Looking out the car window listening to some folk music on the radio Sumit asked his driver sabu to turn the ac a little low as it was burning outside . Even sitting on a car with temperature at 20*C  the outside environment was giving a tough fight to it .Its a normal situation in india in many of the states in between march to June when summer is at its peak and people are advised not to go out in the peak hours of the day . Although Working for agricultural department of India as an Aggricultural field officer has its perks yet you cant beat the heat of sun with that.
           

. Its been more than 15 years sumit has been working and in that time he has been into different remote places of India ,small villages where the people do not even have the basic necessity of life . Taking up a job as a government official and despite of knowing the fact that he will have to travel a lot leaving his family behind sumit took up the job as he had seen the struggle of a farmer in his family . he has seen his father rounding up money for his only sons education and asking help from people to pay up the college fees .Not having enough money to buy some fancy equipment or spend some money for the new chemicals coming in the market . Though his family conditions has been changed after sumit got the job but sumit had seen all the problems that people face in a lower class family having no financial backup and no help from government.

Sumit thought maybe going inside the system he can make the people/higher authorities understand what exactly is the situation on the ground .And indeed he helped a lot of people in that process of fixing up the system .He himself had to go through situations because of his bold and straight forward attitude with his superiors . Some of them liked him because of his genuineness and some of them hated him for the same .But sumit never stopped trying to help people as much as he can .

Sumit : Sabu da how much more time till we reach ?

Sabu : it would not have taken us more that 3 hours but looking at the roads condition it might take more than 4 hours .

Taking a long sigh and knowing the fact that he will have to sit idle for more 2 hours now sumit opened up his bag and took out the book he had brought and asked sabu to turn off the music . Sumit has developed this habit reading books on long journeys from the time he took up this job it helped him to chunk times on the journey . he has started developing a inclination towards the fiction genre books to understand the love for stories of his 13 year old daughter diksha .

          It was almost half n hour since sumit had finished reading 20-30 pages of the book  his phone rang  .His wife asha was calling . He put the book mark on the on which it was written happy birthday papa . Diksha had gifted this book to him on his last birthday. He was remembering that day vividly because he was out of the town that weekend and since diksha wanted him to come home that day but he was stuck in some work and couldn’t reach on time . it was 12 o clock at night when he reached home and diksha was still waiting for him to give him the present and wish him happy birthday .

     Amidst of the thoughts sumit picked up the phone .
Asha: Hi,Did you reach ?

Sumit : No it will take me more 2-3 hrs to reach .

Asha had choosen to leave her job to look after diksha since the accident .She could not leave diksha even for one second. Even sumit was having a hard time leaving diksha and doing his job and keeping a straight face despite of the thoughts of his little daughter not able to wake up from bed and not able to call him and tell him how her day went in school and what are the stories and characters she cooked up in her head .

Diksha had won multiple competition for story telling and story writing  on state level and had an incredible imagination for the stories and characters she wrote. She would call up sumit to make him listen to her stories everyday. No matter wherever sumit was he never missed a call from diksha even if he is working for long hours he always managed to make time for his little daughter . Sumit was amazed at the talent of his little girl . He used to brag about her daughter in all her office parties about how amazing she is .

Who could have imagined the little girl who wouldn’t stop talking to his father about anything and everything is now sleeping on a bed paralyzed and not being able to move her hand to reach for his father when he sits behind her and tells her the name of the new books that he had bought for her .

Asha:I had packed up some snacks for your way .have it

Sumit : yes will have it .

Every time sumit is away from home he always felt guilty for not spending enough time with diksha .Gathering up the courage he asked .

Sumit : How is dikhsu doing !

Asha : The nurses just left she is sleeping now , they have asked to dose up few medicines for the healing of her wounds.

sumit could feel the pain in asha’s voice . sumit had tears in his eyes too .

(

Sumit reached the place at 6 o clock at night , sabu had already asked the caretaker of that farmhouse buvan to arrange everything before they reach . buvan and his wife belongs to the same village . sabu only has arranged this job for both of them by talking to the previous officer before sumit . Sabu’s village was at one hour distance from this place and since buvan was there to help sumit out in any need . Sumit asked sabu to go home and check on his family as sumit .

