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I Learned the Lesson the Hard Way
An Unexpected Reconnection
On the last day of the retreat at Sumay-uncle house i.e.: December 31st, 2016, I headed back home in the evening. After spending a couple of days at the hometown, I returned to my hostel at LPU, excited to reunite with my friends after a 20-day gap. However, amidst the happiness, I couldn’t help but miss my family.
As the days passed, I settled back into my regular routine. Mornings were for attending classes, and in the evenings, my friends and I would indulge in LAN games without much concern for academic improvement or our future careers. Our focus revolved around making each other laugh, planning trips, and exploring the college campus till late hours – in short how to make most of life even at the cost so much time and money which I am realizing now.
More than two months passed in this carefree manner, and life appeared normal and joyful. One day, my friends and I decided to go for an outdoor photo shoot. They captured some fantastic pictures of me, and I couldn’t resist sharing one of the best shots on my Facebook profile. The response was overwhelming, as I received numerous likes and kind comments from friends and relatives.
While scrolling through my phone that day, a notification caught my attention, arousing my curiosity.
Surprisingly, Pranshi gave my photo a love reaction and left a lovely comment. I wondered why she would respond so positively when I thought I might have been on her blocked list. “Well, this is unexpected,” I mumbled to myself. Feeling grateful for the response, I replied, “Thank you.”
Shortly after, I received a WhatsApp message from her, saying, “Hello! How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well. How about you?” I replied.
“I’m fine,” she responded.
Curiosity increased, and I asked, “What made you decide to text me after such a long time?”
With a smile emoticon, she answered, “I was thinking about you, so I thought, why not reach out?”After that, we engaged in a casual conversation, reminiscing about old times, sharing updates about our lives, and laughing at inside jokes. As the night grew late, we bid each other a warm goodnight.
A Heartfelt Confession
The following day, she initiated another conversation, and we continued chatting casually. However, there was a sense of anticipation as she eventually said, “I want to confess something.”
Concerned, I asked, “What is it? Is everything alright?”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for everything. I know I made you cry and caused you much pain. Please forgive me. I’m repenting now,” she replied with remorse.
Concerned, I asked, “Did something happen to you? Is there a reason behind your behavior?”
“I can’t tell you right now. Let’s talk over the phone, and I’ll explain everything,” said Pranshi.
“Sure. Call me tomorrow evening after I return from college,” I agreed.The next day, at 6 PM, she called me as promised. Once again, she sought forgiveness for her past deeds. I responded, “That’s okay. I’m glad you realize your mistakes and are trying to make amends. But you mentioned there was something you wanted to share with me.”
“Yes. I fell in love with someone. His captivating talks, jokes, and caring nature made me crazy about him. However, one day, when I asked him about our future, he revealed his true colors,” she explained.
With curiosity in my voice, I asked, “What did he say?”
“He told me, ‘I was just having fun with you. I don’t love you. You were just a time pass for me,’” Pranshi replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.After hearing her revelation, I remained silent for a couple of seconds, empathizing with the pain she must have felt, as I had been through a similar situation myself.
“And then, what did you say?” I asked, wanting to understand her reaction.
“I couldn’t say anything. I was shocked, and your face flashed in my mind. It was as if a voice from within told me I was experiencing the karma of what I had done to you. I had a moment of realization, and I knew I had to apologize to you,” she replied gently, acknowledging her mistake.
“That’s okay. What’s gone is gone. Let’s forget the past. We are good friends together now.” I said with a smile.
“Thank you. You are my cutie pie.” She replied.
I started blushing.A Reunion and a Promise
Following that day, our conversations became regular. We would frequently engage in video chats on weekends, and sometimes our conversations would last for hours. However, as my second-semester exams approached, my focus shifted towards wrapping things up and heading home. I eagerly awaited the completion of my exams, as I had a two-month break before the commencement of my second-year academics.
After making plans for an outing, I excitedly shared them with Pranshi, and she agreed to join. Finally, my last exam paper was over, and I began preparing to return home. The journey from Punjab to my hometown took two days. Once I reached home, I decided to surprise Pranshi by visiting her at her home. I knocked at her door, and when she opened it, her surprise and excitement were evident. She couldn’t contain her joy and grabbed my hands as if she had been eagerly waiting for this moment for a long time.
Upon the arrival of her mother and sister, I swiftly withdrew my hands. I greeted them with a warm “namaste,” and they seemed delighted to see me again after such an extended period. Subsequently, Pranshi, Disha, and I gathered in a room, engaging in hours of heartfelt conversation. They inquired about my college life, friends, and where I lived. Pranshi’s infectious smile never left her face, and I couldn’t help but feel overjoyed to reconnect with her after such a long time. After spending more than two hours I returned to my home. The next day, Pranshi and I went shopping and spent time together. We had a great time and really enjoyed each other’s company.
Surprising News About Gurudev
Later, I received a text from Sarthak, a friend of Sumay-uncle’s, inviting me to celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day at Sumay-uncle’s home. Excited about the invitation, I gladly accepted and headed to Sumay-uncle’s residence for the celebration. Upon seeing me, Sumay-uncle smiled and embraced me. He had a thick, dense beard that covered his face. I asked him the reason behind it. But his answer was not palatable to my ears.
Sumay-uncle explained, “I have grown this beard to honor Sachinandan Gurudev, who has recently departed from this world.”
Feeling a sense of sorrow, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to see Gurudev again, we engaged in conversation, and Sumay-uncle kindly inquired about my well-being. Later, I joined them in the kirtan and relished the sumptuous feast. He kindly suggested that I stay longer since I had a two-month vacation. However, I had already planned a visit to Kolkata. I explained this to him and also promised that I would stay at his place for a week before going to LPU. The next day, I went back home and started getting my backpack ready for the trip.
A Bitter Trip of Kolkata
During my visit to Kolkata, I stayed at my friend’s place, who was a local resident. Together, we explored some of the city’s renowned landmarks and indulged in the local cuisine. However, I didn’t quite enjoy the experience. The streets were filled with people smoking, including school-going boys and girls, which was disheartening to see. As a vegetarian, it proved challenging to find suitable dining options. Many restaurants were full of fish, meat, and eggs, which made it hard to find purely vegetarian food to eat.
I was staying with my childhood friend. We used to share everything to each other. One day while we were having a normal conversation, he inquired about my girlfriend, and I revealed that she had re-entered my life. However, his reaction was entirely unexpected. He became visibly angry and said, “What a fool you are! She has already dumped you four times in the past. How can you trust her again? She’s likely to repeat the same pattern.”
He was concerned about my well-being and wanted to protect me from potential heartbreak. I felt uneasy with his words, and I felt the need to defend my decision. “Look, what’s gone is gone. We can’t change the past,” I replied. “But she genuinely seemed remorseful for her past mistakes, and I could see it in her eyes. She’s asking for another chance, and I believe in giving people the opportunity to grow and change.”
He remained persistent in expressing his concerns, saying, “The problem is that you’re too attached to her, and I don’t think she’s good for you. You deserve someone simple and chaste. What will you do if she hurts you again?”
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I attempted to change the topic, saying, “Let’s not dwell on the negative possibilities. We should focus on other things for now.”After spending two days in Kolkata, I returned to my hometown. The very next day, I couldn’t wait to see Pranshi, so I went to her home to meet her. Whenever we were together, she would always have a radiant smile on her face. Everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly, and I couldn’t help but think that life had finally granted me the very thing I had always desired.
A Heart-breaking Confession by Pranshi
However, I noticed a shift in Pranshi’s behavior after a few days. She appeared unhappy and confused, which raised concern within me. I approached her and asked about the reason behind her sadness, but she remained silent, offering no explanation. When I texted her, she wouldn’t respond or reply with brief and distant messages, indicating that she was not in the mood for further conversation. This pattern continued for a week, leaving me perplexed.
Then, one night, she finally texted me as I was getting ready to sleep.She began the conversation by saying, “Hi, have you finished your dinner?” My response was equally casual, “Yes, what about you?”
But then she dropped a bombshell, saying, “Actually, I want to confess something.” My heart started racing, anticipating something negative.
With trembling hands, I replied, “Yes, go on.”
Her words struck me deeply, “I am sorry, but I have no feelings for you in my heart.” I took a deep breath and mustered the courage to respond, “If this is true, what were you doing for the past two weeks? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? You know how deep my attachment is for you.”Her reply came swiftly, and it read, “I apologize, but I was trying to revive our past relationship. However, I have realized that my feelings have faded. I hope you can understand.”
Her confession left me heartbroken. Overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, I set my phone aside and closed my eyes. Anger and sadness battled for dominance in my mind, creating a tumultuous mix of feelings. The urge to unleash my frustration and yell at her surged within me, but I held back, unable to bring myself to do so. At that moment, my friend’s earlier words echoed in my mind, reminding me of his cautionary prediction that she would leave me again, possibly with flimsy excuses. I felt the need to return to my university and be with my friends to take my mind off her.
Seeking Solace in Sumay-uncle’s company
However, I remembered my promise to Sumay-uncle that I would stay at his place for a week before heading back. So, I packed my bags and went to his home to unwind. During my time there, we spent quality moments together. Still, I chose not to share anything about my relationship with him.
Sumay-uncle and I visited Puri and Chaitanya Dandabhanga Ashram, which helped refresh my mind. When it was time to leave and return home, he advised me to concentrate on my studies and spiritual practices. He gave me the book Srimad Bhagavatam to read. Once home, I began packing my bags since I had just two days left before returning to university.
After returning from Sumay-uncle’s place, I decided to avoid getting into relationships and concentrate solely on my career and spiritual journey. But I couldn’t stick to my decision. Instead, I found myself making the same mistake again, and it led to significant troubles. I began chasing after money, neglecting my relationships with friends, health, & academics.
