R.D. Bharadwaj
“Noorpuri”
Once, there was a rich man from Delhi. Often he remained too busy taking care of his business and family that he spent a little time in religious activities. He remained so engrossed and pre-occupied in with his engagements relating to various aspects of his business that he could hardly find any time for self. One day, he discussed the matter with his manager and informed him that he wanted to have ¾ days’ leave from his business activities and go to Haridwar, relax there to his heart’s contentment, free from all the worries, take bath in the cool waters of the Ganges and then return to Delhi, totally refreshed. His manager arranged a taxi for his pilgrimage to Haridwar and also booked a room at a luxurious hotel at Haridwar for making his stay there quite comfortable and enjoyable. As per schedule, the businessman reached the hotel of his stay and decided to relax for there for the rest of day, as he was feeling quite exhausted due to the long journey.
Next day, he went to a temple, paid his obeisance to the deity and then ventured out to river Ganga to have a dip there in the cool and refreshing waters. As there were a lot of people taking bath at both sides of the banks, he moved a little away from the hustle and bustle of so many people. Soon he reached a place where only a few people were having fun and frolics with water and he thought that this place is best suited for him to have a bath with complete peace of mind, free from noise of people frequenting that place. He placed his clothes at a place and started taking bath. After he finished taking bath and reached back on the Ghat, he noticed a new man at that place. His face was radiating with glow, as if that person had no worries at all, the businessman thought that this man can provide him the best company and a new scope of befriending such a person. Keeping this aspect in his mind, the businessman started talking to him and soon they became friends as if they knew each other since long.
Then, this businessman from Delhi asked the stranger as to where he was staying? The other man with his pleasing personality replied that in fact, he was new to this place and that he had, so far not made any stay arrangement there. Then the businessman told him, “It shall be my privilege if you could come with me and be my guest in the hotel where I have booked a room, as it was indeed a pleasant place in the close vicinity of river Ganga.” After a little vacillation, the other man approved of his proposal to join him and he assured him that he would try to provide him a memorable company. Thus, talking, discussing and cracking jokes they reached their hotel room. They relaxed there for some time and then, as they were feeling hungry, the businessman called for the waiter and told him to serve some delicious food so that both of them could savor it to their heart’s contentment. When they were having food, the businessman from Delhi, asked, “Yaar! We have met around two hours ago, made a good friendship, but still I do not exactly know you …… ! By the way, what is your name and what do you do?” Hearing his question, the other man kept enjoying the food and posed as if he had not heard anything. Then the businessman again asked, “Since both of us shall be staying together for the next ¾ days and I shall be your host, we must know each other. I am a businessman from Delhi; my name is CP Arora, what is your name and what do you do?” As Mr. Arora was insisting, the other man, replied, “It should have been better if you had not bothered about this question. However, as you have asked it for the second time, it becomes by duty to satisfy the query of my host, you please hold your breath and take it easy……… My name is Yamraj and my job is to take people’s soul to God once a person has completed his accounted life-cycle.”
On hearing this, Mr. Arora, became perplexed as if he was shocked with an electric current and the morsel of half-chewed food remained static in his mouth. For a moment, he lost track of words to continue the conversation. However, he mustered some courage after sometime and laughed a bit to cover his actual state of mind and he again said,” You must be joking, how can Yamraj come to earth like this, and talk to someone as a human being?” But the Yamraj replied,”Believe me, I am Yamraj from Yampuri and the souls whom I take to Yampuri, often appreciate a lot the good affects of river Ganga and that is why, I also thought of coming here and to have a deep dips in the pious river Ganga.” As Mr. Arora was still in the shocked state of mind, felt some relief and said, “So, you have not come here to take any soul to God!” “Yes! You are right,” Yamraj gave a brief reply. Mr. Arora, had a deep breath and as he was a businessman, he thought of striking a deal with Yamraj. “See Yamraj ji ! As I have already promised, I shall take care of all your needs here, but in return, you shall have to make a small promise to me !” And the Yamraj replied, “Yes! Of course, you please go ahead. I shall see if I can do something for you!” Mr. Arora, looked around in the room carefully and then said,” Please make a promise that you shall never come to my house to extract my soul ……….” But, Yamraj replied,” It is not possible, please note that the Almighty God allots some specific life-span to each and every individual and when that life-span gets completed, he or she however big or small that person may be, he shall have to proceed for his ultimate journey to God, for which I am your messenger to take back your soul to Him. That is the God’s will and method to keep this universe in complete and perfect balance and harmony with nature. However, you can ask for some other concession. “
Mr. Arora, started brooding for a while and then suddenly said,”Okay! If you cannot accede to my first request, then please make a promise that before coming to take my soul to God, make sure to drop a letter to me so that I can complete my remaining works required of me by my family.”
