The ray of light

The Divine Birth'

"The Divine Arrival"

The cool morning breeze entered through the half-open windows, carrying the soft fragrance of marigold and jasmine. The room was dimly lit by flickering oil lamps placed in front of the idols of Radha and Krishna. Jaya, dressed in a simple saffron saree with a white border, sat on her knees in front of the home temple in Mathura. Her hands folded in deep prayer, eyes closed, lips muttering fervent mantras, her heart was heavy with concern.

**Jaya (whispering, her voice trembling):** "Hey Radhe Krishna, meri Bela aur us bacchi ko apni sharan mein rakho. Sab kuch theek se ho jaye, yeh samay bahut kathin hai."

The idols of Radha and Krishna seemed to glow softly in the golden light, as though silently reassuring her. Her husband, Jai Prakash, sat behind her, a tall man with silver hair and a face etched with years of wisdom and experience. He silently watched his wife, sharing her anxiety, but staying calm. His sturdy frame was a reflection of his resilience and faith, but even he couldn't escape the nerves of becoming a grandparent for the first time.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, Anand Yadav, their only son, paced restlessly outside the operation theatre of a renowned hospital. His tall, lean frame, dressed in a crisp shirt and formal trousers, contrasted sharply with the turbulence in his heart. His brow was furrowed, hands clutching each other tightly behind his back. Every scream from his wife Bela, coming from the other side of the OT doors, sent a chill down his spine.

**Anand (anxiously murmuring to himself):** "Hey Krishna, sab thik rakhna... Bela aur hamari beti dono ko bacha lena. Kuch galat nahi hona chahiye."

His best friend, Vivek, stood beside him, a few inches shorter, wearing a simple kurta-pajama. Vivek, always the calm in Anand's storm, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

**Vivek (softly):** "Anand, tension mat le yaar. Doctor ne kaha tha sab thik hoga. Trust in God."

Anand nodded, though his mind was racing. He couldn't erase the sounds of Bela's pain from his head. Each passing second felt like an eternity. The sterile white walls of the hospital seemed to close in on him. But just when the tension reached its peak, a loud, shrill cry of a baby pierced through the air, silencing everything. Anand stopped pacing. His heart pounded in his chest as a wave of emotions washed over him. Vivek smiled, shaking his friend's shoulder with excitement.

**Vivek (cheerfully):** "Mubarak ho, bhai! Tum papa ban gaye!"

Anand stood frozen, the enormity of the moment hitting him like a tidal wave. He couldn't move or speak, just stared at the door, waiting for confirmation. Moments later, the doctor stepped out, a warm smile on her face.

**Doctor (smiling):** "Congratulations, Anand ji. It's a girl!"

For a second, everything around Anand froze. He blinked, trying to process the words. A daughter. His daughter. His legs felt weak, and for a moment, he remained still, as if the gravity of fatherhood had paralyzed him.

**Vivek (laughing as he shook Anand):** "Anand! Anand! Ajeeb aadmi hai tu, chal ab andar chal."

Anand snapped out of his trance and turned to the doctor, his voice still shaky.

**Anand (nervously):** "Bela... Bela kaisi hai?"

**Doctor (reassuringly):** "Woh bilkul theek hai. Thodi der me aap dono unhe dekh sakte hain."

Anand breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. When the nurse finally called him in, he stepped into the room where Bela lay on the bed, exhausted but glowing. Her face, framed by her loose, messy hair, radiated a serene warmth. Anand's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at her and then at the small, delicate baby wrapped in white lying in the cradle next to her.

**Bela (in a faint voice, smiling as she looked at him):** "Anand, dekho humari beti..."

Anand took slow, measured steps towards the cradle. His hands trembled as he picked up the tiny bundle of joy. The baby was fast asleep, her tiny fists clenched, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Anand looked at her with awe, as though he held the universe in his arms.

**Anand (whispering to himself):** "Meri beti..."

The room was filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and love. Bela, lying in bed, smiled as she watched Anand cradle their daughter with utmost care.

**Bela (softly):** "Shukriya Anand... tumhare bina yeh sab mumkin nahi tha."

Anand placed a gentle kiss on his daughter's forehead and then leaned down to kiss Bela's hand.

**Anand (emotionally):** "Shukriya toh mujhe tumhara ada karna chahiye, Bela. Tumne hume itni badi khushi di hai."

After a few moments, Anand excused himself to inform his parents. He dialed his mother, Jaya, who was still praying in front of the temple in Mathura.

**Anand (excitedly on the phone):** "Maa! Beti hui hai... Radha Krishna ke ashirwad se humari beti hui hai!"

On the other side, Jaya's heart skipped a beat. Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks as she clutched the phone.

**Jaya (with teary eyes):** "Radhe Krishna ka kitna bada ashirwad hai! Humari poti! Anand, Bela ka dhyaan rakhna... hum jaldi se wahan aayenge."

Back at the hospital, after two days of staying in recovery, Anand, Bela, and their newborn daughter were discharged. They decided to visit the ISKCON temple before heading home. As they entered the grand temple, the sound of bhajans echoed in the air. The idols of Radha and Krishna stood majestically adorned in beautiful garlands. Anand and Bela, holding their daughter in their arms, felt a deep sense of peace as they stepped forward for darshan.

**Anand (whispering):** "Yeh sab unhi ka diya hai, Bela. Radha Krishna ki daya hai humpar."

However, a lingering worry still clouded their hearts. Their daughter had not yet smiled or opened her eyes since birth. Anand and Bela had consulted the doctor, who reassured them that she was just a little weak and would be fine in a few weeks. But standing before the idols of Radha and Krishna, the tension still gnawed at them.

As they stood in front of the deities, something miraculous happened. Their daughter suddenly stirred in Anand's arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes for the first time, and a faint smile formed on her lips. Anand and Bela gasped in disbelief. It was as though she had been waiting for this divine moment to reveal herself to the world.

**Bela (in awe):** "Anand... dekho, woh muskura rahi hai... apne aankhein khol di usne!"

Anand stared in astonishment, his heart filled with an indescribable emotion. Just as they approached closer to the idols, the garlands from both Radha and Krishna's statues fell onto their daughter, as if the divine couple themselves were blessing the newborn.

The entire temple went silent for a moment, and everyone around them watched in awe. It was a sight too surreal to believe. Anand and Bela looked at each other, speechless. Before they could comprehend what had just happened, a tapasi (hermit) dressed in simple saffron robes appeared from the crowd. His long white beard and sharp, wise eyes gave him an otherworldly presence. He gently took the baby from Anand's arms and looked into her eyes, smiling.

**Tapasi (mysteriously):** "Yeh koi saadharan bacchi nahi hai... iske aane se kuch bada hone wala hai."

Anand and Bela exchanged confused looks as the tapasi handed their daughter back, a cryptic smile on his face. Without another word, he turned and walked away into the crowd, leaving behind an air of mystery. What did his words mean? Why had their daughter been chosen for this divine moment?

As Anand and Bela stood there, still absorbing everything that had happened, they couldn't shake the feeling that their daughter's arrival was more than just a blessing—it was a sign of something much larger yet to unfold.