Stay tuned to learn about the wrong choices I made and the difficulties I faced as a result…
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Indulging in First-Year Delights: A Treat for the Senses
After meeting Srila Sachinandan Gurudev at Dandabhanga Ashram(Puri), we returned to Cuttack that very night. Sumay-uncle sat beside me, engrossed in chanting on his beads, while I gazed through the windshield. A sense of unease washed over me as if I were leaving behind something irreplaceable. I didn’t know what it was, but I felt I would lose something significant.
I stayed at Sumay-uncle’s house for a couple of days. During my stay, he took me to various places to visit. I finally bid bye to Sumay-uncle & family. They blessed me for a better career. I came to my home and started packing my stuff. My parents were reminding me to fill in all the essentials and not to forget anything. For the first time, I would stay away from my family.
26 July, 2016: leaving my home
Finally, the day I had to leave had come. I woke up early in the morning and checked my bags once more. My train was at 2 PM, so I had some time before that. Therefore, I went to see some of my friends to say goodbye. It felt like I was leaving everything behind. But at the same time I was feeling excited upon embarking on a new journey of my life. I had always dreamt of studying in a big university where I could get a lot of exposures. My dream was coming true but at the cost of leaving my family and hometown behind. My childhood memories, my fights with my playmates and all the good memories, they were all flashing in my mind.
It was noon, and my mom served me lunch. Before that day, I used to criticize her cooking often, but on that day, I remained silent. My mom stood beside me, talking a lot and giving me advice. She said, “Don’t wander around. You’re going to study. Stay away from bad influences.” Suddenly, her voice choked, tears welled in her eyes, but she held back her emotions.
Then my father said, “Son, it’s time to go.” I didn’t feel alone because my father was also accompanying me to help me settle into my hostel. My older brother carried my luggage to the car. My mom didn’t come to the station to see me off. She just stood at the door, waving her hand. I don’t know how long she stood there. We reached the station and waited for the train to arrive. One of my friends came to see me off. After a few minutes, the train arrived, and we boarded it. My brother didn’t show much emotion, but he smiled and waved. I received many well wishes and goodbye messages from my friends.
the journey begins
After sitting in the train, I started daydreaming about my new life. The following morning, we arrived in New Delhi. We found a nearby hotel to freshen up and rest. Since I had never been to North India, my father asked if I was interested in exploring New Delhi. This piqued my curiosity, and my dad spoke to the hotel manager to arrange a cab. I visited famous places like Lal Quila, Lotus Temple, and India Gate. In the evening, we returned to the hotel. We gathered our belongings and went to the train station, where we waited until 9 o’clock. I was exhausted from exploring Delhi during the day, so as soon as I boarded the train to Punjab, I settled into the upper seat and fell asleep instantly.
The night had passed, and my father hadn’t slept at all. He came to my seat and woke me up around 5 o’clock in the morning. The train arrived at Jalandhar railway station shortly after, and we got down. I had seen Punjab in Bollywood movies, with people wandering in yellow mustard fields, sporting long beards and turbans. So, I always had a curiosity to visit such places. However, as we travelled by auto-rickshaw along the road, I looked around and could only see Indian Army soldiers standing with their weapons. It dawned on me that I would stay near the India-Pakistan border.
arriving at lpu
After 15-20 minutes, we arrived at a hotel to freshen up. Then, we made our way to the university, where I had to complete the remaining admission procedures. We arrived a little early and stood before the entrance for some time. I was eager to step inside the campus. I had seen numerous advertisements and posts about LPU, whose beautiful and expansive campus was a major attraction. At exactly 9 A.M., the entrance opened, and the security guards allowed us to enter the campus. The campus was massive, so the university had organized buses for the transportation of new students. We got on the bus, which took us to the administration block. There, I witnessed a gathering of thousands of students and their parents. The entire process took about 6 hours to complete.
Since the admission procedure took a long time, we couldn’t explore the campus that day. In the evening, we returned to the hotel room. The following day, we brought my luggage to the hostel to begin the process of moving in. My father assisted me in organizing my belongings. Afterwards, we took the opportunity to visit various places on the campus. The campus had a mall, cafeteria, and numerous food stalls. One notable aspect was that non-vegetarian food and intoxicants were prohibited on the campus. My father was pleased to see such facilities and the level of security provided. We then returned to the hostel room, where I saw my roommates sitting with their parents. We engaged in conversations with one another. I felt excited about commencing a new chapter in my life at this new place. However, my excitement soon waned as my father bid me farewell and walked through the college gate. I stood behind the gate, watching him leave. Suddenly, a wave of loneliness washed over me, and I began to feel nervous.
The following day, the orientation ceremony commenced, and our seniors warmly welcomed us. They performed dances, dramas, and songs to encourage the new students. The college director also delivered a speech emphasizing unity in diversity, given the diverse backgrounds of the students present. Classes began the next day, and our teachers introduced us to the subjects we would be studying. Gradually, I started becoming familiar with the new environment, and my initial nervousness faded away. I made friends from different states, and we quickly grew close. We would explore the campus together until late at night, sharing jokes and mimicking our teachers. During the first month, this became my way of passing the time. Life seemed to be more relaxed and happier.
first-year sense enjoyment
I adopted a very casual attitude towards my studies during my initial year. Some of my friends often said, “Let’s enjoy our first year to the fullest. We can become more serious from the second year onwards.” I found this idea appealing and wholeheartedly engaged in activities like playing cricket and watching late-night movies. LAN gaming sessions with my friends would go on all night, leading to a detrimental habit of staying up late.
Shortly after, our mid-semester exams arrived, and unfortunately, I performed poorly. My grades were sent to my father, who inquired about the reason for my low scores. I made an excuse, claiming that I was not acquainted with the subjects initially and found them challenging. However, I assured him that I would improve and do well in the semester exams.
The weather became delightful as autumn arrived, inspiring my friends and me to plan a two-day trip to Shimla. I approached my father for financial help, and he willingly provided the money without hesitation. Those two days turned out to be a wonderful treat for me. I had a great time exploring the hill station, visiting various places, and indulging in the flavors of local Shimla cuisine.
After a month, my first semester exams took place, and I worked hard to improve my performance. This time, I achieved decent results and felt satisfied with my efforts. Then, the time came for me to return home. I was excited as I would finally be able to reunite with my family after being away for half a year. It was the longest period I had ever spent apart from my parents, so the anticipation of seeing them again was overwhelming.
meeting my parents & sumay-uncle after a long time
I called my friends at hometown and informed them about my upcoming arrival, and they were thrilled to hear the news. Shortly after, I received a message on WhatsApp from a friend of Sumay-uncle, inviting me to a year-end retreat during Christmas, which heightened my excitement even more. The next day, I set off for Delhi Airport and boarded the flight bound for Bhubaneshwar. After a two-hour flight, I landed at Bhubaneshwar airport, where my dad was eagerly waiting for me outside. As soon as I retrieved my baggage, I hurried out and warmly embraced my dad. My dad’s face was beaming with happiness as he saw me. “So, feeling good? You have stayed away for a long time. Your mom is waiting for you at home,” he said. After a four-hour drive, we finally arrived home, even though it was already 3 A.M. To my surprise, my mom hadn’t slept and eagerly awaited my arrival. Upon seeing me, I immediately embraced her, and her face lit up with pure delight.
Some of my friends visited me the following day, and we spent time exploring nearby places. The day after, I went to Sumay-uncle’s house with my mom and dad. Knowing that he loved condensed milk (Khira), I brought some from the Khirachora Gopinath temple as a gift. Sumay-uncle greeted me with a warm smile, and I was delighted to meet him after a long time. My aunt and grandma were also happy upon seeing me and asked about my well-being. My parents left me there since I wanted to participate in the year-end retreat. I stayed with them for about 4-5 days. The retreat involved visiting various sacred places and temples and engaging in kirtan (devotional singing) and meditation amidst the beauty of nature. I joined in the activities, and it was an enjoyable experience. My uncle noticed a change in me since the time before I went to Punjab.
Previously, I used to chant regularly, but after spending six months in Punjab, I had forgotten about the spiritual teachings imparted by my uncle. He advised me to continue chanting regularly, regardless of my surroundings. I nodded in agreement, although I genuinely desired to enjoy material experiences & things to the fullest.
Little did I know that this desire would lead me into deep trouble. I experienced a significant decline in my academic performance, which resulted in unfavorable outcomes in my exams. Additionally, my relationship with my friends also hampered, contributing to a state of disarray in various aspects of my life.
Stay tuned to know how my desire for material sense enjoyment trapped me…
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Embracing Change: My Decision to Leave Home
Waiting for Exam Results
After completing my board exams, I eagerly awaited the results, anticipating a good performance based on my efforts. The declaration of results was still 20-25 days away, giving me enough time to explore colleges outside my hometown.
I conducted online research on various institutions located in high tier cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi. However, I found myself unconvinced due to the exorbitant course fees charged by renowned colleges. In the meantime, I decided to wait until my results were announced before making any final choices, taking into account my academic performance.
Rather than getting overly stressed about finding good colleges for my graduation, I decided to focus on enjoying my time playing cricket with my friends and exploring nearby places with them. However, when my results were finally announced, they did not meet my expectations. While my grades were satisfactory enough to please my parents, neighbors, and relatives, I couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied with them. Twenty days after the declaration of my board exam results, I sat for engineering entrance exams. Unfortunately, I didn’t perform well due to a lack of mental preparedness. This situation heightened my concerns about gaining admission to a reputable college, as scoring well in the entrance exams was the sole pathway to secure a spot in a good institution.
