanwhile, he also wanted to own his own taxi some day for which he and his wife were saving money since long.

This tea stall was far away from the airport and this time he made me sit in the car and brought two glasses full of creamy-masala-tea, which were very tasty indeed. When I offered him money for the tea, he simply refused to accept it and said this tea was from his side. I quietly accepted his offer with thanks and a big broad smile.

Meanwhile, he also enquired about my family very hesitantly and politely. On hearing from me that I have three beautiful daughters, I did not know why suddenly he became very serious, sad and quiet for some time. Thereafter, he started his car with much excitement; and told me to pay a visit at a most respected Sufi Saint Pir Baba Buddan ji’s Mazar along with him, and without obtaining my consent he put the car into first gear and proceeded towards the Sufi Saint’s Shrine which was just behind the airport. He informed me that here all the wishes of people are fulfilled and people from all walks of life and religions pay a visit and get Baba ji’s blessings without any partiality. He also told me that those couples who were deprived of being parents since long were too blessed with a child. Here nobody has gone-back empty handed; even he has got a son with the blessings of Baba ji only. He repeatedly requested me to visit with him to the said Sufi-Shrine of a great Sufi Saint and offer my prayers.

I was having three beautiful angels, who were grown up now. I was expecting three sons in the form of my sons-in-law. And to be more honest, I never had the urge of having a son. As a matter of fact, we are three brothers but not blessed with a sister of our own. Therefore, first: I missed my sister very much, two: I could not become an obedient, loyal and faithful son to my parents. I have never done any great-job which could have made my parents proud of me. Therefore, I never complained about it to anyone that I am not having a son of my own, neither to my beloved wife nor to my God Almighty and I accepted HIS verdict with full grace, humbleness, honor, respect and I am truly very happy with my Lord’s blessings.

But today this honest and simple man forced me to think otherwise. I was in a dilemma, whether to go or not? And finally, what purpose would it serve? After repeated requests of the cab-driver, I decided to go to the Sufi-Shrine and offer my prayers on behalf of my family and for my new friend so that he could become the owner of a taxi-car soon; his son becomes an engineer; and last but not the least, all the dreams of this straight forward man may kindly be fulfilled by Baba ji.

We reached the airport around five pm and the check-in counter was still open. And before saying good-bye to my new friend, I first settled his taxi bill and also offered him Rs. 500/- as token of my love for his son which he accepted after lots of persuasion. At the end, he also gave me one envelope which he wanted me to open only after he is gone. I refused to take the said envelope at the first place but his repeated requests made me to accept it without reluctance. Therefore, I accepted his envelope and kept it in my coat-pocket. After saying good-bye to him, I proceeded towards the security-check, because the Delhi flight was right on schedule.

While leaving for home from terminal T3 of the Delhi airport, I suddenly remembered about the said envelope given to me by the cab-driver and I immediately opened it with great excitement. I was literally stunned, surprised and shocked to see three Rs. 100 hundred notes wrapped in small note written in Hindi which said: “For three respected-sisters with lots of love and respect at the most auspicious occasion of ‘Raksha-Bandhan-Festival’ from their younger brother.”

I was lost in deep silence and was keenly looking at those Rs. 100 notes and also reading that small message again and again, which was scribbled by a man truly very holy, honest, pure at heart and full of affection, love and respect. I could not see any caste, creed, religion or any economic barrier between two of us and suddenly I found him to be an integral part of my small family. I simply bowed my head in respectful remembrance of the great Sufi-Saint Pir Baba Bhuddan Shah ji Maharaj, who had already blessed me with a son, as perhaps, demanded by the noble soul, who accompanied me to the Shrine. May now, Baba ji Maharaj also answer my prayers for him in due course of time, Amen!

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Sometimes it needs lot of guts to say no!

I was in a meeting with one of our existing clients at Salt Lake City in Kolkata when I missed two calls on my mobile kept on silence mode. One was from Ms. JC, Executive assistance to Mr. R. K. Ghosh: the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of one multi-national-company (MNC) with head office at Kolkata: Ms. J. C. Thomas.

