The bright flash of light in Gustad’s home illuminated every corner of the four walls. Soli woke up first , then Jeroo and finally Gustad. It was 5am.
“Hello and welcome Lord…Thank You for being with us,” chorused the Gustad family lovingly at the Master of the Universe.
“ Hey thanks for the welcome , I came in early just to spend some more time with you all” said God. “ And don’t let my presence stop you from doing whatever you do to start your day please, as Jeroo adjusted her ( mathubanoo), head scarf quickly. She knew, God never stood on formalities but she was eager to make Him a cup of tea.
As he took the tea from Jeroo’s hand , Buster came and curled up at His feet. (Buster was the stray Soli had brought in as an injured puppy, now a fully grown handsome dog.) God loved to pet him as he spoke to the family He adored.
“ Sir, someone asked me the other day…….where does God reside?” asked Soli, as he sat beside Buster.
“ Interesting question” said the Lord. “ Besides in all your hearts, I love to be where man and music meet, where man and machine meet, where man becomes one with his task or passion. Let me explain…whether it is Mark Knopfler playing his guitar, or ustad Zakir Hussain playing the table, or Lata Mangeshkar singing, or Michael Schumacher driving his Ferrari, or Sachin Tendulkar at the crease. I love places where there is COMPLETE UNISION of the senses and the task. Sure music is my favorite, as it creates a timing and pitch of unbridled love for your very existence. So I am closest where there’s the sound of music. That is where I like to hangout!”
“ Wow” said Soli, “ that’s a revelation”.
“ Another frequently asked question about you , my Lord, is … Why do such tragedies as the Uttrakhand deluge or any other disasters occur? Why don’t or can’t YOU pre-empt or prevent these? Why are there such huge losses of innocent human lives?” asked Gustad, almost accusingly as he looked God straight in the eye.
“Good question, by asking me you have absolved all the negativity , read ‘greed’ ,of your own species- Humankind. Greed being foremost, then lust and finally assumptions. Most people , on achieving power start to abuse it. You have the power of choice… you know the decisions you take can either harm or benefit your ilk. But invariably GREED is the preferred choice and whether it happens in the long term or short, the results are disastrous……why only humans, you people excel at even killing and mutilating my creations who cannot even protest. Cruelty to animals and birds is rampant in your world, even mother Nature is not spared. Humans are increasingly becoming savages in their quest for evolution. Sure some of you are happy following vegan or vegetarian diets, but how many pause to think before they line up at a butchers shop or cold storage to buy their quota of meat or fowl? How many architects and builders consider climatic factors, soil conditions or the standard of construction material they use, before grabbing a piece of land and start building ?”
Gustad gave God a sheepish look as He asked “ Any more questions?”
Now it was Jeroo’s turn, “ Why forgive ? I’m angry. “They” wronged me, why should I forgive them? “they” lied, they cheated, why should I forgive them?”
God looked her in the eyes and said “ Forgiving is not a reprieve or a gift that we give to someone else. Forgiveness for another’s act or omission is a reprieve or a gift that we give ourselves. We are the ones who suffer the upset and the anger when we feel we have been wronged. It is our own blood pressure that rises when we hold onto resentment.Give yourself the gift of forgiving others, not because “they” deserve it, but because YOU deserve the serenity and joy that comes from releasing resentment and anger, and from embracing universal forgiveness”.
Jeroo felt awed at The Almighty’s propensity to plainspeak.
“And now let’s have some music…….. don’t worry nobody can hear it besides us”, as he snapped his fingers and Deep Purple played out ‘ smoke on the water fire in the sky.’
“ Oh please don’t look so gobsmacked, sure I love rock music too. Next one is going to be“Sultans of Swing” that’s Dire Straits- Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton. Any requests?
The reluctant writer 
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