A New Opportunity
One day, while my dad was reading the newspaper, he stumbled upon an advertisement for Lovely Professional University, a renowned college that was organizing its own entrance exam right in my hometown. He called me and asked, “Why don’t you give this test?”
Excited by the opportunity, I submitted my application for the entrance test, and, a week later, I confidently appeared for the examination. This time, I had thoroughly prepared myself. Merely two days after the test, I received an eagerly-awaited phone call from the university, informing me that my score surpassed the eligibility criteria for admission. To my joy, they also offered me a remarkable 40% scholarship on the tuition fees.
After sharing the news with my parents, they were overjoyed to hear about my acceptance. However, my mom couldn’t hide her sadness as the college was located approximately 2000 kilometers away in Punjab, far from our native place. Despite her initial melancholy, she eventually agreed to support my decision.
To facilitate the admission process for students across various locations in India, the university had arranged for its staff to be stationed in different cities. This arrangement was made to help students who couldn’t travel all the way to Punjab. Consequently, I, along with my dad and brother, went to Bhubaneshwar, where the university’s representatives were available to assist us in completing the necessary admission formalities.
Excitement for New Beginnings
After completing the admission procedure, the university representatives handed me a booklet showcasing captivating images of the campus. The booklet revealed an array of facilities, including a hotel, a mall, multiple food courts, dedicated sports courts for various sports, and much more. I was intrigued to discover that the university attracted students from over 40 countries, making it a truly diverse and global educational environment.
Additionally, they played a captivating video showcasing the university hosting numerous events graced by Bollywood celebrities, cabinet ministers, and even the President of India, all coming together to inspire and encourage the students. Witnessing these grand events and the vibrant atmosphere, I felt a surge of excitement. It reinforced my belief that I had made the best decision of my life. My elder brother and dad were equally delighted, finding reassurance in the availability of such remarkable amenities and the university’s beautiful infrastructure.
Mixed Reactions from Friends and Family
We returned home and I shared this experience with my friends. Upon seeing my excitement some of my friends seemed very happy and some started criticizing my choice. Some started taunting me too. Some said “Oh! you have a lot of money – that is why you can pursue your graduation at such a prestigious university.” I was sad on hearing such words from them, but I ignored their comments.
I texted Sumay-uncle and informed him about all these. He was also not happy about it. He said, “There are a lot of good universities in Odisha. Why are you going to Punjab? You may not get good association over there.” His words dampened my excitement.
“I just want to leave Odisha. I don’t want to stay here. That’s why I opted for LPU (Lovely Professional University),” I replied.
“Okay, so when are you leaving?” he asked.
“I am leaving on the 27th of July,” I replied.
“Okay, you come tomorrow to our place. We will celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day. There will be a lot of fun. Stay here at least for a week.” he said.
I agreed, and the next day, I headed to his place. By the time I reached at his place, they were chanting and dancing in front of the photo of Srila Prabhupada. After doing kirtan for about 20 minutes, they offered food nicely prepared by my grandma(Sumay-uncle’s mom) and aunt (Sumay-uncle’s wife). After offering the food, we sat together at the dining table to have lunch. Sumay-uncle sat beside me. His friends and father (grandpa) were also sitting there.
Advice from Elders
“So, you are going to Punjab?”, Sumay-uncle asked with a smile.
I nodded my head saying “yes”.
When my grandpa heard, he asked, “Why?”
“I have taken admission in LPU. So, next month I am leaving for Punjab.” I replied.
He became very happy and he enquired about the fees and placement records. I told him that I got a scholarship of 40% discount on my tuition fees. He was happy after learning this.
“You dad is going to spend a lot of money now. So, please focus on your studies. Don’t get distracted by any other things.” Grandpa said.
“Yes, I will stay focused.” I replied confidently.
Sumay-uncle expressed, “If you had chosen to study in Bhubaneshwar, you could have stayed with us. I would have provided you with practical work experience, and it wouldn’t have affected your spiritual life. But regardless, it’s your life and your will. It seems like you never consider your spiritual life, which is why your decision-making ability appears to be so disappointing.” After hearing his words, I remained silent.
My purpose for going to Punjab was not solely for studies; rather, I wanted to enjoy life and escape from the difficulties I had faced in my relationship with Pranshi. I longed to leave my hometown and start afresh in a place far away from Odisha. However, I chose not to disclose these intentions to others. Perhaps Sumay-uncle had already sensed my true motives, and he could foresee that I was going to face a chaotic situation. He understood that my decision to distance myself from his guidance and spiritual association could potentially bring turmoil into my life.
At that moment, I wasn’t ready to accept his words. I believed that I could create a good life for myself. However, as time went on, I came to realize the truth in his advice. In the upcoming chapters, I will narrate the incidents that made me recognize the wisdom of Sumay-uncle’s guidance.
Visit to Shri Chaitanya Dandabhanga Dham
In the evening, after finishing the kirtan, Sumay-uncle informed me that we were going to Puri. It was already 8 o’clock, and I was unsure of the reason for this sudden trip. Without thinking much, I quickly got ready and joined him in the car. After an hour and a half of driving, we arrived at an Ashram called Shri Chaitanya Dandabhanga Dham. As we entered, I noticed numerous devotees engaged in chanting the Mahamantra kirtan, while others were dedicatedly serving Prasadam to fellow devotees. The serene ambiance captivated me.
Shortly after our arrival, a devotee approached Sumay-uncle and warmly embraced him. I respectfully greeted him with folded hands and said Namaste. He then led us to a designated spot and arranged for us to sit on a comfortable carpet. He graciously served us a delectable Prasadam, which included Rasgullas and cheesecakes on our plates. One of the Prasadam servers mentioned to my uncle, “This particular preparation is very dear to Gurudev, which is why we have specially made it.”
Curiously, I asked my uncle, “Is today a special day or something?”
“Yes, it’s Gurudev’s appearance day,” he replied.
Divine Meeting: Reconnecting with Gurudev
After savoring the delicious Prasadam, Sumay-uncle and I made our way to Gurudev’s room. My uncle gently knocked at the door, and Gurudev himself opened it.
He welcomed Sumay-uncle and us into His room, and we offered our obeisances by bowing before Him. It struck me that I had actually met Gurudev exactly one year ago on the same day, when he had bestowed his boundless mercy upon me by presenting me with a garland. On that occasion, I had visited his residence with Swastik-uncle, and now, I found myself in Gurudev’s presence once again, this time accompanied by Sumay-uncle. As soon as Gurudev saw me, he remarked, “I think I have met you before.”
“Yes Gurudev, last year I came to your house with Swastik-uncle,” I replied.
Gurudev’s MESSAGE
Then he asked about my well-being.
Sumay-uncle suddenly said, “Gurudev, let me tell you about this guy named Chirag. He’s going to study at Lovely Professional University in Punjab. I have already told him it’s foolishness, but he thinks he’s very smart.”
I stayed quiet and looked at Gurudev. After hearing Sumay-uncle’s words, Gurudev said, “You’re going to a dangerous place. Be very careful.” I nodded, acknowledging his words, but I didn’t fully comprehend the depth of his warning at that moment. Little did I know that I would regret not taking his advice more seriously.
As time went on, a series of events unfolded, and I found myself entangled in a web of troubles. The journey that seemed exciting and promising initially turned into a daunting and arduous experience.
Stay tuned to know what happened with me after going to Punjab…
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I Was Trapped In A Web Of Deception
Betrayed by a Friend
I decided to confront Suravi and tell her the truth. When our vacation was over, I went to college hoping to speak with her, but couldn’t find the right opportunity. The following day, my phone rang with a call from Raj, one of our mutual friends.
“Can I ask you something?” Raj said as I received.
“Sure, what’s up?” I replied.
“Why are you avoiding Suravi? Did something happen between you two?” he asked.
“I’m just focusing on my studies. I don’t want to waste her time or mine. I can talk to her, but I’d rather not,” I explained.
“Why not?” he inquired.
“I don’t harbor any romantic sentiments towards her. It’s important to me that I treat her with respect, so it’s best to move on.” I admitted.
“Oh, I see. Have you considered telling her the truth? She seems really upset lately, and her friends are worried,” Raj said.
“I’ll think about it. Thanks for letting me know,” I said before ending the call.
My mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts. “What if she doesn’t forgive me? What if she starts spreading this to others? How should I approach her?” These concerns raced through my head relentlessly. I mustered my courage and walked into the classroom. To my surprise, everyone was staring at me, and I had no idea why. I took a seat, feeling confused. Then, Piyush- my buddy spoke up softly.
“Chirag, the whole class is talking about you,” Piyush said.
“Why? How come I become so famous?” I asked, trying to play it cool.
“Raj called you yesterday, and he had Suravi at the conference without your knowledge. He asked you about ignoring her, and Suravi is now aware that you weren’t serious about her,” he explained.
“But why would Raj do that?” I questioned.
“Come on, Chirag. We all know that Suravi is the most beautiful girl in our college, and Raj is aware that you aren’t interested in her. He saw an opportunity to drive a wedge between you and Suravi, so he can make a move,” Piyush replied.
“Wow. In any case, I wanted to end things with her. I don’t care who dates who. Let’s concentrate on our studies,” I said.
Since I was already aware of Suravi’s character, I didn’t pay much attention to this incident. When I returned home from college, I shared the news with Pranshi, and she couldn’t contain her excitement upon hearing that I was once again unattached.
Living Alone At home
As I focused on my studies, life took an unexpected turn. Just a week later, my mother started experiencing intense pain in her pelvic bone. Worried, we took her to the doctor, who discovered a fracture that required immediate surgery. This news hit us hard, especially because I had my 12th board exams in just a few months. After lengthy discussions in family, it was decided that my mom and dad would have to go to Hyderabad for her surgery, leaving me alone at home for a month. It was a challenging time, but I embraced it with a sense of responsibility.