After an hour or so, when I got free, while driving back to office, I called back Ms. JC who picked up my phone on second ring. She sounded very desperate and tense over the phone. After some formal exchange of courtesies, she came to the point: “Mr. Ghosh wants to know your date of joining Sir, that’s why I called?” I told her that I would get back to them by the week-end and ended the call.

It all started a month back; when I got a call from one HR-Consultant regarding a suitable job opening for me in a very reputed MNC for a senior position, having seen my Bio-data on a job portal. I told him straight-forward that I was very happy with my present job and was not keen to change it, therefore politely turned-down his offer.

To my utter surprise, the HR-Consultant was very smart and kept insisting, motivating and requesting me to at least meet the prospective employer only once for a formal discussion. He also suggested that it would give me fairly good idea about the current trend in the job market and my present worth in the corporate world. And if by any chance, the offer did not suit me or seemed unattractive, I was free to simply walk away by turning down the offer, it was that simple. But I found that whatever the HR Consultant had suggested in the beginning was not correct, right and ethical, it all turned out to be a real problem in my professional and personal life rather than a solution.

Although I kept on postponing the meeting with the prospective employer but I could not find out a suitable exit from the present crisis. Finally, I had to accept the invitation with a very heavy heart. At the same time, the consultant was also very patiently arranging for alternative dates of interview by keeping my convenient day, date, time and venue accordingly.

Thereafter, last week, I got a call from the consultant informing me that the President of the prospective company was coming to Kolkata and would like to meet me on Saturday morning at Hotel Oberoi Grand located at J. L. Nehru Road, Kolkata, over breakfast. On Friday night at 9.00, Mr. R. K. Ghosh, the CEO, would talk to me over phone for a preliminary interview and he hung up without waiting for my consent.

I was wondering, why this was happening to me, when I had not forwarded my Bio-data to them; and then why they were so keen to meet me. Moreover, there is no dearth of good professionals in the market today as the ratio would be 1: 25 or more, then why me? This question kept bothering me for a very long time.

As per schedule, the CEO spoke to me over phone for about half an hour which ended with a positive note. The next day, as per schedule, I met with President too. Surprisingly, I got an offer letter by the same evening through e-mal. The offer was very nicely prepared and included higher position, good designation, handsome pay-package with an additional bonus, 15-day foreign trip immediately on joining, at their various manufacturing units all over Europe, USA, Canada and UK, for formal induction and preliminary training.

No doubt, the offer was very attractive indeed but still I was not convinced, not because I was afraid of change or accepting new challenges or I was not interested in earning more money, better career prospects, new platform where one could have immense potential of learning new management skills, tricks and tools along with totally new environment to work with and perform. In totality it sounded very challenging and full of excitement but still something very important was missing which I could not realize in the beginning.

At the same time, I was working for an Indian company, very happy with my present employment where I was doing a fairly good job, earning decent salary, enjoying my day-to-day work, enhanced my professional qualification, my colleagues were very co-operative, my team has been very dedicated and devoted and quite satisfied with my seniors’ attitude, they being very co-operative and always available for consultation, and the core strength of the management was its strong ethics and corporate policies, where besides clients the vendors, employees, environment, health and safety were also equally important considerations for the management’. And last but not the least; here I have been treated like a human being and not like worker or slave. I strongly feel and believe that I am serving under the management of the best, caring, decent, good, loving, warm and right kind of people, who never does any harm to their employees, clients, vendors, society, country, environment and Mother Nature, ever. I am sincerely working, fully enjoying, very happy and extremely satisfied with my present job, my seniours, work-culture, environment and atmosphere; so is my family.

Later I discussed this issue with my beloved wife, and after listening to the new job-proposal, she simply asked me one question: “Honey, you always treated your job as your second wife, now what happened, don’t you feel that it would be like separating from your second wife? Please answer me honestly?” I was taken aback with her very simple question, which of course, was very relevant at that point of time and also waked me up of my slumber. But I was having no ready answer with me.

Therefore, I started asking more probing questions to myself but in spite of my best efforts I could not find any valid reason and right answer which could convince me or motivate me to take up the new assignment against my present job. It was true that I was thinking more superficially rather than rationally about the present crisis but after giving a deep and serious thought, I felt more attached towards my present job, company and its location (Kolkata), for the first time I realized and understood that how much I loved my second wife.