Sabu left the next day morning asking bhuvan to take care of sumit if he wants anything. The office was at a 10 mins distance from the house that they were staying .Sumit reached the office and there were four other officials were standing with flower bouquet to welcome sumit . Sumit folded his hand as a thank you Niketan who was one of the officials introduced everyone to sumit .
Sumit entered the office and surprisingly everything was absolute neat and clean and as soon as sumit started going through the papers he understood the previous officer they had has done a really good job . Not all the officers are corrupt .few of the people like him who believes doing good for others wont take the advantage of peoples or government’s money . Sumit took a sigh of relief as he knew his life is going to be a little easy here compared to the other places he had been where he spent months investigating the mess the previous officer has created and instead of doing something for people he spent most of the time going from one higher authorities to another for approvals and plans .

Niketan came inside sumits office , it was almost lunch time . Niketen asked sumit to join them on lunch .Bhuvan’s wife and her sister was on cooking duty . Bhuvan and his family needed a source of income after he lost his only farmland to his cousins on a land dispute case .The former officer had given the job  and a place to stay to bhuvan in the service quarters with his family .He was really grateful for this and being an simple man as bhuvan he had done his duty honestly and the other officials were impressed with him too.

It was almost one week of sumit decided to take a small tour of the places surrounding the village . He asked bhuvan if he can show him around the area on this weekend . Bhuvan was happy to help sumit with his explore , sabu was back from his village . On Sunday morning sumit , sabu and bhuvan left for sight seeing . Bhuvan started talking non stop about the places they were going to . Sumit was intrigued to know all around the place . They have gone to few of the scenic places nearby and one of the reserved waterfall nearby which had sumit’s heart at once . Being so close to the nature sumit was feeling a little bit relieved .
after spending a quality time at the waterfall they left . as soon as they got into the car bhuvan told sumit .

Bhuvan: Sir there is one more place left that I want to show you .its one of the oldest temple in this area and people say its been there for more than 70 years .

Sumit : I think we have been to enough places today ,we will see some other time .Its almost 6 o clock now .

Bhuvan : Ok sir as you say .

sabu started the car to return to the farmhouse. It was supposed to take them 30-45 minutes till they reach .Sumit was looking out of the window staring at the dark forest that was running with the car on both sides .

The car suddenly stopped after twenty minutes . sumit was half asleep on the back seat as he was tired . he woke up and asked sabu.

Sumit : What happened sabu da !

Sabu: there is something wrong with the car sir , let me check

Sumit got out of the car and looked around he only could see the never ending road ahead and he could listen the soothing sound the trees were making with the wind passing by .

Sabu : sir its going to take some time for me to fix it .

Sumit : how much time sabu da !

Sabu: half n hour sir . you don’t worry I will make it as quick as possible

Sumit : You should have checked the card before we left . Anyway we don’t have an option will have to wait .

Bhuvan was helping sabu with some tools and stuff for fixing the car.

Sumit took out his phone , he wanted to call asha and check on diksha but there was no network. Sumit started scrolling through the gallery pictures.

He stumbled upon the photos that asha had sent of that day before diksha’s accident .

(The day of accident …)

He could not forget that day diksha had won yet another story telling competition in her school asha was there with her that day . Sumit could not join them but he was there on video call with asha through out diksha’s performance .She was so confident on stage and she was screaming out “daddy I won the 1st prize” after the event and could not stop talking all about the competition.

After the event asha and diksha went to a cake shop as asha wanted to celebrate at home once sumit arrives in the evening . They picked up diksha’s favourite chocolate cake .

Asha had booked a rental cab and they were waiting outside the cake shop . Asha was on phone with the cab driver giving her the directions to the place they were at . The cab driver asked them to come to the opposite side of the road as he wanted to save some time in the traffic .Asha held tight on diksha’s hand and they crossed the road carefully .Asha was always a careful mother and the best of people when it comes to handling things at home and at her work . She had managed to balance both her personal and professional life really effectively .
 