With no one around to cook for me, I resorted to eating at restaurants. However, when Pranshi’s mom and sisters discovered this, they became upset with me. One day, Pranshi’s sister called me and expressed her disappointment, saying, “Why are you eating out? We consider you a part of our family. Come and have meals at our home.”
Realizing their concern for me, I thought its a good idea to join them for meals at their place. We would often have dinner together, engaging in long conversations. Disha, Pranshi, and I also became close friends, frequently going shopping and exploring nearby places.
While we were all hanging out at a park one day, I noticed a familiar face from school taking pictures of us. Curious, I approached him to find out why he was capturing those moments.
Keeping Trust Despite Doubts
“Why are you taking pictures of us?” I asked.
“I’m taking these pictures to show Pranshi’s boyfriend that she’s spending time with other guys,” he replied.
“What do you mean? What’s going on? She’s single,” I responded in shock.
“No, she’s not telling you the truth. She only considers you her boyfriend at home to please her family since they know you well. But in college, she has another boyfriend whom she hangs out with while skipping classes,” he revealed.
I thought he might be doing it intentionally since he and I were not good friends in school and he was also envious of my relationship with Pranshi.
Upon learning about Pranshi’s double life, I kept silent and we returned home from the park. Despite being disturbed by this news, I chose to ignore it and maintain my trust in Pranshi.
I left home to stay with Sumay-uncle
After spending a week alone at home, my grandmother (Sumay-uncle’s mother), reached out to me. She suggested that I stay with them for a while. I discussed it with my father, and he agreed. The next day, I packed my study materials and headed to Sumay-uncle’s house.
When I arrived, I went straight to Sumay-uncle’s office room to meet him. He warmly greeted me, shaking my hand and asking how I was doing.
“Hope you’ll be staying with us for a while,” he said.
“Yes, I plan to stay for about two to three weeks,” I replied.
Even though I wasn’t really interested in devotional activities, I would still join Sumay-uncle and his friends for their daily morning and evening kirtan practice. I did it because everyone else was doing it. Sometimes, we would go out together and have a great time exploring different places. However, I found it hard to concentrate on my studies because there were many things that grabbed my attention and kept my mind occupied. Sumay-uncle would sometimes playfully tease me, saying things like, “You’re clueless. Your studies won’t get you anywhere.” I found these comments irritating, and I would get defensive in response. But instead of stopping, Sumay-uncle and his friends would laugh, which made me feel even more uncomfortable and self-conscious.
Every day, my father would call me and ask how my studies were going. He would stress the significance of using my time wisely, saying, “This is a crucial time. Avoid wasting your time on unimportant things.” He would remind me of this repeatedly. My mother would also talk to me and ask if I was comfortable with everything.
After spending about 20 days at Sumay-uncle’s house, I received news from my dad that the surgery was successful and they were returning home. It was time for me to go back home, however, I realized that something was missing once I returned. While staying at Sumay-uncle’s place, I had gotten used to hearing the chants of Srila Prabhupada resonating throughout the house. Their absence left me feeling empty. So, I decided to buy a new speaker from the market, loaded it with the chants on a USB, and played them at home. Even though I wasn’t deeply religious, as soon as I turned on the speaker, I felt a profound sense of peace. Unbeknownst to me, during my time at Sumay-uncle’s place, I had started to be influenced by him. One habit I picked up was performing Japa, which involves meditative chanting of mantras, every night before going to bed. This practice proved to be helpful in reducing stress and maintaining my focus on my studies.
The Truth Comes Out
After three months of rigorous preparation, my board exams were fast approaching, and I was confident about performing well. However, just before the exams, I stumbled upon something that greatly disturbed me and led me to make a significant decision in my life.
One of Pranshi’s friends reached out to me by phone and revealed, “Pranshi is playing with your emotions. She’s seeing someone else while also trying to get your attention.” Along with this revelation, the friend sent a photo of Pranshi standing with a guy at a place I didn’t recognize. It shook me, and I felt disturbed by the news, but I chose to remain silent and not react immediately. Instead, I texted Disha, expressing my frustration with Pranshi. I said, “I’m exhausted from dealing with this girl. Once my exams are over, I’m leaving and never want to see her again. She has no shame.”
After discovering Pranshi’s constant deceit, accepting the truth was challenging for me. My anger and sadness towards her intensified, making me feel more and more miserable. To distance myself from Pranshi and anything associated with her, I made the decision to pursue my engineering in a different place away from home town. As my board exams drew near, I dedicated myself entirely to preparing for them, determined not to let Pranshi’s actions distract me.
Regrettably, this decision turned out to be a mistake, even though someone I respected had warned me about it. I didn’t pay much attention to the warning and ended up making the wrong choice.
In the midst all of these, the intermediate board exam had already started and the initial subjects went decent.
Stay tuned to know what happened next…
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Emotions Stirred, But It Was Too Late
Suravi’s surprising proposal
The following day in the morning Suravi called me up to wish me good morning. We talked for about 10 minutes. She invited me to meet her at noon at a near by place. I agreed to come and we hung up. I arrived at the place at noon, and Suravi appeared behind me, asking me to follow her behind a nearby building. I felt nervous as she looked directly into my eyes.
I thought, “What does she want? Why she has called me here?”
Then she said, “You can propose to me one more time and I won’t reject you this time.”
I was unsure how to respond, so I paused before answering, “Last time you had rejected me. So, I am not going to propose to you once more. If you want to be with me, then you have to propose to me.”
Suravi smiled and said, “I want to be with you.”
I replied, “Okay. I accept your proposal”.
She was very happy and we took a selfie together. Then I left the place since I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. I reached home and showed our photo to my elder brother.
Brother’s advice
He smiled and said, “You should focus on your studies at this crucial point in your career. What’s this all about? And what about Pranshi?”
I replied, “Pranshi put me in the friend zone, but Suravi is interested in me. So, I decided to move on with her.”
He said, “Do as you wish but don’t forget that you are in a critical stage of your education. Concentrate on your studies.”
Pranshi’s mixed signals
I was planning to share a photo with my college friends after they challenged me, but I didn’t end up doing so. I shared the news of my new relationship with Pranshi and sent her a photo of me and Suravi to share my happiness. However, her response was a simple “Congratulations!” and then she went offline. I couldn’t comprehend the reason behind her behavior, but I decided not to dwell on it.
Later that evening, Pranshi’s mother and sisters called me to join them in visiting different Pandals for Durga Puja. I agreed to join them but was taken aback by Pranshi’s attitude toward me. She seemed distant and only spoke in taunts. It was like I was seeing a completely different side of her.
Whenever I spoke, she would respond with taunts about Suravi. Her behavior was getting on my nerves, so I decided to confront her.
I asked, “What’s the problem? Why are you speaking to me like that? You were the one who encouraged me to move on and find someone new. Now that I’m with Suravi, why are you constantly taunting me?”
Her eyes moistened and she didn’t say anything. I shouted at her in front of her sisters. Then her elder sister came up and asked, ‘Why are you fighting on the road?”
Then, I walked with them but kept a good distance from Pranshi. I was furious inside, and refused to speak to anyone. After maintaining silence for about 15 minutes, I was able to calm down and gain some clarity. I realized that Pranshi was feeling jealous of Suravi, and perhaps still harbored feelings for me. With this realization, I approached her and apologized, saying, “I’m sorry for shouting at you earlier.”
“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have taunted you,” she said apologetically, looking at me. Then, she smiled as we walked home together.
Difficult to understand Pranshi
Once I reached my house, I texted Pranshi to let her know I had made it home. She replied with a simple “Take care.”
“Do you still have feelings for me?” I asked her.
“No, I don’t have feelings for you,” she replied.
I was skeptical of her answer and asked, “Then why did you behave like a jealous girl? I know the truth even if you try to hide it from me.”
“That’s because I can’t see you with someone else,” she admitted.
I probed further, “What do you mean?”
“Okay…I confess. I have feelings for you. But now Suravi is there in your life. So, please take care of her,” she revealed.
I was taken aback by her confession and asked her, “Then why did you friend-zone me? You could have said this before.”
“Because I was scared whether you would accept me again. I have made a lot of mistakes, and you were furious with me,” she explained.
I decided to end the conversation for the night and told her to go and sleep, adding that we could talk more about it tomorrow.
The night of overwhelming emotions
Her emotions were overwhelming, and I was feeling sad for her. On the other hand, Suravi was making efforts to strengthen our relationship, leaving me in a dilemma.
Initially, I had no romantic feelings for Suravi; I had only pursued her as a challenge from my friends. Meanwhile, the girl I had truly loved was feeling heartbroken over me moving on with someone else. My anger and resentment towards Pranshi transformed into a complex emotion of guilt and justification, which seemed appropriate given the circumstances. I didn’t want her to suffer because of my actions. As a result, I ended up sleeping late that night.
Suravi’s invitation and Pranshi’s call
The following morning, Suravi called me to meet her at the park near my house. I tried to avoid her request, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn her down.
Then Pranshi called me up. “Hey, we are all going to the sea beach. Disha’s friends are also coming. Let’s go. We will relax there.”
“I have promised Suravi to meet her in the park. I can’t come now. But I can come in the evening.” I replied.
“Okay, we will go in the evening then.” She replied and hung up the call.
Despite feeling conflicted, I ultimately decided to go with the flow. I met Suravi at the park, and we spent around 30 minutes together. Later on, I went to the beach with Pranshi and her sisters. While we were there, Pranshi and I sat together on a bench by the seashore. Her sister and their friends sat at another place some distance away from us.