And today, I got a call from Ms. JC asking me about the date of my joining with them. I was totally confused, disturbed and upset with myself. In the first place, I should not have accepted the proposal of the HR- Consultant. I knew, he was very aggressive, dominating, excited, enthusiastic and pushing type of professional but I should have behaved more rationally, firmly, maturely. I should not have shown any inclination or weakness towards any new job-assignment in the beginning. I know, it’s his job to influence prospective candidates for the new career-opportunity and prospects but that does not mean that I should have jumped in an unknown territory without giving serious thought. After all, it was related to my career, my family and future.

In short, accepting the proposal of the HR-Consultant was my first mistake, attending telecom interview was second, and going for the personal-interview was my third mistake. I should have taken a firm decision after weighing the pros and cons of the proposal and stick to that. No matter how big the offer was, if I didn’t want to change the job I should have enough guts to say a big no to them in the beginning itself.

Finally, the very next morning, I sent one regret letter to my prospective employer for not being able to serve them in this life time and also tendered my sincere apologies for all the inconvenience caused to them in this regard. Later, I also made a call to the HR-Consultant for all his help and assistance with a special request note appealing him not to send me any more interview calls in future or pester me again with another job-proposal.

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Sometime we land up at the wrong place, at the wrong time in the company of wrong people

I parked my car at parking zone opposite New Delhi railway station and rushed towards platform no. 14 to catch Shane-E-Punjab Express train. It was already 6.30 AM in the morning and the train’s scheduled departure time was 6.40-AM; since I had entered the station from Pahargunj side, it took me more than five minutes to reach platform no. 14. Thank God the train had not yet started but to my utmost surprise, after inspecting my ticket, the TTI informed me that the AC-Chair car Coach–C will be at the rear-end of the train and I must rush towards my coach. I started running towards my coach and started counting endless coaches and by the time I reached near my coach the train started moving slowly. I had just boarded the train, when someone shouted “Stop-stop” from behind. I looked back and saw one middle aged woman was running along the train but was not able to climb on to the coach because she was pulling one big trolley bag with her left hand and both her shoulders were occupied with laptop bag and big purse respectively on both sides. The train was still moving very slow, I just jumped down on the platform from the train, took her trolley bag and put it inside the coach and then took her laptop bag and literally pushed her into the train. Then I also boarded the train. Meanwhile, lots of people on the platform were simply standing and watching this drama but nobody came forward for any kind of assistance or help. Meanwhile, the train started moving faster towards Amritsar, the final destination of my journey.

I sat down on my seat and started reading my book. At Ambala Cant. station the train stopped and many vendors started moving around and offering, cold drinks, ice-creams, sandwiches, biscuits/potato-chips etc. Suddenly, I found one pantry boy handing me a packet of sandwich and 500 ml bottle of cold drink. I refused to accept it simply because I had not ordered it. But the vendor insisted me to take it but when I refused, he said: “Sahib, that Madam (who was sitting at the back) had paid for it and asked me to deliver it to you”. I got up from my seat, looked back and recognized her; she was the same lady who I helped in the morning to board this train. She folded both her hands and said: “Please accept it” I waived my hand back and said “Thank you” in appreciation.

At Ludhiana station, my adjacent seat got vacant and after few minutes I saw her standing next to my seat smiling; she asked me in Bengali: “Can I sit here?” I replied with a smile to have that seat. After taking the seat, she folded both her hands and wished me and pronounced her name: “Dr. Sutopa Sanyal”. I also reciprocated in the same manner giving brief introduction of mine. She asked me very hesitantly: “How do you know that I am a Bengali and by the way, how come you speak Bengali so fluently?” She asked me two questions in a row. I told her about the three types of bangles (Iron, Shakha and Paula) she was wearing which only Bengali married women wore, besides at Delhi station she was talking to herself in Bengali and as regards me knowing Bengali well, since I was born and brought up in Calcutta, by default, I learnt this beautiful language. I also told her that I could speak and read Bengali fluently but I can’t write; moreover, I also told her about my favourite Bengali Authors and their books.

She was amazed to know about my keen interest about Bengali culture, customs, language, literature and people. Thereafter we both started talking to each other in Bengali language; and all other co-passengers of the compartment were looking at us in great surprise.

