By Sanjeev ShekharRanchi-
God gives “Darshan” when HE wants, they say. I had the experience and feel of this for the first time ever in the month of March, when I and my family wanted to visit Shirdi for Sai Baba darshan.
I applied for leave at my office two months in advance. I was willing to visit Sai Baba temple. I was scheduled to fly with my family on March 18, 2012 and visit Baba’s temple on March 19, 2012. This was pre-planned with to and fro tickets done.
I was at one point getting apprehensive that I might not be able to go on tour. However, I was firm and determined at the back of mind to go for ‘Darshan’. As the date approached there were some developments in my office pertaining to new assignments coming my way at that time when I was on leave.
I even tried to explain to my office but my seniors were unwilling to go by what I said. My boss put his foot down, as he felt that launching assignment of the store was more important than anything else. I would have lost several thousand rupees if I would have cancelled my tickets as all were non-refundable flight tickets.
I waited for the time. I was about to cancel my tickets. But for Baba, the magic happened. Few days before the programme of visiting Shirdi, I came down to my office. I called up the travel agent with the heavy heart to cancel the tickets or postponed the period of visit, if possible. I kept the phone’s receiver and within a fraction of second my mobile started ringing.
“Hello,” I said.
“Sanjeev, you have to come to Mumbai on March 18, as the launch of one of the company’s magazine edited by you will take place on March 19,” said the voice on the other side, who was my senior colleague. I said dejectedly “right Sir, I’ll be there. Now I’ll not be able to visit Shirdi.”
I had explained my colleague about the programme earlier. He said, “Why not? You will certainly be able to visit the temple. Come with your family and I’ll make all arrangements for the guest house. You attend the function on March 19 and leave for Shirdi the same day so that next morning i.e March 20 you can go for darshan.
I asked my colleague to hold on, while I dialed the travel agent from the other phone at my table. I told him to witdraw the cancellation of the tickets till he doesn’t hear from me next. The travel agent did accordingly. I immediately kept the receiver to continue my conversation with my senior colleague who was on mobile phone.
He elaborated and helped me in planning my tour for Shirdi. He said that as the launch at Patna is on March 22, “you can always take a direct flight for yourself for Patna and let your family go to Ranchi the same day by another flight”. His words were music to my ears. I don’t know how many times I thanked him and thought good and only good about him. I pray for my senior colleague to give him all the happiness that the Almighty could afford.
Wonderful and warm personality, this senior colleague of mine did not stop here. Perhaps Baba had sent him to help me. He guided me to book the company’s guest house at Mumbai and planned out my visit to Shirdi after the launch of the magazine. Believe it or not, the company guest house was easily done by the facilitator and even the date of stay was extended as per my requirement. Things started rolling down on it’s own.
Sai Baba was calling me and my family. The magazine release programme in Mumbai got over by 6.30 pm and turned out to be a successful event. I immediately rushed for to pick up my family from the guest house. My kids, my wife was waiting anxiously. They were ready and boarded the car that was booked for Shirdi. We left Mumbai at around 7.20 pm. Roads were fine, highway was too good. The driver was polite and helpful. We reached Shirdi at around midnight. Our hotel room was booked in advance.
We slept for five hours. I was the first to get up. Asked my wife is she is willing to get up and get ready. Without a demur she got out of the bed. My son and my daughter were in slumber. My wife gently shook my son and asked, “Will you go for darshan now”. He said “why not. I will miss it if I don’t go”. My four and half year old daughter also got up. As if Baba was asking all of us to come and pay visit to him, for which we all were longing for past so many months.
We all were ready by 6.15 am. Reached temple gate by 6.25 am. Bought prasad and went inside. Unbelievable, it may sound; we stood in the queue, which kept moving at its own pace. This was the first time we were not having the VIP entry pass. My friends in Mumbai and Pune could not arrange any special entry for us for reasons galore.
By 7.10 a.m we all were in front of SAI BABA. My wife, kids and I touched the Samadhi and our heart virtually pumped fast because we never had the Darshan like this before.
Baba made us VIP; we never ever had HIS “Darshan” so close and so nice. It was like mission successful in cent percent manner.
SAI BABA-“WE RESIGN BEFORE YOU- PRAY TO PROTECT US AND KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY.”