She sat quietly, her chin resting on her fists, gazing at the waves of the sea. Her hair was being gently tousled by the ocean breeze, and I watched her silently from the side, feeling a sense of sadness. We both were silent and the sound from the tides was prominent.
“So, what now?” I broke the silence and asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You know very well what I am talking about,” I replied.
“Nothing. You be happy with your Suravi and I will live my life,” she replied.
“Okay. So, you don’t have any problem?”, I asked.
She just nodded her head signaling a “no” with grief-stricken eyes.
“You were crying last night,” I said.
“How did you know?”, she asked surprisingly.
“I know a lot of things about you,” I said.
She didn’t say anything.
“When did you sleep last night?” I asked.
“I cried till 2 o’clock. Then fell asleep,” she replied.
I was shocked. I couldn’t say anything. Her emotions were compelling enough to resume with Pranshi. I went up and brought a bottle of cold drink and a packet of potato chips. I opened the packet and gently passed onto her. She looked down and refused to eat anything. The situation was becoming more and more intense for me. Then suddenly my mom called me and asked me to return home.
The decision to make
Pranshi’s behavior had a deep impact on me, and I felt compelled to clear things with Suravi. Fueled by my desire to make amends, I took a step forward. But little did I know that this decision would lead to a catastrophic mistake.
I had considered telling Suravi that my actions were solely intended to impress my friends and that I didn’t have any romantic feelings for her. However, I found myself unable to follow through with this plan. Meanwhile, Pranshi’s growing affection towards me was starting to shift my focus towards her instead.
The following day, I received a call from one of my college friends who inquired if Suravi and I were dating. In response, I claimed that she had proposed to me and we were now in a relationship.
I responded, “Yes, she actually proposed to me.”
“What? Are you out of your mind? She’s not a suitable match for you,” he exclaimed.
“Why do you say that?” I questioned.
“Because she views people as mere tools to be utilized for her own benefit. I’ve known her since sixth grade and I know her very well,” he warned.
“That’s not something she’s exhibited thus far. However, she does call me at least six times a day and forces me to talk to her, which I don’t really want,” I shared.
“Trust me, within a week, you’ll come to regret your decision,” he asserted.
“Okay, well, I’m not particularly attached to her anyways. Let’s see how things play out,” I replied before ending the call.
After my friend’s warning, I began to reconsider my feelings for Suravi and shifted my attention toward Pranshi. As a result, I started to ignore Suravi’s calls, which made her upset. However, as the college vacation came to an end, I realized that I needed to focus on my studies to secure good grades, so I decided to tell Suravi that I could no longer continue the relationship.
Ironically, it turned out that I had been deceived by both Suravi and Pranshi, and neither of them had genuine feelings for me. It took me a couple of months to figure this out, but I eventually did. It will be great to share how I discovered this, as well as why they had been pretending to like me.
Stay tuned to learn how did I learn that and why they were doing so…
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Loveship Turned Into Friendship
I failed again
After visiting Sumay-uncle’s house, I was inspired to start daily spirituality into my life. I decided to start by chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra for 10 to 15 minutes every night before bed and listening to the wisdom audios of Srila Prabhupada that Sumay-uncle had shared with me. This routine continued for a few weeks and I felt a sense of satisfaction after each chant each day, even though I wasn’t entirely sure of the purpose behind my practice. However, I eventually struggled to maintain this hearing and chanting, soon I realized – I was more interested in enjoying – playing cricket, hanging out, gathering at restaurants, and many others which was similar to my friends.
Despite my initial interest in spirituality, my lack of positive association ultimately led to a decline in my practice.
meeting disha again
By this time, I had already ended my connections with Pranshi, but her older sister Disha still kept in touch with me. One evening while I was out for shopping, I spotted Disha, and she noticed me too. She approached me with a friendly greeting.
“How are you? It’s been a long time since we met” she said.
I responded with a smile, “I’m well. Yeah, it has been some time. But we don’t have a reason to meet now.”
“Why? You were not only Pranshi’s boyfriend, but also my younger brother. We don’t need any reasons to meet” She said.
I was pleased to hear her kind words and said to her, “You’re right. We should catch up. Where are you headed?”
“I’m returning home from my coaching class. Why don’t you come to our place? It would be lovely to have you over for a chat,” Disha suggested.
“No, I can’t. You know that I and Pranshi are no more together. I am also afraid of your mom” I said.
“Don’t worry, my mom is aware of you. She’ll be happy to have you over. You can come over one evening, and we can catch up,” she reassured me.
“Okay. I will come one day. But not now.” I replied.
Then she said me bye and I also continued my shopping.
i was invited to pranshi’s house
Disha contacted me on the occasion of Rakhi Purnima, which was one month after our last conversation. This festival is celebrated in India, where sisters tie a thread on their brother’s wrists, and in return, the brothers promise to protect them. She invited me to their home. She loved me like her own younger brother, and she wanted to tie Rakhi to my hand. I hesitated at first, knowing that I hadn’t spoken to Pranshi in a while and it might be awkward for me to visit their house.
Then, Pranshi texted me out of the blue, “Are you coming over tomorrow?”
I replied calmly, “Yes, both of your sisters are insisting on me to come. But I am feeling uncomfortable.”
“Why uncomfortable? Forget about our past. We will have fun together. My mom will be happy to have you. You should come.” She said.
“Hmm…Okay, I will come.” I replied.
So, I agreed and the next day I went to her house. Pranshi’s two elder sisters welcomed me, and I was nervous because I had never spoken to their mother before. I also had an impression in my mind that their mother did not like me. But the scenario was completely different. I entered their house and touched the feet of her mother to show respect. She was very affectionate and talked lovingly. After some time, I felt a bit comfortable. At that time Pranshi was not home and had gone to her friend’s house. After an hour she came and smiled at me. Then we talked normally as friends.
Pranshi’s father served in the Indian Army, and was often stationed away from home. I spent about three hours at her home, and they were very friendly to me. They had prepared lunch for me and after having lunch her mother asked me to take a rest and stay for a couple of hours. From that day I became remarkably close to them. They used to invite me to birthday parties and other ceremonies. I had forgotten our past quarrels and stayed like good friends with Pranshi. Sometimes her sister would call me in the evening over chai and snacks. We used to talk about our college life, our school days and many other topics and spent time.
i was challenged by my friends
I was not committed to anyone and happy in my life. My friends would often ask me why I was not getting into another relationship. But I knew that I didn’t need that and I was also not interested to waste my time with a girl. There was a girl in our college named, Suravi who used to be very popular for her looks. Most of the guys were crazy after her except me.
One day, a friend told me, “Did you know that Suravi always gazes at you during class? Many of us have noticed it. Don’t you think she could be a good match for you?”
“No, I don’t see her as my girlfriend,” I replied, returning my attention to my math problems.
Some other day, while I and my friends were sitting and gossiping, Suravi entered the class. Almost everyone immediately turned their heads toward her.
Annoyed by my friends’ behavior, I said, “How cheap you all are. Just because a girl entered, you all are drooling over her.”
One of my friends retorted, “Yes, we’re looking at her because she’s beautiful. You’re talking like you’re a saint.”
“No, I am not a saintly person. But she is not that interesting.” I said.
“She is a dream for you. You can’t be her boyfriend whatever you may do.” One of my friends said.
“First thing, I am not interested in her. And if you are challenging me to make her mine then I can do it very easily” I said.
proposal went wrong
After class, I approached Suravi and said, ‘Hey, I need to talk to you.’”
“Huh! What?” She asked.
“Not now. After the college hour gets over I will meet you on the terrace. I have something important to say.” I said with an intense look.
She became confused and said, “No, I can’t come to the terrace. You say right now.”
“I am interested in you. Will you be my girlfriend?” I asked.
She didn’t say anything but only kept staring at me with eyes wide open. After pausing for a minute she said, “No. I won’t. I really don’t know how can you say this so directly.”
“What’s the problem in saying directly? I like you and that’s what I have said.” I said.
“What about Pranshi? Are you guys broken up?” She asked.
“Yes, It’s been more than three months since we had broken up,” I said.
“Oh! Really? But I am not ready for this relationship.” She said.
“Okay, I don’t have any issues,” I said and went home.
She called me despite rejecting me
After a week our college declared a holiday for a week due to the Durga Puja festival. I was lying on my bed and checking my phone. Suddenly I got a call and it was an unknown number. I received the phone and it was Suravi on the other side. I was surprised to hear her voice.
I asked her how come did she call me up? Then she said that she had taken my number from one of our mutual friends. She just wanted to talk to me as a good friend. So, she called me up.
I thought, “She must be also interested in me. Otherwise, why would she call me up?”
After a brief conversation lasting no more than five minutes, I ended the call with Suravi. The following day, she called me once again, this time inviting me to join her at the Durga Puja Pandal located near her residence in the evening. I went there and the place was very crowded. I couldn’t find her but she suddenly appeared in front of me out of nowhere. We exchanged smiles and then went inside to visit the Deity of Goddess Durga. The pandal was a stunning spectacle, adorned with bright lights and intricate decorations. After offering our brief prayers, we said bye to each other and returned to our homes.
It was a lovely day. But at night Pranshi called me up. Her family was planning to visit the Puja Pandals the following day. So, her mom and sisters were asking me to join them. I agreed to their invite.
But the next day in the morning something happened, that I had never imagined.