          It was over 10 minutes and they were still waiting for the cab .Asha was still on phone with the diver to give him directions and asking him to reach fast as they have been waiting for a long time . meanwhile diksha stared searching for her trophy that she had won . she realized she left it in the cake shop where they were sitting . She looked at asha who had went a little bit ahead to see for the cab .Asha looked at the cake shop which was on the opposite side of the road . Tough it was not a busy road in usual but that day there were a lot of traffic on that day .
She went ahead and thought to get it herself the and the thought of loosing her trophy has made her scared . She ran towards the other side of the road and in between half way a fast pacing car hit her hard on the left side , she fell down and banged her head on the divider of the road . Asha ran towards her and started screaming for help . the terrified and scared mother holding her child in hand asking some strangers for help was a devastating and a despairing situation for anyone to see .

Few of the people who were there helped her to reach the hospital . Asha was crying her eyes out damped in the blood of her little daughter and shaking in fear of loosing her only child was sitting In front of the ICU and waiting for someone to come out and tell her that dksha is ok now  . Meanwhile sumit reached the hospital as soon as he got the news . Seeing his dreadful eyes it was clear to understand what he was going through . He came and hugged asha .

It was 10 o clock in the night , the senior doctor came out of the ICU .sumit and asha ran towards him .

The doctor said “we have managed to save your daughters life despite of the heavy injuries she had , she has some serious injuries on the left side where the car hit her , the left side arm is snapped out of place  . She also had hit her head when she fell down so it has caused a serious brain injury which has put her in coma .and we are not sure when she will wake up from it “

It is a terrible situation for any parents to see their only child in this kind of situation . Asha was never the same after that .She left her job after that and she blamed herself for the situation everyday . She never left diksha’s side after that . she would sit beside diksha at night for hours and would keep looking at her in the hope she would wake up .Both sumit and asha was going through the difficult situation . Doctors had said the come could take months or years of her daughters life . Sumit was not working for almost four months  but because of his good reputation he managed to keep his job and he joined back eventually.

(Present day …)

Bhuvan came to sumit .

Bhuvan : sir it would take more time than we have thought . why don’t we walk the rest of the road . we can reach the place in half n hr .

Sumit took a sigh and having no other option bhuvan and sumit started walking . Sabu was supposed to fix the car meet them at their place .

Bhuvan started talking about the temple again , the rudra temple that he was telling earlier.
Bhuvan : we can go to that temple now if you want . its just 5 mins distance from here and we can take the shortcut from there to our farmhouse .

Sumit agreed to bhuvan .they reached the temple it was almost night , they cold see the light that was there on the top of the temple from a distance .sumit was amazed to see the unique and the defined architecture of the temple .they went inside the temple. An elderly person with fair complexion came out and greeted them with a folding hand .

Bhuvan: Sumit sir , this is biswa kaka , he is the pujari of this temple since 15 years

Bhuvan and Sumit touched his feet and Biswa gave him a warm welcoming smile .and asked bhuvan about his family and well being .

Sumit  was looking around the temple and he stumbled upon a person siting at one of the corner of the temple , wearing a pale saffron belonging , having long beards which had turned white .three lines were drawn on his head with ashes as the symbol of lord shiva goes by .He  was sitting with his eyes closed and chanting some words slowly and continuously .

Sumit decided to leave from there as he did not want to disturb him . He came to biswa and asked about the man .

Sumit: who is the man sitting at that corner !

Biswa: He came just before you reached. He wanted a place to stay for few days .he is an Aghori .

Aghoris are the kind of devotees of mahadev as its believed that mahadev himself was an aghori . The people who choose to be an aghori will have to leave his family and identity behind and look for a greater purpose for life .and live a minimal life in order to get rid of the negative emotions in life .Biswa added saying that they don’t speak much to us in general they stay away from human touch as much as possible , and they are believed to have some kind of connection with God as they put themselves through the worst and situations at all times to be with mahadev.

Though sumit was never to believe in God or any kind of superstitious talks that anyone has ever said to him . Going through the situation as he was in, he was ready to believe on anything that gives him hope of well being of her little daughter .Being a well educated and working professional people don’t believe in the superstitious things rather than they tend to search for the facts and science behind it . Yet there comes a time in life where you have some hope left behind with those superstitious things which talks about  greater and invisible power protecting us .

Sumit went inside the temple and folded his hand in front of the Shiv lingam (
Lingam, (Sanskrit: “sign” or “distinguishing symbol”) also spelled linga, in Hinduism, a votary object that symbolizes the God Shiva and is revered as an emblem of generative power. The lingam appears in Shaivite temples and in private shrines throughout India).

