Party! party! party! The word itself is surrounded by the idea of pleasure, drinking, eating, dancing and just sheer enjoyment. This is such a generalized idea. The reality is that it’s not like this always. You hardly get to go to this kind of party, the ideal party in our eyes.
This day was the 6th of May, when my family was engaged in preparing and collecting gifts as they had to go to a party that evening. I woke up late that day. stunned by the amount of preparation going on. Rather than looking for fancy clothes, they were looking for a simple one, that fits to the party and then instead of getting any home décor gift or those cheesy photo frames, they chose an idol of god for the purpose of presenting. Actually, they were trying to undo things, move away from what they had learnt so far and it’s funny, but the plight was clearly visible on their faces. How difficult it was for them!
I never minded that and continued with my business. In the midst of my comfortable holiday, my father came to me and asked me to get ready. I asked, agitated, “Where?”
“To the party,” he said.
“Which party?” I enquired.
“It’s your grandma and grandpa’s 50th anniversary,” he replied.
“it happened 2 years ago dad!” I argumented.
“Not them dear, they are my father’s younger brother and his wife. Don’t you know them? You used to play with their grandchildren, in your childhood.” he tried to convince.
“I won’t go. That’s a boring affair. I know nothing will happen there. What fun could two oldies do. You only go and enjoy the aloo puri and daal chawal. All the best to you” I said laughingly.
My father got very offended by my speech. His values of respect for elders interjected and flowed upon me for a few more minutes. He reprimanded me and now it was an order to get ready. I had no choice!
I reached the party and as expected, it had nothing to please. The old or rather grand couple entered. Grandpa gave a sweet and cute speech for his wife and their relationship. I expected Grandma to do the same in her turn. But that was not so. She made everybody sit and gave a speech that she wanted to thank god on her accomplishment of this day. What next, she called upon stage some musicians and singers and started singing hymns. I got to know that she was a great hymn singer and a devotee of Sai. At the same time, I was so frustrated by the idea that who sings hymns in a party? Where is the dance, the DJ? I had no choice though. But to sit and listen.
I was a skeptical person when it comes to the idea of god, and so, this whole thing wasn’t much appealing to me. I had no choice though. I listened to the whole program. I noticed that my grandma’s voice was so calm and soothing. By and by, I found that I was getting repelled from my own idea. It gave me a different kind of relaxation and some peace. It felt like this was something I was longing for. The center of my skepticism suddenly shifted from god to my own existence, my lifestyle. The aura created around me, the music, the beats, the words, the verses, the voices, the pictures of Sai all around the screens hit deeply not into my heart, but my soul. I wanted it never to stop. But it did.
I couldn’t resist sharing my experiences with my not-so-mine grandma! Later, some social welfare societies and groups gave their welfare speech and regards to the couple. I was stunned to see my Grandma’s contacts and how far she has reached with her passion. I no longer saw her as an old lady but a ‘new woman.’ The welfare society made everyone fill some forms. And the party ended in happier mode. I reached home. Unconsciously, I searched for some Sai hymns on the internet, and continued the tradition of listening to it whenever I was unclear or felt turbulent from within. I started appraising, praying, and thanking Sai every day. I felt he was somewhere around me in disguise. It was a soul connection and cannot be comprehended in justifiably by words.
Days after the party, we received a call on our landline addressing that we have won the lucky prize of visiting Shirdi for 2 nights and the whole expense would be borne by them. No, it was not a scam! It was the Welfare Society we came across in the party. The forms they made us fill were for the purpose of drawing a lucky winner out of the audience.
I could not believe that I was the lucky one! I felt that Sai was so near to me and directed to meet him. My belief in him grew stronger day by day.
25th August was the day. I reached Shirdi. I could not wait to get the sight of my lord. We went inside the temple. There were big queues of people waiting. Though I had the VIP passes, I decided to stand in the queue as I wanted to taste the pleasure, the pleasure of patience and waiting. This was the humbleness Sai brought into me. Finally, I reached there. I was so mesmerized by the sight. I kept standing numb for a few minutes until the security guard tapped me and reminded me that it was too long, and I had to get away. The air of Shirdi had something in it. I felt so positive, so calm like ‘this is something, I can leave the world for.’
The way things happened with me is no less than a fantasy. The party changed my life for once and for all. It brought me a lifetime experience, a journey from ignorance to enlightenment. Indeed, a party that shaped my present and gave me the basis of my future.