Stay tuned to know what happened…
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Meeting The Pure Devotee
FINALLY, I SAW HIM
After waiting at the hospital entrance for some time I saw the main door opening. Then 4-5 devotees came out, all wearing white kurta and dhoti. Then I saw a person wearing saffron garments, tilak decorated on his forehead, a long and beautiful flower garland on his neck walking out slowly holding a support stick in his hand. When he glanced at his surroundings, I became astonished to see the way he was looking. A sense of bliss and peace was emanating from him. Then suddenly Swastik-uncle said, “Here comes Gurudev. let’s go near him.”
I followed my uncle. There were 3-4 stairs at the entrance of that hospital. Gurudev stood near the edge of the topmost stair. My uncle went and bowed down in front of him. I also did the same. My uncle introduced me by saying, “Gurudev! He is my nephew.” Then Gurudev looked at me with so much care and affection that was beyond my imagination. He caressed his hand on my head and asked, “What is your name? What are you studying now?”.
I replied to him with a smile on my face, “My name is Chirag. I am in my intermediates studying science.” Then he nodded his head with a smile and started coming downstairs. My uncle held his right arm and helped him to come down and one of his disciples held his left arm. That one interaction with Gurudev was an inexpressible experience for me. I had never experienced such care and affection in my existing relationships till now.
HE BESTOWED HIS MERCY UPON ME
Then Gurudev went inside my uncle’s car and sat in the front seat. I sat in the back and could not take my eyes off Gurudev, I kept on observing him. He was talking to my uncle about an event to be organized. But I was looking at Gurudev only. Then my uncle drove his car to Gurudev’s house. We went inside his home, and we sat on the floor. I had no clue why we had gone to his house. Gurudev sat before us on the bed. My uncle took out a garland made of fresh flowers from a bag and offered it to Gurudev. Then I made out that it was Gurudev’s appearance day (The birthday of Vaishnava Saints are called appearance days). I and my uncle again offered our respects unto him. Then Gurudev took out his garland and gave it to my uncle as a gift. My uncle wore it and sat beside me. Then Gurudev looked at me and asked my uncle to bring another garland that was hanging on the door in his room. Then I went near Gurudev, and he gave that garland to me. After that, Gurudev’s wife gave us some sweets to eat.
Gurudev and my uncle had a brief conversation for about 10 minutes and we took permission from him to go. After sitting in the car my uncle drove to Sumay-uncle’s house. He had invited us to join them in the celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s (Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa) appearance day. On our way, Swastik-uncle said, “In the first meet, he remembered your name and bestowed his mercy upon you. You are very fortunate.”
“Yes. I am feeling very happy now after meeting him. What is his name?” I asked.
“His name is Srila Sachinandan Goswami.” replied my uncle.
After taking a pause he said, “He is a disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami, a world-renowned spiritual master, and disciple of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada”.
I was glad to meet such an exalted personality but at that time, I didn’t realize the importance of that meeting until the day it was revealed to me by one of my well-wishers. I will narrate this in the coming chapters.
After thirty minutes we reached Sumay-uncle’s place. When I entered the house, Sumay-uncle and his friends were performing kirtan. The ladies were engaged in preparing delicious foodstuffs to offer to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna. They seemed to be doing everything with enthusiasm and jubilation.
GIVING EXCUSES DIDN’T HELP ME
After some time, Sumay-uncle did Arotik and offered food to the deities. 3-4 ladies were bringing the freshly cooked food to the temple room. Another friend of Sumay-uncle named, Sarthak was inside the temple room and fanning the food to keep the flies away. After all the dishes were brought and kept in front of the deities, everyone bowed down and prayed to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna to accept the food offered. Then we chanted for about 10 minutes and again the ladies took the offered food from the temple back to the kitchen. After the food offering and kirtan was over, we sat at the dining table to eat Prasadam (offered food).
Sumay-uncle made me sit beside him.
“So, how’s life going mate?” He asked with a smile.
“Yeah, everything is good,” I replied.
“Really! I don’t think so. I think you are lost in your own world of college, study, and so-called girl-friends.” He said with a sidelong glance.
“No, I don’t have any girlfriend. But yes, I am busy with my studies.” I said.
“Hmm… okay let’s enjoy the feast first, then we will have our chit-chat in my room.” He replied.
Then my aunt and grandma served us delicious food. There was fried rice prepared in ghee (clarified butter), Samosa, Puri, Dal-makhni, Paneer curry (cottage-cheese), Kheer (Sweet Rice), and so on. I enjoyed them to the fullest. After having our meal, I and Sumay-uncle went to his room to take rest.
“So, are you hearing the chants regularly that I had sent?” asked Sumay-uncle.
“No, I don’t have enough time for that since I remain very busy with my studies. I sometimes hear them to relax” I replied.
“Really! How many hours are you giving to your studies? Don’t fool me. You are a lazy guy and not serious about your spiritual life. You just want enjoyment like so-called relationships and other time pass”, he said.
His words were a bit harsh at that moment, and I could not handle them. But I tried to keep calm and said, “Hmm… You are right”.
“Alright for how many days you are here now?”, he asked.
“I will stay for 3 days and then return”, I replied.
“You should stay longer, but anyways I will spend some time with you”, he said.
After that in the evening, Sumay-uncle and his friends did kirtan for two hours. I also joined them, but I was not that much interested in that. I just wanted to gossip with others. But I had to sit with them for two hours. I stayed there for three days. Things went pretty well and before leaving his place Sumay-uncle gave some audio wisdom messages of Srila Prabhupada. I promised him that I would hear them.
“I know you won’t do. You will again start doing all the nonsense like before. You will waste your time with your so-called girlfriends and studies. But anyways I am giving you the most precious thing. It is up to you how you utilize it” said Sumay-uncle.
I thanked him and left for my home.
I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF
I found his words bitter at that moment, because I used to be the perfect person in my view. What he said was true, but I did not like to be criticized. I returned home and said to myself, “This time I will hear the chants and lectures. I will devote more time to hearing the chants and lectures.” But things went completely differently than I had thought. My life became more complicated and a new hurdle was waiting for me.
Stay tuned to know what happened…
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We Broke-up But I Was Happy
After I returned from Sumay-uncle’s place, I told Pranshi all about it. I suggested she should stop eating non-veg food, and she seemed interested in doing so. I used to check if she heard the spiritual chants, and she’d often say ‘Yes,’ which made me really happy.
But over time, I stopped listening to the chants myself. After about a month, I got back into watching movies and listening to their songs. In the midst of all this, I received my first-year intermediate exam results, and they were pretty bad. My parents and teachers were disappointed, but I promised them I’d work hard for the upcoming board exams.
I decided to focus on my studies and bought some extra books to practice problem-solving. As my second-year classes began, I made sure not to miss any. But putting so much effort into my studies took up all my time and energy. I hardly had any time for Pranshi. Luckily, she didn’t complain and understood my situation.
Back in my first year, I used to see Pranshi twice a week. However, in the second year, it became once every two weeks. The pressure from my academics sometimes made me feel frustrated. Two months went by without having any quality time with Pranshi.
SHE CAME TO MY HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME
So, one day while talking to her over the phone, she said, “You know it’s been a long time since we met. I want to see you.”
“Yes, I know. But what can I do? Your college time is different from mine. So, I have to bunk my classes to meet you.” I replied.
“No, no. Please focus on your studies. You don’t need to bunk your class to meet me.” She said.
“Let’s do one thing. Why don’t you come to my house? You can come with Disha. My parents are not conservative. They won’t raise any issues.” I said.
“Haw! No, No. I won’t dare to do that. I can’t come to your home.” she said.
“Why? What’s the problem? Okay, I will arrange this meeting.” I said and hung up the phone.
I texted her sister, Disha on WhatsApp and requested to come to my home. And fortunately, she agreed to come.
Then, I immediately started sorting my stuff. I had kept my room a bit messy. My mom saw it and asked me, “What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see? My room is so messed up with textbooks and broken pen caps. I am cleaning it and sorting them.” I replied.
It took an hour to clean everything. That day, my dad had gone out of town for some office work. So, it was like a cherry on top.
I asked my mom, “Hey mom! One of my school friends is coming to our home today in the evening. It’s been a long time since we met. So, do you have any problem if she comes?”
“No, what problem would I have?” she said and looked at me.
After a pause, she again said, “So, this is the reason why you were cleaning your room huh?”
I just laughed and went outside. In the evening Pranshi and Disha came together to my home. My mom served some snacks and had some chit-chat with them. After spending about an hour, they left. While I was seeing them off at our doorstep, Pranshi slowly said in my ears, “My heart is still beating very fast. I had never thought that I would come to your house ever.”
I just looked at her and smiled without saying anything. After she reached her home, she called me up and expressed her joy.
“You know, I am very happy today. For the very first time, I met your mom. She is so innocent and sweet. I liked your mom more than you.” she said.
“Oh! Why so?” I asked.
“Since you are very rude. You always talk to me rudely and without any feelings. But your mom is so sweet. She talked to me only for a little time but that was so nice.” she replied.
“Hmm… Yes, she is innocent. I am glad that you liked her.” I said.
“Okay, I am hanging up the phone now. I will go to college tomorrow, so I can’t talk till evening,” she said.
“Tomorrow is Sunday, right? What kind of college is that?” I asked.
“No, we have extra classes. Since we are lagging behind the course plan,” she said.
“Okay. I will enjoy my Sunday. You go and study.” I said and hung up the phone.
The next morning, she wished me good morning with a heart emoticon on WhatsApp.
I thought, “Wow, I think it was a good idea to invite her to our home. She is treating me so lovingly.”
her sister said, “she was faking”
Then I got busy with my studies and later on went to play cricket with my friends. Then in the evening, she called me up. But after talking to me for only five minutes she said, “I am getting an important call now. I will talk to you later.”
