The
Gustad family were chatting happily as they drove towards Pak Iranshah ,
Udwada. Gustad was driving with Jeroo by his side and Soli was sitting
comfortably in the back seat resting his right elbow on some bags and petting
Buster , the stray he had rescued from the street when he was just 1 month old.
“You
turn 26 today Soli”, said Jeroo fondly as she turned in her seat to look at her
son and held his hand affectionately, “you have a good job now so ave koi saari
chookri joi ne panni ja” ( so find a nice girl and get married ). Gustad smiled
and decided to be a silent observer to the conversation between mother and son.
“
Don’t start that again mom, you’ve been saying that since the last two years”
said Soli. “I’m in no hurry, I’ve just started paying my EMI’s for the flat I
booked and it’ll be at least two more years before the builders give us
possession. I would prefer to get married AFTER I have my own house, if you
don’t mind mom, please don’t rush me because you want to see me married off.
And as I’ve told you all, my appraisals are due next month , by March I may get
promoted to Area Manager, there’s so much happening on my career front and all
you can think of is marriage”. Then as he saw a tear roll down Jeroo’s eye he
softened up, bent forward, put his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek…”
my sweet mom”…… and Jeroo smiled.
Buster
loved Udwada , specially the open spaces he could romp about in. Also the
campus of the Dharamshala was huge and the owners and staff recognized him and
played with him every time he visited . He loved to show off some tricks Soli
had taught him painstakingly over the years. That is what endeared him to
everyone around the place. He was well trained and very affectionate and
obedient. While the Gustad family visited
Pak Iranshah , Buster was pampered by the owner and staff and of course
…… he loved it.
As
they reached Udwada late evening, the owner came out hugged Gustad and Soli,
wished Jeroo and led them to their room.
Dinner was ready and just before serving it the owner, Keka , marched in holding a huge birthday cake,with
‘Happy Birthday Sohrab’written across its’ face. The Gustad’s were taken by
surprise and a bit embarrassed with this generosity on Keka’s part and thanked
him profusely for remembering. “ Sohrab has been coming here with you since he
was a child, Gustad and Jeroo I’ve known
both of you since your first visit here after your wedding, in your fiat taxi.
Soli is like a son to me, I have some rights too don’t I?”said Keka, as he
thrust an envelope with Saal Mubarak written on it in Soli’s hand and hugged
him affectionately. Gustad and Jeroo smiled as they opened their bag and pulled
out a gift they had carried for Keka. “This is for you Keka” they chorused as
more hugs were exchanged. Buster was darting around the campus and when he was
satisfied he had covered all the corners, went to Keka’s reception counter and
started licking his hand. A guest who was just checking- in with his family
asked Keka “ Ai kutro kadto to nathi?” ( hope this dog doesn’t bite)? “ Te
tamara chaal chalan par aadhar”( that depends on your intentions) replied Keka
as the guest’s 10 year old son came closer and began petting Buster, who licked
his hand right back. The guest and keka burst out laughing as they climbed the
wooden staircase leading to their room.
Morning
8 am, and Soli was ready to visit Pak Iransha. He wanted to go in early as he
loved the ambience inside and would wait for his parents there to join him. As
he bought the sukhad ( sandalwood) and paid for the divas ( lamps), a mounting
sense of peace enveloped him. Also he felt something BIG in his life was about
to occur, but could not place a finger on it. As he entered the main hall of
prayer he bowed to the holy fire and offered the sukhad in the thali (tray)
kept for the purpose. Moving back he turned right towards a large window with
brass bars running vertically where he could pray to the holy fire and also see
it directly. Then he felt and saw the brightest white light surround him from
head to toe. He felt complete peace and harmony as he uttered “ Thank you Atash
Padshah Sahib for everything you have given us”. He was beginning to feel some presence
above his head and he looked up straight up directly into the bright white
light. Then he saw an image of an angel holding a bow and arrow aimed at his
heart. The angel descended to the carpet of the holy temple and embraced Soli
with her wings. Soli felt completely awed but wanted this angel to hug him
eternally. A while later the angel and the light rose above his head and he saw
them move to the right. They then
hovered above a girl who was praying with her eyes firmly shut and who
was standing a little ahead of Soli, so he could’nt see her face. The girl was
not aware of the angel’s presence or the white light, but Soli could see both.
Soli was surprised to hear the girl utter exactly the same sentence he had just
said….“ Thank you Atash Padshah Sahib for everything you have given us”, and
she was just repeating this over and over again. Soli looked up at the angel
and they smiled at each other. The Angel’s words rang out in his ears…” This is
your future wife” as the light and angel faded away. They were the only two
people standing in the prayer hall. Out of sheer curiosity Soli ventured
forward to look at the girls’ face clearly. She was beautiful, and with the
mathoobanoo ( head scarf worn by Parsi Irani Zoroastrian women) she looked
exactly like the angel he had just seen. He felt nervous and his palms began to
sweat as his hands trembled. There was still nobody else in the prayer hall as
they both stood together, the girl still repeating the same sentence of
thanksgiving. Soli sat down on the carpet as he could no longer stand. Just
then Gustad and Jeroo arrived followed by the girl’s parents. Jeroo could sense
Soli was disturbed, and as soon as she finished her thanksgiving prayer led him
out of the hall into the next room , where she seated him on a huge wooden
bench.
Gustad
joined them a few minutes later. Soli had regained his composure now and taking
a deep breath told his parents……” Mom Dad the girl I want to marry is the one
praying inside” as he explained the sequence of events to them both.
After
she got over the initial shock Jeroo was delirious, she sneaked into the prayer
hall to have a glimpse of her destined future vahumai ( daughter-in-law). When
she saw the girl she wanted to hug her and just carry her away. She came out
excitedly and told Gustad, “her name is Shireen, I heard her mother call her by
her name…. she is beautiful, just go have a look at her, she is soooooo
beautiful”. Gustad felt a bit foolish but nevertheless , did as he was told.
Joining his family on the bench he wondered
out loud “pan apre pehle vaat karvi padse” I just don’t know where to start (
but first we will have to talk it out with her parents and find out all the
details) ?
“ Leave that to me!!!”……… boomed God’s voice
in the room.
And
the Gustad’s fell on their knees and uttered together “ Pak Dadaar AhuraMazda
tamara lakh lakh sugraana” ( God thanks a million times for everything you have
done for us).
The
Gustad family returned to the dharamshala. All three were relaxed and on their
own trips. Soli was thinking of the angel and the girl “so her name is Shireen”.
Jeroo was confident God would intervene, but in what way? she was agonizing.
Gustad was more or less on the same frequency as his wife Jeroo “ How should we
broach the subject? Where are they from? What if she is already married? Soli
will be heart broken!”. Buster came panting as he saw his family return from
the fire temple and went on to lick Soli’s hand happily.
It
was time for lunch as Keka invited them to a special table he had laid out. He
had prepared the menu very painstakingly and specially remembered Soli’s choice
of food which was all there. “Jeroo, Gustad and Soli, as you all know I’ve been
a bachelor all my life, but my cousin who stays in Mumbai has a daughter who is
of a marriageable age. Coincidentally they are here in Udwada today and will be
joining us for lunch, sorry I took that liberty. Till then let me show you a
picture of my niece. Her name is Shireen!!!.”
No comments:
Post a Comment