Dr. (Mrs.) Sutopa Sanyal, 40 plus of age, was an MBBS, MD in gynecology from very reputed Medical College of Kolkata. At present she was a senior surgeon and visiting faculty at all the top Medical Colleges and Hospitals of North India. She was having her own Nursing Home in South-Delhi. Her husband was working in a Private sector Bank and presently posted as Chief Manager at Amritsar main branch. She was forced to stay at Delhi because of her job and commitment towards her profession. At the same time, she was having very big, satisfied and rich clientele base in Delhi, who always wanted her to be available to them for consultations. She has got her parental house in Delhi where she was staying presently with her aged parents and her husband was staying all alone in Amritsar in Bank-leased-Bungalow, for last one month. She took three days' leave from her work so that she could be with her husband, because he was not well. He was diabetic with hypertension and lately had also developed breathing problem.

I could make out that she is not happy in her life. Although she was trying to pretend that she is very happy, satisfied and enjoying her life to the fullest but her big beautiful black eyes were telling a different story altogether. She was five feet four inches tall, with very slim and very fair complexion. But the dark black spots below her eyes were very prominent, which were telling another story. Meanwhile, she started working on her laptop and was answering questions to her patients for ten minutes and later looked at me and asked me: “Are you married?” I told her with a big smile: “Of-course I am married and blessed with three beautiful daughters; the elder one is already married, second one is working as a school teacher and the third one is an engineering student”.

She was looking at me in total disbelief and was almost shocked and surprised and she asked me very hesitantly: “How old are you?” I politely told her my age but she could not believe it. Anyway, later our discussions progressed towards my wife, my daughters, my job, my travel and my favourite books. But, through-out the journey she did not utter a single word about her family and intentionally, I also did not ask questions about them. But I don’t know why, she was trying her level best to control her emotions, feelings, sentiments and last but not the least her tears and she became successful also in controlling her emotions in front of a stranger. She could not hold her secret for long and finally confessed with wet eyes in sad voice: “I have been given a task to give children to every deserving woman but see my tragedy; I have not been blessed with a single child of my own though I have been instrumental in making many women mothers. At-least, I have one consolation in my life that I have helped many women who could not conceive or produce a healthy child initially but with the blessings and grace of God Almighty, I have been successful in my job of helping them to have babies; today I have only one mission in life to do my best in helping as many women to become mothers as possible. So that they can have their due respect and regard in being a complete woman and a respected Mother in our society”.

We reached Amritsar Station at 2.15-PM. While moving outside the platform, I offered her a lift up to her house before going to my hotel. She wanted to go to Lawrence road where her husband had rented out a new bungalow. I hired an auto rickshaw and we both proceeded towards her new house. It was not very far off place from the station and we reached Mr. Sanyal's house within fifteen. After dropping at her house, I wanted to bid good-bye to her but she insisted that I must come inside and meet her husband, who would be very happy to meet with me. I could not refuse her request and followed her.

She rang the bell of her house twice but nobody opened the door and in panic she started calling her husband’s name first slowly and later very loudly. After five minutes or so, he opened the door and was literally shocked to see us both standing in front of him. She started shouting on him and asking for the reason of the delay in opening the door. He was standing in silence looking like a statue without speaking a word. He told us to come inside first and took out a water bottle from the fridge and gave it to her. He must be in his early-fifties, with a very fair, heavy and tall figure. This man (Mr. Subrata Sanyal) in a glance did not seem like the husband of Dr. (Mrs.) Sutopa Sanyal’s from any angle.

Suddenly we saw one very young, beautiful, smart woman coming out of the bedroom and rushing straight out of the room without looking at us or uttering a single word. Dr. Sutopa looked at me in dismay first and then at her husband as if she was going to burn him alive with her naked eyes. Mr. Subrata Sanyal took her luggage inside and started explaining to his wife in Bengali. But within no time, I saw Dr. Sutopa broke down and cried very loudly. It was tough for me to calm her and bring the situation under control. And then she started shouting in much louder voice: “You know something, I could not become a mother, not because I was not capable of bearing a child but because he was not a man capable enough to make me a mother but still I accepted his weakness without any regret but see today what he was doing to me. He informed me only yesterday that he was not keeping well and that he was taking a few days sick leave to recuperate. Worried I was and came rushing today to see him and to be with him but for what, to see his real face with my own eyes that too in the presence of my new friend”.