Sumit was thinking about diksha ,he had tears in his eyes . In the moment he closed his eyes and said “I wish nothing but to talk and play with my little girl again “ Sumit opened his eyes and bowed his head . he turned around to leave when he saw the aghori baba standing right behind him as if he was waiting for him . Sumit was a little intimidated to see him looking straight at sumit , but he didn’t say anything , sumit folded his hand to him in a gesture of respect and he raised his hand in the form of approval towards sumit .

Both Sumit and Bhuvan left for the farmhouse and it was late when they reached that night . Sumit went to sleep right after dinner .The next day sumit had to do a lot of paper works as he wanted to leave on the next weekend to go back to his family .

It was Saturday morning Sumit and sabu started for home . Sumit asked niketean to take care of the official things till he comes back . Sumit decided to bring some of the work with him and started going through the files on the way .

It was almost one hour since they have started their journey .

Sumit asked sabu to stop the car . as he saw the same aghori baba was standing in one side of the road . But what was he doing here on a stranded road alone ! is he waiting for someone ! Is he going somewhere ! does he need help !

Thinking about all these Sumit got down off the car and went towards him and folded his hand in front him .

Before he could ask him anything .

Aghori baba : I was waiting for you , can you help me reach somewhere ! I am on my way to a place which is one hour distance from here !

Sumit : Sure , please come with us . we will drop you there .

Sumit was thinking he might be travelling on foot for all this time .But should I ask him where is he going ! because he wanted to know more about him .he was intrigued to know about the culture and the traditions that they follow .

Sumit : Baba do you need some water !

Aghori baba: No thank you !

Listening to his answer ,and looking at him lost in his thought as soon as he sat down in the car just beside him sumit understood he was least interested to talk to him. Maybe he should leave him alone with his thoughts .
Sumit went back to go through his files again .

Sumit did not realize he slept on the way and he woke up when sabu called him and said .

Sabu : sumit sir baba is leaving.

sumit woke up and saw they were still on the highway road and he could see one narrow congested road going away from the highway maybe that’s where baba is headed to  .and he saw the baba was standing outside of the car . Sumit got down off the car to see him off and this time he saw the baba was smiling at him .
Sumit could not understand what happened . sumit felt some kind of warmth in his smile .

Aghori baba : Please talk to your daughter , she misses you .

listening to that statement before sumit could understand or reply to what he said . he had left and sumit was standing there and thinking how did he know about my daughter ! was my phone ringing ! maybe asha was calling let me check .Sumit was both confused and shocked to listen him.

Sabu : sumit sir , lets go or we are going to be late .

sumit looked upon the narrow road having thousands question in his mind he could see the aghori walking away . Sumit got back in the car and started searching for his phone in a hurry . He saw he had 10 missed call from asha .

He got too scared to call , is there anything wrong happed to diksha now ! and if its true yet again he was not there with her daughter in that difficult time .

He gathered himself up and called back asha .

sumit : Asha you have called so many times , what happened ! Is everything ok with diksha !

Asha : please come home as soon as possible , diksha is waiting for you .

Sumit could not understand but he could feel the happiness in her voice .

Asha : Diksha spoke today ,she gained her consciousness .He upper body became active , she can call me , hold me and talk to me .
asha broke down into tears, indeed those were tears of happiness.

Sumit was awestruck , is it true !or all this is a dream !

Asha tried to hold the phone for diksha as she wanted to talk to her daddy .

Diksha : Daddy , when are you coming home !

her words were not so clear as she was having difficulty speaking properly . But for sumit those words meant the word to him. Sumit could not speak for a second absorbing the feeling that he is able to hear her daughters voice again.

Sumit reached home to his little girl and he saw his little girl was waiting for him to hug him and tell him she is all well now .The doctors said her recovery is happening at a faster pace now , they can hope for the full recovery in coming few months .

Its been more than one year now , diksha is doing a lot better .
Sumit is still stumbling upon the question , how come the baba knew about my daughter ! and why would he say that she misses me ! and how would he know she got better !

Is this a co-incidence ! Maybe

or it is a miracle that happened in his life !

Anindita rath