God gives “Darshan” when HE wants, they say. I had the experience and feel of this for the first time ever in the month of March, when I and my family wanted to visit Shirdi for Sai Baba darshan.
I applied for leave at my office two months in advance. I was willing to visit Sai Baba temple. I was scheduled to fly with my family on March 18, 2012 and visit Baba’s temple on March 19, 2012. This was pre-planned with to and fro tickets done.
I was at one point getting apprehensive that I might not be able to go on tour. However, I was firm and determined at the back of mind to go for ‘Darshan’. As the date approached there were some developments in my office pertaining to new assignments coming my way at that time when I was on leave.
I even tried to explain to my office but my seniors were unwilling to go by what I said. My boss put his foot down, as he felt that launching assignment of the store was more important than anything else. I would have lost several thousand rupees if I would have cancelled my tickets as all were non-refundable flight tickets.
I waited for the time. I was about to cancel my tickets. But for Baba, the magic happened. Few days before the programme of visiting Shirdi, I came down to my office. I called up the travel agent with the heavy heart to cancel the tickets or postponed the period of visit, if possible. I kept the phone’s receiver and within a fraction of second my mobile started ringing.
“Hello,” I said.
“Sanjeev, you have to come to Mumbai on March 18, as the launch of one of the company’s magazine edited by you will take place on March 19,” said the voice on the other side, who was my senior colleague. I said dejectedly “right Sir, I’ll be there. Now I’ll not be able to visit Shirdi.”
I had explained my colleague about the programme earlier. He said, “Why not? You will certainly be able to visit the temple. Come with your family and I’ll make all arrangements for the guest house. You attend the function on March 19 and leave for Shirdi the same day so that next morning i.e March 20 you can go for darshan.
I asked my colleague to hold on, while I dialed the travel agent from the other phone at my table. I told him to witdraw the cancellation of the tickets till he doesn’t hear from me next. The travel agent did accordingly. I immediately kept the receiver to continue my conversation with my senior colleague who was on mobile phone.
He elaborated and helped me in planning my tour for Shirdi. He said that as the launch at Patna is on March 22, “you can always take a direct flight for yourself for Patna and let your family go to Ranchi the same day by another flight”. His words were music to my ears. I don’t know how many times I thanked him and thought good and only good about him. I pray for my senior colleague to give him all the happiness that the Almighty could afford.
Wonderful and warm personality, this senior colleague of mine did not stop here. Perhaps Baba had sent him to help me. He guided me to book the company’s guest house at Mumbai and planned out my visit to Shirdi after the launch of the magazine. Believe it or not, the company guest house was easily done by the facilitator and even the date of stay was extended as per my requirement. Things started rolling down on it’s own.
Sai Baba was calling me and my family. The magazine release programme in Mumbai got over by 6.30 pm and turned out to be a successful event. I immediately rushed for to pick up my family from the guest house. My kids, my wife was waiting anxiously. They were ready and boarded the car that was booked for Shirdi. We left Mumbai at around 7.20 pm. Roads were fine, highway was too good. The driver was polite and helpful. We reached Shirdi at around midnight. Our hotel room was booked in advance.
We slept for five hours. I was the first to get up. Asked my wife is she is willing to get up and get ready. Without a demur she got out of the bed. My son and my daughter were in slumber. My wife gently shook my son and asked, “Will you go for darshan now”. He said “why not. I will miss it if I don’t go”. My four and half year old daughter also got up. As if Baba was asking all of us to come and pay visit to him, for which we all were longing for past so many months.
We all were ready by 6.15 am. Reached temple gate by 6.25 am. Bought prasad and went inside. Unbelievable, it may sound; we stood in the queue, which kept moving at its own pace. This was the first time we were not having the VIP entry pass. My friends in Mumbai and Pune could not arrange any special entry for us for reasons galore.
By 7.10 a.m we all were in front of SAI BABA. My wife, kids and I touched the Samadhi and our heart virtually pumped fast because we never had the Darshan like this before.
Baba made us VIP; we never ever had HIS “Darshan” so close and so nice. It was like mission successful in cent percent manner.
SAI BABA-“WE RESIGN BEFORE YOU- PRAY TO PROTECT US AND KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY.”
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