AND THE FAITH ECHOED (STORY)

Basic goal for Suniti was to reduce 5kg weight. She took it as a challenge. Health conscious Suniti made a walking plan of 4km, which would be 2km walk from her home to Shiva temple and back home. Rule was simple. If tired, halt at temple. Perfect plan to start with, smiled Suniti.

Next day, as a non-walker, she got tired and as per plan took a halt at Shiva temple. Suniti believed in the Divine power, but was not that going-to-temple-daily-type, or praying-regularly-type. She believed more in hard work and labor.

Inside the temple she saw a huge shivling, a continuous playing peaceful audio chant of ‘Om Namah Shivay’. The ambience was soothing. She also sat there like rest of the people sitting, meditating and praying.

Suniti saw, on the right side of her, a lady sitting. Her hair was totally white. She was wearing a white saree but surprisingly her face was wrinkle free and had a perfect glow. Suniti thought that if she sees this lady again tomorrow, she will surely ask her the secret of such a glowing skin.

Back home, at dinner table, Suniti told about her walking plan to her husband and son. Their son, Amol, was in class 8th, a very bright and intelligent student.

Next day, in the temple the lady was there. Suniti went and sat next to her waving a hello. She smiled back and said ‘Om Namah Shivay’. After few basic chit-chat, Suniti couldn’t control her urge to ask her secret of wrinkle free skin. That old lady smiled and said,”Not a secret at all, it’s faith in God, believe in self and satisfaction with what you got, makes your skin glow. And of course wash your face many times with fresh water.”

Suniti was disappointed,” What are the beauty products for, if it is that simple, this lady doesn’t want to share her secret, so is telling anything abstractly.”

That old lady guessed her thoughts and said,” Wait, one day you will also believe in the power of God, you will decode the secret of self. Till then try chanting ‘Om Namah Shivay’.”

Days passed, Suniti started shedding weight, got use to, infact got friendly with the old lady. Something charming was there in her personality, that appealed Suniti.

One day she was about to leave the temple when her husband called and asked her to reach Fortis hospital immediately as their son had met with an accident.

Suniti felt her body clench up, and something cold rippled up her spine. An unbearable pain started spreading all over her body. Her only son, her life, her Amol was in hospital. She somehow dragged her body to the hospital.

In front of ICU, she realised her son was sinking. She could feel the words of doctors, her husband, friends and of relatives, floating above her. She felt paralysed.

Two days passed, two major operations, but no response, life seemed to play hide and seek with Amol. Her tears had lost control and were flowing nonstop. The team of best doctors were helpless.

Suniti suddenly remembered the old lady’s words and challenged God,” If you are really there, give me a proof, I will chant your name nonstop, show me your existence.”

Suniti sat in front of ICU and started chanting,’ Om Namah Shivay’. Day to dusk, nothing could move her, no food, no rest, she went on chanting. Doctors told her to stop all this as her son was already in coma. His chances of survival were nearly nil. Her husband also pleaded to stop, but all the efforts went in vain. They forcibly inserted the IV fluid in her. Meanwhile the old lady and other devotees started chanting Mahamrityanjay chant for Amol, in the temple.

Two nights past, Suniti could feel a strange light around her. She exclaimed, “Is it you God? Are you here to save my Amol?”

No response came but she could see that divine light entering the ICU, Suniti dragged herself with the IV fluid to the room. She could see Amol covered with a blue light all over.

“I can feel you, I can feel your presence, ” screamed Suniti. “You are there, oh you are there God,” Suniti started wailing like a mad women.

Next day this miraculous news that how Amol was saved by doctors, how he got back his life by the new advanced technology, and his mother’s faith in God, was in newspapers.

But Suniti knew, infact every one knew that God is still the supreme power. Suniti rushed to the temple, hugged the old lady and instead of saying anything, went on uttering ‘ Om Namah Shivay’. Her faith in God cemented deep in her heart.

It was a new life for Amol, so after the puja in temple, they had a party in the home. All the ladies were surprised to see the glow on Suniti’s face. They asked the secret and Suniti repeated instantly,” Not a secret at all, its faith in God, believe in self and satisfaction with what you got, makes your skin glow. And ofcourse wash your face many times with fresh water.”

Some puzzled, some surprised and some confused looks made Suniti, recall everything.

Faith doesn’t make sense, that’s why it makes miracles. Feed your faith and doubts will starve to death.
OM NAMAH SHIVAY !!