Let thy Will be done....not mine

Sameer walked down the steps of the temple despondently, his mind in a whirl ......, everything was wrong with the world........his collapsing business, his creditors circling him like vultures.....there seemed to be no way out......

The path leading out of the temple ran past an ashram.......his eyes meandered through the small thatched huts which were built precariously on the edge of the river.....his eyes traced stillness .....amidst nature's rhythmic movement his eyes rested on a sadhu......great peace seemed to emanate from him....his feet of their own accord took him near the holy presence......

The sadhu was lost in himself......his beard snowy white gave his face a gentleness that made people confide their troubles in him......Sameer waited patiently.......
The timeless one gave no sign of acknowledgement.....as Sameer rose to leave....he heard a voice..."Who are you child"?.....

"My name is Sameer babaji.....I live nearby ......"
"What brings you here.....?" queried the sadhu

"I was walking back home, when I saw your ashram.....I felt this irrestible urge to come and meet the inmate of this ashram.....or maybe it was my karma which bought me here...."

"so you are a believer of karma....?" asked the sadhu smilingly....

"Of course babaji.....and I believe I have very bad karma......i am experiencing difficulties all around......what else can this be other than my own karma..."

"what do you want from me?" enquired the sadhu

"I have come to you seeking wisdom , I know that its only people like you who can conquer karma, I want to be one among you......Is it right for me to become your disciple??"

"You attribute me with powers I don't possess child......its not I who decide .....Its the almighty who is the creator of the play which we refer to as life, if its his will you will be initiated in the path"

"Babaji......If you don't help me then I would be very unhappy....you have to tell me explicitly a solution for my dilemma"

"Are you married , child?? Do you have children depending on you?"

"I have a wife, but she doesn't understand me .....her thoughts revolve around the children.....but I believe that her good karma will protect her in my absence"

"Whats her name?"

"Savitri, babaji......she is a distant relation of mine...I was forced to marry her....
Her mother died young and her father disappeared one day leaving me to fend for her"

The sadhu looked at him intently , as if trying to peer into his soul.....
"Allright child, let karma be the decider.......think of 3 things which if turned around will change your decision .....If by a week's time things are the same ......I will initiate you as my disciple"

Sameer rushed to touch the sadhu's feet....."dhanyavaad babaji......"

The sadhu lapsed into his meditations......oblivious to the surroundings......

Sameer returned home late at night, his wife and kids were already asleep......he slowly crept beside her and tried to fall asleep but could not.......though he had told the sadhu his decision , his mind was not at ease......how would his wife manage.......would she be reviled by members of his caste, his own relatives.......he felt tired asking rhetorical questions in his brain and left it to the morn to give him an answer......

The sun dawned bringing with it uneasy quibbles ......Sameer took a detour to go to his shop , on his way he encountered Mishra, his business partner rushing to meet him......
"Sammer babu.....its a miracle!!!!!!"

"What is the matter Mishraji, is everything allright?"

"It is more than allright , one of our default customer , made a bulk payment of his dues and also has roped in three more customers.....grace be to god.......now if only our creditors give us a bit more time, then we need not lose face in the community"

Sameer looked at him thoughtfully....."It is a miracle, we have been fighting with this customer since 3 years and last time we spoke he was threatening to take us to court, what could have changed his mind"

Mishraji excalimed "Sammer babu, why do you want to go into all that......the problems are over now...." he smiled....

Sameer remained lost in his thoughts........the entire day was spent in settling remaining debts, calling customers , assuring them they will get their supplies on time....

Sameer returned home to find his wife in a good mood........she had cooked his favourite meal .....the kids clung to him.......


The next day his creditors came to his house early in the morning.......
"Sammer babu......we heard that your business is picking up and you have enlarged your clientele now, we would like to apologize for being so persistent in asking for money......"

"Please don't apologize, you people have been kind enough to believe in me and invest money...."

"Thats why we have come today......you need not return the money, but we request you to give us discounts in the wholesale purchase we make from you"

"Definitely Sethji.......I am indebted to you all.....I hope I will be able to return the goodwill you have bestowed upon me..."


"Definitely Sameer babu.....We take our leave....we will sit down one day to finalize the details..."

Sameer escorted them to the street , wondering all the way back......

There was something which did not feel right......he called his wife..."Savitri....."
she came rushing out......he took her by the hand and did not stop until he reached the ashram.....

the sadhu was cleaning his asan when Sameer barged in........
"Whats the problem child, you look perturbed??"

"Did my wife come here and request you to convince me not to take to the holy path....and was it you who convinced my creditors and business partners to help me?."

"I do nothing child......as I said before, 3 things you have to choose to decide your fate...."

Sameer exclaimed...."I will believe if god himself gives me a sign.....if right now it rains , I will believe it as the signal form god that I don't need to take to the holy path and my karma lies with my family"

The sadhu stood unaffected......sameer turned to leave .....Before he could take a couple of steps......the skies overshadowed by a passing cloud and a heavy drizzle swept across the place.....

Sameer waled back slowly , took his wife by the hand and left the place speechless....


Later that night Savitri came to meet babaji.....
"Babaji , Thank you very much for understanding my plight, if only you had not convinced his business partners and the creditor's my children would have become fatherless....it was because of your powers that unseasonal rains were showered upon us..."
Let your blessings be always upon me...."

"You attribute me with powers I don't have......though I could convince people......its his will that swayed the way of nature...."

"whatever may be the case babaji......you are my saviour......bless me "


"God bless you...."


The sadhu retired to his hut.....he opened his old trunk.....a small girl of 5 years peered at him through a black and white photograph......savitri was his only child.....if only he could turn back time and undo his mistakes......He had left her to karma.....today he had to make a choice again and this time he chose wisely.....

His solitary life had taught him the power of choices over the power of destiny.....
He felt complete.....his job done....he lapsed into silence....