She sat down on the floor of the house and started crying uninterruptedly. I was standing at one corner of the room and her husband at another side. We both were in a dilemma being total strangers but today at this very moment we both were standing at the wrong place, at the wrong time in the company of wrong people.

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Sailing with the Tides

It was half past ten o’clock in the night and I had not yet crossed Karnal bypass on national highway. I was returning home from Patiala alone and that day being a Sunday, night traffic was not heavy, but due to the six-lane highway constructions between Panipat and Jalandhar cities, there were lots of diversions on the national highway number-one. I was driving very much within the speed limit of 90-KMPH and suddenly a dumper-truck loaded with stone chips stopped in front of my car and in spite of applying the brakes; I could not avoid the collision and hit the truck with a big bang. My car’s front-half portion was smashed very badly and gone inside the dumper; simultaneously the car-engine caught fire.

I was rather surprised that the car was burning, my body was profusely bleeding with deep injuries and wounds but I was not feeling any pain; how come? I could not make-out what was happening to me. In between lots of people had gathered at the accidental site, some people were running around and trying to put the fire off and few of them were working very hard to take out my body in one piece from the damaged car.

Suddenly, I saw an old man around sixty years of age, tall, fair, well-built, wearing very peculiar dress of an old Hindu god loaded with lots of gold and silver ornaments. He was wearing diamond earrings and golden crown which was studded with multiple gems and jewels. He was carrying one gold stick in his left hand and one book in his right hand. I could also see one chariot adorned with two very beautiful white horses standing next to the spot of the accident.

He looked like a very matured, peaceful and respected Angel (Dev-purush) and I saw him coming towards me. He extended his right hand to me and simply pulled me out from the car-window without any hurdle or hindrance. I came out in one piece standing next to him but I was literally shocked when I looked back and saw myself still sitting in that damaged car? I was surprised with wonders and questioning myself, am I dead? The person who was standing next to me, was the representative of Yamraj (God of Deaths) who had come to take me along to the paradise?

I was unable to draw any conclusion when the old man said: “Don’t worry my son, this was the time and place of our first meeting, and I am happy that we met just in time, you see; I am Yaksha Dev, my son”. I folded both my hands and bowed my head in respect and offered my Pranams, but simultaneously asked him: ”I thought, you must have come from Yamalok?” He immediately interrupted me in between and said: “No my son, I have come from Paradise. Remember, you often used to talk with me, whenever you were alone and you had asked me thousands of questions and I have also tried to give you my answers through various modes, means and methods from time to time but today, when you were calling your late father for help repeatedly, who had left you ten years back, I could not control myself and decided to come and meet you personally; that’s why I came running at this place to see you in-person so that we can talk face to face. I am willing to answer all your pending questions once for all; may be, after listening to my replies, it will quench your long lasting thrust and you will finally become calm quiet and at peace with yourself, my son”.

He was still holding my hand and we started walking towards his chariot and after making me sit he took his place and said: “Start with your questions my son, I am listening?” I was almost in a panic and was about to collapse seeing all this happening. I was wondering if he had brought that accident just to meet with me, in which my car got badly damaged and I didn’t know whether I will be back in one piece or not. On top of it, he was saying that he had come to see me and offer his help in solving my problems by providing accurate, correct and the right answers to my various unresolved questions? But was he really crazy, mad or insane, how could he do such horrible things to me and play with my life like this. Moreover, who gave him this right to interfere in my life, at the first place, damn it, who he thinks himself to be?

He said with a very warm smile: “I don’t need anybody’s permission to move around. It’s my decision, desire and wish, when, where and how will I reach my next destination. Therefore, don’t waste time on irrelevant things and start asking questions, my son, you are running out of time: come on now start, I am listening?”

What question, I don’t want to ask him any question; as a matter of fact, I don’t have any question, in fact I don’t remember any questions right now. I didn’t know what was happening to my mind and when I looked back and checked in my memory bank, I could see only a clean slate and not a single question was written on it. Some how, I tried to remember few questions with lots of efforts but without any success, nothing came alive in my mind as if I never had any questions in my life at the first place.

