Faith

We always want to have things to happen in a particular way.  It may or may not happen as we wish.  But certain times it will happen as we want. That gives us faith in Almighty and prayers.

It was many years ago.  We are new in the locality.  There are quite a few houses around our home –cum - nursing home.  I have cordial relations with neighbours.  They sometimes disturb me at odd times.  If I can help I would, otherwise direct them what to do or where to go.  I never go for a family visit for medical care.  One day a gentleman, residing in the neighbourhood had come to me at about 11 AM.  He requested me to visit his uncle’s house which is also in my neighbourhood.  He said that his uncle’s mother seems to be dead and wanted me to asses the condition.  I couldn’t say no.  From his voice and expressions I could understand that the woman is dead and they just need confirmation by a doctor.  I went to his uncle’s house along with him.  His uncle, aunt and another woman were waiting for me without any expressions in their faces.  His aunt told me that, her “mother-in-law just had her break fast and lied on the table.  I wanted to talk to her but she did not respond and we moved her and thought she is lifeless”.  I saw a woman lying on wide long table that is used either to sit or sleep.  The woman was still, lying on her back, her mouth half open and eyes partially closed.  I took her hand and tried to feel the pulse and at the same time watching for her chest movements to know the respiration.  Pulse could not be felt.  I put two fingers near her nostrils to feel respiration.  It wasn’t there.  Then I auscultated for heart sounds without any positive result.  Finally checked eyes throwing torch light and see for pupils which are irreversibly fully dilated on death.  I told that there are no signs of life in her, death had occurred less than an hour ago, and I walked out.  To announce a death is sometimes part of my profession, but this is always depressing.

  After two months or so once again this same man had come to my home in the morning at about 9 AM.  At that time I was in my spiritual activity.  He again requested me to come to another relative’s house that is right in front of our house across the road.  There also I have to confirm death of an old lady in the family.  I was the only doctor around at that time and did not know how to refuse.  I only prayed God that the woman should be alive.  I was scared to become a death declaring doctor in the locality.  All the way to their home I was praying that the woman should be alive, let death be postponed till later in the evening, when my husband will be at home and declare it.  When I entered the house an old lady was lying on sleeping table.  One of the family members told me that the woman lying on table is her mother-in-law; she is suffering from cancer which affected her brain also.  For the past few minutes she is not responding to them and not taking respiration.  I tried to feel for the pulse.  As I was checking for pulse there was the woman gasped. I was glad to see that.  I could feel the pulse too, which is feeble.  The woman had taken another gasp.  And then I could see her heavy respiratory movements.  I told them she is alive and in coma, to take her to Medical college hospital for treatment.  They were all silent and I walked out happily.   Late in the afternoon my husband was called, and he had declared death. 

I don’t think that the woman was dead when they called me.  May be there was transient respiratory arrest from which she recovered spontaneously.  But this incident reinforced my faith in prayer and meditation.                                                     

Incident - Coincident

Life is a continuous process.   Many incidents happen, people enter and walkout of our life.  Everything does not go as we plan.  But many times we get the results we want.  As long as we are clear in our conscience and work for better future, things turn out the way we desire.  I believe everything is in our thinking and doing it right.  Every moment is auspicious and every act done in good faith gives good results.

When my daughter was over two years I bought a slate and chalk and kept it in my room.  I had plans to start her ‘aksharaabhyaasam’ on auspicious day at a temple in our town.  Being professional women, I would leave my daughter in the care of my mother-in-law and other members in the joint family.  Then my husband’s youngest brother was about seventeen years and doing his intermediate.  He would stay at home and play with my daughter and take care of her along with mom.  He saw the slate and chalk piece in my room and enthusiastically started teaching my daughter ‘ABC’ one day.  When I came home he was making her write on the slate.  I was bit upset, but did not say anything.  I only thought that if that is destiny let it take its own path.  Later that year, In June 1988, I admitted my daughter into a school.  This was about 4 km from our residence.  She has to go by school bus.  My husband’s cousin was also studying in the same school in higher section.  She would take care of her, in the school bus while coming and going, and also in the lunch hour help to eat her meal.  She did take care of her all the three years, until she passed out her SSC and gone to different college.

 18-6-1988

Early days of schooling were painful to my daughter.  She would feel difficulty in waking up early when she had school and be awake early when it is a holiday for the school.  Later on slowly she started taking interest in her studies and did well in the class.  She later entered into engineering and had to be sent out to capital city for education.  There was lot of discussion to send a girl out to a city.  There were so many objections from different quarters.  My answers to all those finally helped her to land in city.  She utilized the opportunity provided to her and finally had chosen to do doctorate in USA.  Again, as usual, there were different views about sending her to far off place.  This time she herself decided to go ahead with her decision and I was there for support and encouragement.  The place she had chosen is where her uncle was staying.  With this we could rest in peace.

5-5-2012

 

Her uncle who initiated ‘aksharaabhyaasam’ was there to attend her defense.  He was the proud family member to congratulate his little niece after her successful defense.  I told him that he deserved to stay there as he initiated literacy, and supported her in attaining highest degree.  I feel it is just destiny.  My husband’s little cousin, a software professional and mother of two was also living in the same city in USA.  I requested her to attend the graduation ceremony of my daughter and she readily obliged.  I was overwhelmed with happiness to be with these two persons, who had a role in her life, to be present at the time of graduation. 

Presenting his niece with pride

Everything happened is simply incidental or coincidental.  My faith in Almighty increased and I believe that destiny plans in a better way, and we should always do our duty.