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.

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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!