I have just fixed up my daughter’s marriage for October this year; I have to send my younger daughter for M. Tech. in Information Technology coming July; besides I have to admit my wife to the hospital for her sciatica treatment; my mother has to go for cataract operation ensuing summer and finally, I have to be at the services of my Rehnuma and Saheb ji, once again because I have promised them that I would come back and serve them in this life time.

I also have to meet my very dear friend in-person for the first time after so many years and last but not the least, I have to complete my book before the end of this year. So many things are pending, tell me my Lord, how can I die now; no-no, I can’t afford death at this very moment. I think there must be some kind of mistake at your end, may be some confusion at your office; there are so many people with similar names alive on this earth. Moreover, in my Punjabi community, even the father’s name is also similar and matching. Therefore, please check your records once more, thoroughly and then send a messenger; please for God’s sake, it’s my humble request to you, my Lord.

How can you be so careless, casual and callous, no you can’t commit such mistakes, my Lord, not at all, you cannot afford to make such blunders? You know very well that such matters have to be dealt with extra care, concern, caution and very precisely; after all, it’s a question of someone’s life and death, you can’t be so casual and careless, my Lord? I just want to remind you that you can’t be wrong in your calculation at the first place, it’s a serious issue and offense my Lord. I am sorry, but you can’t have this luxury, no chance, no-way my beloved God?

This kind of senseless and stupid conversation was going on in my mind and the Yakasha Dev was sitting just in front of me, very cool, calm and quiet. He was staring at me with his big, deep and sharp eyes. Finally he said: “Whatever is going-on in your mind right now is all created by you and to be more precise, it’s your illusion, misconception, notion and your own wishes that all the things should happen in your life the way you think right, but my son, life is not predictable, neither is it science nor mathematics. You can’t predict two plus two four all the time, but in real life it can be three or sometimes five also.

Nevertheless, I have seen you driving your boat always against the wind-pressure and flow of water; wasting your precious energy, efforts and time by sailing in opposite direction, which is very much against the nature. Please don’t do it, be with the Mother Nature, go and swim with the tide, pull-up all the anchors and the mainsail from your boat and let it be free from all corners, concerns and conditions, sail it free from all the fears and allow the boat to swim with the wind and you simply sit silently on the boat and just be a witness, just be non-committal and let the boat sail with the tide, and flow just flow with the wind, let it go, wherever the flow of water takes you, don’t stop for God-sake, just go with the flow. Surrender yourself in HIS hands and you will find yourself landed at the destination without any difficulty or struggle, trust me”.

“As a matter of fact, you will find the destination very closer to your place, but you were unnecessarily sailing in the opposite direction through-out your life, hence this lead to confusion, chaos, delay and total mess in your life. Although you were moving ahead in your journey of life, but in real terms not towards the ultimate destination; instead it was just quite contrary, as a matter of fact, with each step taken forward you were actually going two steps backward”.

He further said: “Therefore, just relax and accept his verdict happily you will always get HIS indications and instructions, just try to listen and understand his signals and you will find your life-boat sailing easily, smoothly and trouble free. You always thought that you were sitting behind the wheel of  your life-vehicle and can steer your life as per your dreams, desires and wishes but my son, the fact remains that you have always reached at the wrong place at the wrong time with wrong people, so to say; where you never wanted to be at the first place; and it becomes more frustrating when you don’t exactly know how to get back-home. You are still hunting that place which could be simply your illusion, wild goose chase or a stupid idea. Therefore, stop pretending, that you were the master of your life. Let the real Master do HIS job the way HE thinks it fit, fine and right. Therefore, don’t come in-between and create any hindrance, obstruction, problem and simply obey his instructions; stop resisting without raising any objections or question and you will be surprised to see all your problems resolved within no time and you will find yourself amalgamated, mixed and submerged with the universe; the way HE wants you to be, it is that simple, my son, welcome abode!”

Suddenly I found myself being pulled out of the bed and I woke up. It was my wife shouting: “Please get up, it is already 7 O'clock in the morning and you are getting late for the office”. I woke up with a jerk and found myself still alive and kicking!!! Was I dreaming? Oh no-no, but was it a dream? But if yes, then indeed a very good revealing dream! Thank you my Lord and thank you Yaksh-Dev for all the assistance, guidance and help. I bow my head once again for such a nice sojourn with you. Come again Yaksh Dev, I shall be anxiously looking forward for your visit soon, very soon, my Lord!!!