At first, I felt a bit weird. But then I ignored it. I waited for half an hour, but she didn’t call me. I tried calling her, but her phone was switched off.
“What’s going on? Is everything alright?” I became tense. Then I went outside to hang out with my friends. After two hours, Pranshi’s elder sister Disha called me up and said, “Please do not talk to Pranshi anymore.”
I was shocked to hear such words from her. I asked her, “Why?”
“Do you know that she is still talking to that Sourav? Moreover, she is even roaming around with him,” said Disha.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“I asked her friend who stays near our house. There were no extra classes today. Pranshi made an excuse that she had an extra class and went with Sourav to roam on his bike.” Disha said angrily.
“Hmm…So, this is what she has been doing behind my back. Wow!” I scoffed and said.
“She has broken your trust again. I am sorry to say. Please stay away from her. Your life will be spoiled if you stay with her. You are like my brother so; I am advising you.” said Disha.
When I heard all these things about Pranshi from her elder sister, I did not feel disappointed rather I just smiled.
After half an hour, I called up Pranshi and said, “What’s your problem? If you want to go, then why not forever? Why are you coming into my life and screwing things up? You are no better than a fox.”
She didn’t say anything but was in a state of shock. “Don’t call me ever again. I don’t want to see your face. Goodbye,” I said & hung up the phone.
I took a deep breath and tried to relax. Although I had broken off my relationship with Pranshi, this time I didn’t feel sad. I felt like a burden was released off my shoulders. I said to myself, “From now on, I will completely focus on my studies and live peacefully.”
I made a daily routine to stay more focused on my studies. After a month, our college declared a mini summer vacation of ten days. I also wanted to take a break from my studies.
AN INHIBITION WORTH REMEMBERING
So, I wanted to go to Swastik-uncle’s house. My father was not allowing me to go there and wanted me to stay at home. I was surprised at his behavior. He had never stopped me from going anywhere before that but this time he became terribly angry with me.
He said, “If you step out of my home, I will not talk to you ever again.”
I was frightened upon hearing such words from my dad. I went up to my mom and said, “What’s wrong with dad? I just want to chill out. I am working so hard, so what’s the problem if I take a break for a week?”
“I don’t know. You go and I will persuade him. Don’t worry.” My mom said.
At that time, I was unable to understand why my dad was reluctant. But I understood the reason after 5 years. That will be explained in the upcoming chapters.
Despite my father’s reluctance, I went to Swastik-uncle’s house. He was glad to see me, and we had a good time. My aunt prepared delicious foodstuffs and we enjoyed them together. The next day in the morning he said, “Get ready, we are going to meet someone special today.”
I became curious to meet him
I asked him, “Who is he?”. He replied, “A pure devotee and an exalted Vaishnava Guru“. I got excited after hearing his words. I kept on asking like a child, “Who is he? Where does he live?”. He smiled and said, “Get ready and we will meet him.”
I freshened up and got ready and sat inside the car. My uncle took me to a hospital. I was surprised at this and asked, “Why are we here? Is he sick or what?”.
“No, no, one of his disciples is admitted to this hospital and he has come here to see him”, my uncle replied.
I was waiting curiously to see him. I had never seen a Vaishnava Guru before that day. I started imagining him, his appearance, his personality, etc. Fifteen minutes passed and we were waiting outside the hospital entrance.
Then my uncle said, “When going in front of him, bow down before him. But don’t touch his feet.”
“Why? What’s wrong with touching the feet of a Vaishnava?” I asked.
“When you touch his feet, you transfer your sins to him, and he has to suffer for your sinful acts” he replied.
“Really! I didn’t know that” I said.
I was asking my uncle every 2-3 minutes, “When will Gurudeva come?”. He used to say, “Wait, he is coming. He is not an ordinary person. You should bear patience to meet such an exalted personality. Your whole life will be changed after seeing him. Let’s see how he interacts with you”, my uncle replied.
After 2 minutes the entrance door was opened and some devotees wearing white Dhoti and Kurta with shaven heads came out. They were wearing Tulsi beads on their necks and Tilak on their foreheads. My heart started beating faster. But I couldn’t recognize Gurudeva among them. Then something wonderful happened which I can never forget in my life.
Stay tuned to know what happened…
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I Found a New World
a conversation that changed my perception
After the wisdom class, I and my uncle went to the living room. I asked him to say more about Srila Prabhupada. He said, “We address our spiritual master as Srila Prabhupada because he is the representative of Lord Krishna”.
“But I knew someone else as Srila Prabhupada,” I asked.
“Yes, we call him Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is the founder Acharya of ISKCON, and Srila Prabhupada is one of his disciples” Sumay-uncle said.
“What is his name?” I asked.
“His yoga name is Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa,” he said.
I started thinking, “So, who is greater?”
After a pause, he said on his own, “There is no difference between his teachings and his spiritual master’s teachings. Both represent Krishna and talk about the same philosophy. Like father and son. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has left this world. Now, Srila Prabhupada is the representative of him, and Krishna. So, you should not be confused about his authority. He is a bonafide spiritual master who teaches Krishna Consciousness.”
“How did he know what was going on in my mind? That means he can read my mind. Maybe he has the same thought process as mine.” I kept thinking for a while.
Knowing about the spiritual relationship between Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – was a bit heavy for me at that point of time. So, I just nodded my head. Then, he smiled and asked me, “What do you want to do in your life?”. I had no clue what to say. So, I just said that I wanted to earn a lot of money and live a luxurious life.
He laughed and said, “Yes that is all right. But this cannot be the goal of your life. Persons who are living such a lifestyle also have goals in their lives. So, what is your goal.”
“I have no goals. I don’t know how to choose a goal” I replied.
“Hmm, so this is a sign of danger,” he said.
“What is your goal in life?” I asked him.
“I want to do something which could benefit people spiritually,” he said.
I put my face down on a pillow and said, “Okay, I will think about my goal”. I used to think of myself as a very mature and good decision-maker. But when I sat in front of him, I started feeling very low about myself, as if I was a fool.
sumay-uncle asked about my girlfriend
Suddenly he asked me something which I had not even expected.
“Do you have any girlfriends?” he asked.
I thought for a while, “Should I tell him the truth?”
“Yes, I do have a girlfriend,” I replied.
Okay then show me her photo. I opened my gallery and showed him one photo of Pranshi.
“Oh! This girl looks such a dumbo.” He said.
“Huh? Dumbo?” I asked.He said, “It’s okay to have a girlfriend, but you should help each other to live a spiritual life. Having a girlfriend is not a license to enjoy her body. You must be concerned about her material as well as spiritual well-being.
“What do you mean by spiritual well-being?” I asked.
“Spiritual well-being means, helping other people to walk on the path of spirituality.” He replied.
“Is it about chanting on beads and doing Kirtan?” I asked him with curiosity.
“Yeah, you can say. But that is one part of spiritual life. What will I say to you now? You are a fool number one. You must walk on this path first, then you can help her. Otherwise, it will be like a blind leading another blind.” He said.
Although I didn’t like him criticizing me, but deep down inside, I knew that he was right. So, I replied, “Yes I will practice it. Please give me some chants to hear.”
“Okay, I will send you some chants,” he said.
I was looking down and he was gazing at me like he was reading what I was thinking in my mind. Suddenly my aunt came and said, “Let’s go downstairs. Dinner is ready.”
“Okay, let’s go,” said my uncle. While going downstairs my aunt was leading, Sumay-uncle was in the middle, and I was at last thinking about uncle’s words. Then my uncle turned around and said, “You are a lazy guy.” He laughed out loudly. I could understand he wanted to lighten my mood since the conversation was a bit heavy and I was quite young to grasp them.
We went downstairs and sat at the dining table. While having lunch, my grandma asked me, “So, are you having a good time?
“Yes, I am loving it” I replied and smiled.
“So, you should come once a month,” she said.
“No, you know my parents. They won’t allow me for that. I can come once every six months.” I said.
“No, don’t blame parents. If you have a strong desire to come here, they will allow you.” Sumay-uncle replied.
At that time, I couldn’t understand the depth of this statement. But I realized this after 7 years of this incident. I will narrate them in the upcoming chapters.
I had already stayed for 4 days at his place. My mom called me up and asked me to return home the next day. My father never liked our staying at any relative’s home for more than three days. The next day I packed my bags and took permission from my grandma and Sumay-uncle’s to leave.
“It would have been better if you had stayed for 2 more days. I am planning to go to Puri. But it’s your choice.” My uncle said.
“Wow, I would love to go there. But my parents are not happy with my long stay. So, I got to go.” I replied.
“Okay, it’s nice to have you here. Next time, do come for a longer period,” he said.
travelling & listening mantras, an amazing experience
It was time to say goodbye to all of them. I found that my uncle had already sent me some mantra chants on my phone. So, when I boarded the bus, I plugged in my earphones and started listening to them. It was an amazing experience. Before that, I used to hear Hindi Bollywood movie songs. But for the very first time in my life, I was hearing the sacred mantras while traveling. The chants were like modern Bhajans where many western musical instruments were played. Altogether the melody was enchanting, and I was getting immersed in them. A sense of excitement was running through my heart.
Suddenly, Pranshi’s face came into my mind. I thought, “I am enjoying these beautiful chants, I will also share them with Pranshi. She might like them as well.” Then Sumay-uncle’s words echoed in my mind regarding my relationship with Pranshi.
Then I mused, “I think Sumay-uncle is right. It’s been more than a year and I am still trying to make our relationship stronger. Sometimes she is getting angry with me, and sometimes someone else is captivating her mind. What will happen, if I share my experiences with her of what I learned from my uncle? Will she accept this, and we could make our relationship successful? I will talk to her and see her reaction.”
