It had rained heavily the night before
and our road as usual was a big stream of
dirty water. In
keeping with the Chennai norms the platform was absent in many places. And what
little was left of the platform was made use by the
apartments making a dugout for
the convenience of taking out their vehicles and for their part the Chennai Corporation
had constructed umpteen number of manholes in the name of service to the
citizens. And depending on our fate, they might either be left open or closed.
The construction people too had their
share to add to the pedestrian misery by disposing building debris. Hence
the platform was usually avoided by the
pedestrians and with that evacuation by the pedestrians, all the vehicles
ingeniously used the road for more manoeuvrability.
On this day of my experience, it was
further impossible to use any part of the road since it was flowing with murky
waters and using the platform became inevitable. It was heartening that the motorists were
considerate that morning and reduced their speed lest the walkers would be
drenched to the core. I was coming back
from my walk and as I was getting ready to amble around the debris on the
precarious gap of a platform I saw an old
lady trying to do the same from the opposite side. I stopped and waited
till she came over to my side. Wearing a
cotton sari and a big bindi on the forehead, with sparkling ear stud and matching
nose ring she accosted me with a benign
smile and said “The old time culture is built in us…..Today’s youngsters do not
bother. Even if you are standing in the bus young girls look the other way (as
if we are the road side beggars at the traffic signals). That way boys are better and they do give
their seats to elders.”
“It is indeed true” I said
“ Are you a Christian?” she enquired to
which my reply was positive. ”I too studied in a Christian school and I know
many songs.” I beamed brightly with a
nod and was ready to proceed further on my way but she would have none of it.
She told me that she had her heart surgery a few months back and it was indeed
a very critical one.
"Come closer" she said and
opening her blouse she exhibited the stitches as if I was her intimate friend
or a dear relative. She continued “Before the operation my sugar was 400, my
potassium was down and my creatinine level was high and the doctors kept their
fingers crossed when they decided to operate on me. My husband
had to sign the papers acquitting the doctors from all
responsibilities.
After the operation I was lying in the
ICU unconscious for several days The
ordeal came to an end after three months and I was back home. I went to the
hospital for my first check up As sitting in the chair was a effort I lay down
on the row of four chairs which were empty.
A
gentle touch woke me up and I thought my husband who had gone for his
coffee had come back. I was wrong. The chief surgeon, who operated on me, was
helping me to get up and led me into his room.
Other patients in front of me were still waiting
I was worried ; Something must have gone
wrong with the whole operation. “Amma”
he said “we have done a thorough check up of all your parameters. Are you happy
to know that all your parameters are
normal?” I couldn’t believe my ears! He is indeed a miracle man! I
thanked him profusely.
“ Now let us come to a very important
point.” He said and crossing his legs he sat relaxed
“ What doctor….? I was worried about the
bad news he was going to deliver after the good one.
“Amma whenever I came to the ICU to check
on you I found you singing softly. I am curious….. I would like to listen to
those songs. Can you do it for me?
“I was enthralled and went on from one
song to the other and that busy doctor was enjoying my show all through…”
“ Would you like to listen to those songs
now?”she said turning to me.
I was reminded of the singer Krishna who
took the Carnatic music songs from the elite platform of sabhas to the slums of
Chennai.
In the middle of the road I was about to
listen to songs…..! Am I dreaming…….? Am I crazy……?
Yet I replied to her “Why not…..?”
She sung……. Held my hands…… Kept the rhythm on my chest…….Song after song it
continued……… I couldn’t control my tears. Is
a miracle happening to me? Am I inside a church…..?
When I came back to my senses I thought
about the lady…….. I realised that she had a major surgery recently. With her
song still continuing I slowly led her to a low compound wall nearby and made
her sit…… The watch man of the apartment became one more appreciative audience
When she stopped at last I was bewildered! For
her age she possessed a fine voice.
"Shall I sing an English song for
you...?"
I couldn't say no
“ How can you do it?! At your age?! And
that too after your operation?”
“That is what the doctor too asked me
”she laughed and continued “ It is the Lord and his songs! whenever I am alone
at home I sing incessantly and energise myself!
And you know the doctor gave me his hands and asked me what he can do
for her. I held them in mine and told him that these hands were my saviour but
this was possible for me because I was able to manage the cost of the surgery.
Would these hands help those who suffer and still are very poor? That is what
the Lord did”
“Now he held my hand tight and said “Yes
amma will do it.......for sure”
On an appreciative note the watch man
plucked a canna flower and presented it to her.
"Take care" I said
As we crossed paths my gait was different.
I shared my once a life time experience
with my husband. He too was enthralled and said "By the way did you get
her address or phone number?"
"This is just once in a blue moon event.....
can't happen every day but there is a reason and it shows that the Divine
speaks to us through very unique events, which most of the time we brush away"
I replied and went away humming!!