With prayers

Gurcharan

Few Unanswered Questions?

I was returning home after completing my last call of the day from Bawal Industrial Area, Haryana when I got a call on my mobile phone from an unknown number. Since I was driving on Delhi-Jaipur national highway, I could not take the chance to attend the call and disconnected it. Within next three minutes, I got five missed calls from the same number. Therefore, when it rang for the 6th time, I parked my car at the roadside and accepted the call and said: “Hello, who is this?” in response I heard my nick name spoken in a very heavy voice but I could not recognized the caller. He again said: “Charan, you have forgotten me, my friend? It’s me, your old friend Ramandeep Singh Grover from Calcutta”.

I got the biggest shock of my life, my childhood friend Raman, all of a sudden a very tall, thin, fair and handsome Raman’s figure came alive in front of my eyes and all the old memories started pouring into my heart and mind, one after another within flash of few seconds. In excitement, I even forgot to ask him his whereabouts instead I said: “where had you been all these years Raman, what a pleasant surprise, where are you calling from, my dear friend?” I asked so many questions in one go. He informed me that, he came in the morning to meet his client at Delhi and at present he is waiting at Delhi International Airport, his flight to New York City will take-off at mid night and therefore he wanted to spend some good time with me at the airport. Before disconnecting he told me that he got my mobile no. from my younger brother, who lives in Calcutta.

It almost took two hours to reach at the airport and after parking my Car I rushed towards the departure zone of Terminal-3 of the Delhi International Airport. I was frantically looking for Raman at the departure lounge but could not see him. I was about to call him on his mobile when a very bulky, fatty and a very heavy statured person tapped on my back; when I turned my back, I was literally amazed, stunned and shocked to see Raman in this condition, posture, position and status. Oh my God, is he my old friend Raman, what happened to him, he has put on lot of weight, must be weighing 100-KG plus with excess fat on his face, neck, hands, legs and tummy. But his face was having very bright smile and his nose, eyes, lips and cheeks were shining in the bright red color. He was wearing Gucci platinum frame with very thick bifocal pair of power glasses, Rolex-datejust watch, Montblanc pen, Louis-Philippe shirt & pair of trousers, Carton shoe and was holding in his hands ipad-2, Galaxy notebook and Blackberry mobile phone. Besides he was also wearing big diamond ring and gold bangle in his right hand.

His Samsonite-briefcase and American-tourister suitcase was laying besides him on the Airport-trolley. He was holding two soft drink cans in his hands and after hugging he was still holding me in his hands, he was staring at me and also laughing uninterruptedly. Meanwhile, he offered me one can of soft drink. Raman wanted me to go with him at the nearby Bar for few hard drinks but I refused by saying that, I didn’t take hard drinks or beer; after lots of arguments, we finally settled for coffee shop at the airport lounge.

We both completed our graduation in the same year and thereafter started our professional career in two different companies. He went to a healthcare unit and joined an automobile sector in Calcutta. We both were very good friends but we were poles apart to each other from all angles, aspects and aspirations. We were having different views in life towards everything ranging from our ambition, belief, dreams, goal, habits, hobbies, likes, ideals, love, dislikes, tastes, thought process, target, views and value system. He never believed in destiny, luck, love and religion, whereas, my day used to start with morning prayers at Gurudwara and it used to conclude with the last prayer of the day in one of the temples. We were a group of four friends who were regular on these places of worship except Raman who never used to accompany us at these places.

His rationale for not doing that used to be: “Only coward, lethargic and weak persons visit such places and wait for the miracles to happen in their lives. Such temples are flooded with cowards, defeated, defaulters and pessimistic people who does not want to face the world with their own caliber, capabilities, grit, power and strength instead they prefer taking short cuts to achieve success in their lives hence they take shelter at such religious places for comfort, safety, security and sympathy. The destiny and religious formalities are meant for disabled, destitute, poor, sick and weaker segment/section of our society who lacks confidence, courage and conviction to face the world with their own terms and conditions.