I reached home after 3 hours of the bus journey. After reaching home, I called up Pranshi to talk. She asked me about my small vacation at Sumay-uncle’s home. I shared some of my experiences with her.
i tried to convince her to adopt spiritual life
I said, “You know, I think we should begin our spiritual journey together.”
She asked surprisingly, “What? What do you mean by that?”
I was excited to share about my visit to Uncle’s house – I said, “I saw many spiritual activities happening throughout the day. It was very new to me, but it was exciting… I liked them. I also saw how my uncle and aunty are so happy living a spiritual life. They chant the sacred mantras together in the evening, they talk about spiritual philosophy, their spiritual identity, Krishna, and they teach their child the same. And I think this is the only thing that has bound them together with happiness.”
She said, “Oh! Really? Okay, so what shall I do then? You tell me.”
At that time, I was blank since I had no idea what to tell her.
After a pause, I said, “I am sending you a chant. You start hearing it. Then slowly we might walk together on the path.”She said, “Okay, send it, and I will hear.”
I sent her on WhatsApp. “Let me know how you liked it after you hear,” I said.
I thought I had done a very good job and there would be no hindrance in our relationship. But factually, I was in complete ignorance. I was asking her to do something which I was not doing myself. I behaved like a fanatic, but I was not even aware of it.
After two days, I asked her, “So, did you hear the chant?”
“Yes, I did. I also liked that” she said.
“Really! How many times did you hear that?” I asked.
“I heard it 3 times,” she said.
I took a pause. Then I said, “Do you know how many species there in this world are?”
“No, I don’t know,” she said.
“There are 8.4 million species in the world. And out of them, there are 400 thousand human species only.” I said.
“Wow! I didn’t know that” she exclaimed.
“Yes, and out of those 400 thousand types of human beings, those who are born in India are the most fortunate,” I said.
“How?”, She asked.
“Because we hear about Lord Krishna from the beginning of our birth. Our parents also take us to the temples. Many species of human beings stay in forests and roam naked, and they are not civilized. They hunt innocent animals and eat them. They don’t even know about God.” I said.
“Yes, that’s true,” she said.
“So, even after knowing all these things, will you continue to eat non-veg? I think you should stop eating non-veg. There is so much cruelty done to these innocent animals, and you are taking pleasure in eating them. If you want to live with me in the future, then you must abandon eating non-veg.” I said.
She became quiet. After some seconds, she replied, “Hmm… okay I will try”.
“Very good. I am glad that you appreciated my thoughts.” I said with joy.
I became very happy, that Pranshi agreed to live the way I wanted. But that was not true at all. She was doing something else behind my back which I discovered after a month and my love for her was completely demolished. I took a big decision by being carried away with that incident which later made my life worse.
Stay tuned to know what happened…
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Things Started Changing
she texted me & it wasn’t an apology
I unlocked my phone screen and saw Pranshi’s had text.
“Whatever you did was not good. You shouldn’t have called my sister.” She said.
“Really! And you wanted me to watch your nonsense silently. I had never thought that you would do this.” I replied.
She saw the text and didn’t say anything. I was not able to sleep but thinking about her. After a couple of hours, I fell asleep.
In the morning I got up and checked my phone to see whether she had texted me. There was no text from her. Then I freshened up and left for college. My face had become so dull, anyone in the world could see that I was going through a precarious situation. I entered the class and quietly took my seat. Piyush used to sit by my side. He noticed me and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah! I am fine.” I replied.
“Yes, I can sense that from your face. Don’t be so sad. Just forget her and let’s study. After a week we have our final exams. Don’t you know that?” he said.
“Yeah. But I don’t know why she messes things up during or right before my important exams. Last year, she did the same thing before my board exams.” I said annoyingly.
“Leave it, man. Let’s study together.” he said.
“You are right. Let’s do it.” I got charged up.
During my college hours I focused on my studies and involved myself in the lectures, asked questions, and solved problems. But when the time came to return home, I became sad. But I didn’t want to waste my time anymore. I had slackened a lot in my studies because of being too engrossed in that relationship, so I had to work harder to catch up with the course. Two days passed, and I was slowly recovering from the trauma of breaking off with Pranshi. Suddenly my phone rang, and it was an unknown number.
her sister tried to fix things up
I received the phone and said, “Hello!”
“Hello! Do you remember me?” A girl asked.
“No! I am sorry I couldn’t recognize you.” I said.
“I am Trisha, Pranshi’s eldest sister.” She said.
Till then, I didn’t have her number on my phone. Then I replied, “Oh, yes. I didn’t have your number on my phone so, I couldn’t recognize you.”
“It’s alright. So, how are you?” She asked.
“Yeah! I am good.” I replied.
“I know whatever Pranshi did to you wasn’t fair. She is not mature enough to understand you. She is following her friend’s wicked advice. That’s why she has lost her intelligence.” She said.
“Yeah! I know. But what can I do now? She has done this for the second time.” I said.
“I request you to talk to her and she will gradually understand you.” She said.
“No! I can’t. I don’t even want to talk to her. She alleged me in front of your mom. My only fault was I caught her with a stranger.” I replied.
“Yes, I know everything. That was not good. But trust me. If you talk to her again and give her some time, she will never leave you. She did this out of immaturity. She is repenting now.” She said.
“Okay! I will talk to her after some days. I am not feeling good now.” I said.
“Yes, you take your time.” She said.
finally, she apologized
I hung up the call and felt a bit relaxed. Although I was angry with Pranshi, deep inside I wanted her back in my life. I had never looked at any other girl except her. So, it was very difficult for me to leave her. I was thinking of calling her, and then Pranshi called me up. She apologized to me, and she seemed very sad and disturbed.
“I don’t understand. Why are you doing all this nonsense and getting disturbed? Why don’t you keep life simple? Just because I couldn’t give you time, you approached another guy. So, that was your love for me right!” I chastised her.
“I am sorry! I couldn’t realize it at that moment. I will not do this again.” She said.
I became happy after hearing such words from her. But from inside, I was feeling a bit weird. As if someone was telling me from inside, “She will do this again. Don’t trust her.”
But I didn’t care about it. I became normal, and we started talking to each other like before. After some days, my first year’s final exam appeared. Since I was so much engrossed in my relationship, I couldn’t focus on my studies. As a result, I performed very poorly. I admitted before my dad that I couldn’t do well. I also promised him to do well in the second-year final exam.
a MUCH-NEEDED break
After my exams, we had an off for 10 days. I wanted a break from my life. I talked to Sumay-uncle over WhatsApp and informed him about my vacation. So, he invited me to his place. He wanted me to spend more time with him so that, I could grow more spiritually. I went to his place, and he was happy to see me.
“So, how’s life going?” He asked.
“Everything is good.” I replied.
“Really! I don’t think so. I feel like you are completely lost in your world. You are always busy with material affairs and that is constantly eating you up.” He replied.
“Yes, I have to. Since at this age, I must endeavor to make my career.” I replied.
“You think I haven’t made my career? Am I not earning money?” He asked.
“But your situation is different than mine.” I replied.
“Okay. You chill out here and spend more time with spirituality.” He said.
The next day we visited the temple of Lord Krishna. It was about 20-25 KM away from his house. The premise was beautifully decorated with a lot of beautiful paintings and sculptures. Inside the main temple, there was the deity of Lord Krishna. After offering my obeisance to the deity, I and Sumay-uncle sat in a hall to have lunch. The servitors served verities of Prasadam. It was delicious. After eating Prasadam we took a rest for about half an hour. Then we returned home.
curiosity arose in my mind
While returning to his house from the temple, a question arose in my mind, and I immediately asked him, “How does Krishna look? Like Some of the pictures portray Him as black and some portray him as blue. But what is His color?”
He looked at me and said, “Krishna’s color is like a cloud containing water. The beauty of nature is only a tiny percent of His beauty.”
After hearing him, I became curious to know more about Lord Krishna & His pastimes. So, I asked him for some scriptures and resources to learn more about Krishna.
“The day you will go back to your home, I will give you some books to read and lectures to hear.” Sumay-uncle replied.
We reached home in an hour. After some time, his friends gathered in front of the temple room and did Kirtan by playing various musical instruments. After the kirtan, all of them went to a room for attending the spiritual class. Some of his friends and cousin brothers asked him questions related to spirituality.
Someone asked, “How we are related to God? What is our natural function?”
Sumay-uncle replied, “We are all parts and parcels of Krishna. He is the Supreme person, and we are His children. This world is not our real home. Everything in this world is temporary. Our bodies are also temporary. We are living inside this temporary body. We are eternal and belong to the eternal spiritual world.”
After hearing his words, I felt like it was just a story. I couldn’t accept his words easily.
“So, how can we go back to the Spiritual world?” I asked.
“This process of chanting the Holy Names of Krishna is the only way to get out of this world and go back to our original world.” he said.
I didn’t know anything about it. But his explanation was simple, and that moved me. Then he played an audio lecture. As soon as he played the lecture everyone bowed down to the speaker. I also imitated them but didn’t understand the reason behind them. A person started speaking about life, our real identity, and our connection with the Supreme Person. After 10 minutes the lecture was over, and all of them including my uncle again bowed down and shouted, “Jay Srila Prabhupada”. I learned that the person who was speaking was Srila Prabhupada.
Till then I knew that the founder Acharya of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is known as Srila Prabhupada. And he was an old man who belonged to India. But the person I heard seemed to be an American. These kinds of doubts began to poke my mind. So, I asked my uncle to clear these doubts. He said, after the class, we would sit together and talk about it. After that, he asked me to sit with him in his room and he spoke a lot of things about Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, and my life. Then he asked me something that I had never expected.
Stay tuned to know what he asked…
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