THE DAY SHE TOUCHED MY LIFE
Destiny
works in mysterious and miraculous ways, silently guiding your footsteps to the
path meant for you, to learn the life lessons, you came into this
world for.
In June, 1983 I was working as
a Medical Officer at Ruby Nelson Hospital, Jalandhar. It was a Monday and we
were up to our ears in work, even as early as 9am. A call for me at the
reception, (there were no mobiles then.) had me wondering, as I hurried to take
it. I was surprised to hear the voice of a dear friend, Mr.D.P.Sehgal, President
of The National Thinkers Forum, of which I was the Vice-President, “Hello,
please try to reach the church in Jalandhar Cantt. as soon as possible. Mother
Teresa is coming to Jalandhar and will be at the church within an hour.”
As President, Lioness Club,
Jalandhar along with the office bearers of The Rotary Club, Progressive
Thinkers Forum and Jaycee Club, we had managed to get a suitable plot of land,
allotted for 'Shanti Bhavan' through the local authorities. All the formalities
were complete, buildings had been constructed to suit the needs of the Home,
and only the papers had to be handed over to Mother.
We had been requesting her for a suitable date. But this visit was
sudden and unplanned. I was both excited and hectic, suddenly having to raise
the bar in my administrative abilities. I had always been in awe of this
saintly crusader but couldn’t believe that I was actually going to meet her in
person. Although caught unaware, we rapidly made phone calls, in a chain
service and managed to call around 100 people to welcome her.
After praying at the cantonment, she came to the
church attached to St. Joseph's Convent, for girls. As she prayed kneeling by
the roadside on the graveled foot track, we all kneeled too. A good fifteen
minutes elapsed and in those few minutes I was soaked in sweat with the
overhead sun showering embers, as the day had advanced. My knees felt sore and I
was tired but was embarrassed to shift my position, as I was kneeling right
next to Mother. It seemed like sacrilege to do so, with her kneeling so
steadily, lost in prayer.
An old frail woman, short and
stooping, hunched over but walked with a determined step, as we stood up and I
guided her towards the car, to take us further. We had organized a brief inauguration
ceremony at the site of the building. There was tea being served along with
light refreshments, but Mother did not drink a glass of water even, during all
those hours. She always tried to pack in as much service as possible into her
day. People filed by, one by one. She smiled lovingly, blessing
them and I stood by, waiting patiently.
After everyone had met her, I
stepped close to her and asked her, “Mother, is there anything you would like
me to do?”
“Can you do two things for me?” said
this humble messenger of God in her soft whispering voice. I would have gone to
the end of this earth to fulfill any command of hers.
“Please help the sisters get a gas
connection. They have many problems cooking for the children on kerosene stoves.”
I was stunned and overwhelmed.
I had booked for an extra gas
connection for my hospital and had received the number just a day earlier,
after a wait of almost a year, which was the normal procedure during those
times. The connection card was in my purse, at that moment. I was surprised, at
the simplicity of her demand and her humility. I promised her I would do it
immediately, wondering how she had asked for something literally in my hands.
At that time I had no understanding about the synchronicity of events, and how the
universe conspires to nudge you towards fulfilling certain actions, meant to
propel you forwards on your spiritual journey.
“Now, the second thing I want from
you is that, you do not conduct abortions. If there are any unwanted children,
please give them to me.”
(Conducting MTP’s( medical
termination of pregnancy) was an acceptable legal procedure and was being performed
by doctors as a routine. I too was doing this, helping my patients get
rid of unwanted pregnancies, as well as controlling the burgeoning population
of our country. Of course, the main motive was to earn money and the goodwill
of my patients. It never struck me that I was perhaps preventing the birth of
certain souls that were meant to be on this earth, at that point in time. My
conscience would hesitatingly try to raise its head off and on, but I quickly stamped
it down with the heel of denial. What ‘Karma’ I was creating, was something I
had no time, inclination or awareness to ponder upon.)
Mother’s words jolted me. Once again, she had asked me for something
that was literally in my hands. I gasped inwardly, nodding my head.
(Even as I write this I am getting
goose bumps, remembering the intensity of my emotional turmoil at that moment.)
While I was still trying to recover,
as her words sank in, she stepped towards me, holding both my hands in her
small bony, gnarled ones and kissed them. I just froze and that moment is frozen in my memory forever. She
had a sparkling twinkle in her smiling crinkled eyes, lighting up her deeply
wrinkled, kindly face as she looked up at me. Something inside me shifted at
that moment and I never again was the same person.
***********
Afterword:
I stopped conducting MTP’s after this incidence. Many an
unwanted child, born in my hospital, was given to Shanti Bhavan, where I used
to look after the children as well as the nuns. These children were quickly
adopted by needy couples and my heart fills with joy and peace when I see them
leading happy meaningful lives, growing up in a family and blessed with
everything.
A little later I
met a severe accident in which I injured my spine and legs and was unable to
walk for almost a year. I was forced to give up practicing obstetrics- gynecology,
as my back did not allow me the exertion and strain on the back, involved in
our work.
Some colleagues asked me to work for them in setting up a
new infertility center. It was at this moment I realized, that life had come around full circle.
Before starting any procedure, I would pray for
guidance and thank Mother Teresa for having steered me on to this path. Every
patient that conceived was one ‘Karma’ struck off my list; thankfully these
hands were blessed with many such happy moments. Some day, some birth, I will
have balanced my ‘Karmic’ account sheets hopefully!