My friend Raman got whatever he wanted in his life but against a very heavy price. And to achieve his pre-set goals and objectives he exercised all the formulae, modes, methods, power, tools, strategies and schemes which he acquired and learned during the journey of his life. He never got scared of anyone and did what he felt was right at that point in time. He had no regrets in his life, so far. He became an entrepreneur at the age of 32. He was running a Healthcare company with the overall strength of 150 employee and a group turnover of Rupees 250 crores plus, having branches in all metro and mini metro cities of India besides five overseas branches abroad. He has divorced his wife few years back and having only one son as a family, who has completed his MBA from Stanford University, California, USA. At present looking after overseas operations of his company based at New York City.

His Branch Head of North zone draws more salary and owns bigger car than me. He has built a big Bungalow in Calcutta besides a farm house in the outskirts of Calcutta, having all the big brand of cars which includes: Audi, BMW and Mercedes. He visits abroad almost every second month for business and merry-making. His wife, after separation, lives with her parents at London; she visits India once a year during winter season to meet her only son.

I am finding myself in an absolute mess and confused state of mind. For few seconds, I felt as if my Life is going out of my hands. I was standing at a cross road of my life where right or wrong, Good or bad, Holy or evil makes no impact, impression and relevance on my day to day affairs/activities, any more. I have seen many of my relatives, friends and well wishers doing extremely well in their personal and professional life and earning lots of money and having fun-filled lives; they do everything possible with the money power, they go to discothèque, keep many social friends, enjoy late-night parties and don’t mind making easy/fast money. But I have never done any of these activities in my life. Earlier I could not afford it and later when I became capable of buying such luxuries, my ideal, principles and value systems came in between and restrained me to step forward on that road with a very Big-NO.

During our long conversation at coffee shop, he asked me few very probing questions: “Whether I still believe in my ideals, principles, value system and living under same age old rules, orthodox views, keeping conservative approach and living disciplined life under pre-set rules and regulations. He even asked me about my religious activities and thoughts”. At the end, he also asked me few very personal questions: “Have I ever tried hard-drinks or drugs? How many social friends I have in my life and finally: How much wealth I have generated for myself and my family??

Although I could easily answer all his questions with facts and figures but I preferred to keep quiet for the time being. He had already declared me an emotional fool and categorically told me that I was unnecessarily carrying weight of middle class etiquettes on my head. I was hundred percent confident that he will again abuse me, laugh and shout at me after listening to my straight forward, frank and honest answers, explanations and views. But I wanted this discussion to end with a happy note because; I was not sure whether we will meet again. But in this process, he has definitely disturbed peace of my mind and had literally engulfed me with his so called philosophy, principal and views of his modern-life-style.

For the time being, I stopped thinking, looked around and evaluated his philosophy with an open-mind, more logically, practically and rationally and within few minutes, I came to the conclusion that every person is free to live his life the way he thinks right, belief and trust and I am nobody to put any condition or question-mark on the authenticity, legitimacy, sincerity and sanctity of their philosophy of life, per say.

Therefore, I took a deep breath and within seconds I came back to my normal-self and in original form with the help and assistance of my will power, inner voice, strength and blessings of my Lord. I firmly believe in ethics, ideals, middle-class-etiquettes, principles and value system which were so strong that it has pulled me out of this dilemma and severe crisis without much hassle, hurdle and problem. Otherwise, I would have been in a real mess and could have been standing at such a cross road in a fix, which route to follow. Moreover, neither I have the interest nor any inclination to think otherwise at that very moment, I am honest about it.

But deep down in my heart, I know that I have got much more than all the materialistic life that he has been leading, everything so elegant, costly show pieces, and a wealthy look to show off. But a person like me who is at peace with himself will know and only feel sorry and sympathize with him that all his life was spent amassing the wealth, which no doubt brings material comforts that life can offer but gradually spent in maintaining physical health. But the actual freedom, peace, salvation and true wealth is available within us. We have to simply start inner-journey in order to reach our destination. So that we can become the part and parcel of the Supreme-Power, where our existence becomes non-entity and with the blessings of the God Almighty, we amalgamate with the Supreme-power and get released from the cycle of birth and death forever, Amen!

With prayers

Gurcharan