The Exchange

A Prayer in his Name

She put on one of only suits she had taken with her and got ready to head to the mandir. If she left now, she would be back with plenty of time left before Maya's concert. As she was walking down the stairs, Kunal looked up from the dining table and asked her where she was headed. She told him she was going to head to Mahadev's local temple and would return within a few hours. Kunal looked at her skeptically, as he always did. She knew that a part of him always doubted her, thinking that she was running away...thinking that she would not return. Before he could offer his own driver, she told him she would go in his car and he could ask the driver to keep track of her if he wished. His expression finally relaxed, and he gestured for her to continue on her way. 

She asked the driver to stop by a local fruit stand so she did not arrive at the mandir empty handed...she wanted something to offer god in return for her prayer. And once she arrived, she walked up the stairs, quietly sitting down in front of the shivling, laying down her offerings. She folded her hands and closed her eyes, asking Mahadev, "Mahadev aaj aap ke sab se bare bakth ka birthday hai. Woh jaha kahi bhi ho, khush ho...theek ho...bas yahi chati hoon mein..." 

And with those words, she got up and started heading back towards the car. But, as she was walking, a panditji stopped her in her tracks. "Beta, tum theek ho na?" 

"Haan panditji...liken aap ne kyun pucha?" she said as she touched his feet for his blessings. 

"Beta, mein ne tumhe dekha toh mujhe lagha ki main tum se puch loon...pata nahi...kya pata Mahadev ne mujhe tumhare pas bheja ho..." 

"Acha panditji...kya mein aap ki koi madat kar sakti hoon jane se pehle?" 

"Nahi beta...bas meri dil se tumare liye ek hi duya nikal rahi hi.... koi hai jo humhe doond raha hai...aur koi hai jise tum doond rahi ho...ab woh din door nahi jab tumara milan hoga..." 

She started at him speechless, at a loss for words. She did not know what to say, what to respond. But, as if he had read her mind, he said, "Beta, tum jao... kuch mat bolo, mein sab kuch samaj gaya..." 

She forced a smile and continued on her way home... and on the entire ride back, his words rang through her ears..."Koi hai jo tum he doond raha hai..." Could it be true?