Yamraj became a little bit pensive for a while, and then replied,”Okay! I assure you that I will do this favour to you!” Mr. Arora heaved a sigh of relief as he assured himself that even after his death, his no work shall remain pending, and his family shall not have to repent that so many tasks have remained undone. As both of them had finished their food, Mr. Arora went to the telephone lying in the one corner of that room to order two cups of steaming coffee. When he moved again to return to his sofa, to his surprise, there was no one else in the room, as Yamraj had in fact, just disappeared from the scene. For a moment, it seemed to him that whatever has happened or transpired between him and Yamraj a short while ago, was perhaps nothing short an illusion.
After finishing his holidays, at Haridwar, Mr. Arora returned to Delhi. He resumed his normal routine of going to factory, attending his office, attending business meetings, visiting his clients etc. and looking after his house-hold chores which required his service from time to time. Six months had passed since he returned from Haridwar that he again started feeling tired as before. Over work has again started telling upon his health as ever. For the next few months, he felt as if he does not have sufficient energy and got fatigued so soon. His hair had also turned white and his friends advised him to start making use of hair-dye, as otherwise, he gave the glimpses of an old man. Acting upon their advice, he dyed his hair and felt as if nothing has gone wrong with the time clock of his body. But his problem did not end there itself. Soon his eye-sight also stared weakening day by day, as many images and pictures just looked blurred to him. His wife advised that it is normal with every human being of his age and that he should not worry anything, except consult an eye-specilist. He went to the eye-specialist, who after examining him, advised him to make glasses to correct his vision and wear those glasses regularly. A couple of months passed and he again felt some other problem. He started feeling pain in his teeth and just within a couple of weeks, the severity of pain increased so unbearably that he felt it difficult to chew his food. He shared his problem with his wife who took him to a dentist. He was quite worried as to what has gone wrong with his health that he faces one problem after another in quick succession. In fact, it was deteriorating day by day. Within a period of next six months, around 50% of his teeth had to be extracted due to pain or some other related problem. Ultimately, the doctor advised him to make a denture so that at least he is able to have his food properly, as without having proper food; it was just difficult to maintain good health. He was hardly sixty five but he was experiencing health problems akin to the age group of 75 plus.
His health was going down and down with each passing day that he hardly overcame one problem that another problem took hold of him. Fever, joint pains, back-ache numbness in one part of the body became part and parcel of his health. Sometimes, even his wife worried as if he was nearing his end. He became so weak that he felt is if he is not left with sufficient strength and energy to discharge his duties. He started neglecting business. His sons did not help him to take care of his business activities and make it flourish as before, and spare their father to take proper rest and regain his lost health. One day, when he was climbing down the stairs form his second floor and coming to the ground floor, he slipped and broke his thigh bone. He was rushed to the hospital and a rod had to be fixed in his thigh-bone and the doctor advised him complete bed-rest for two months. Now he was taking more medicine than chapattis daily and he felt let-down by the extremely nefarious designs which made him an irritating person. He would soon lose his temper and burst upon any one who–so-ever came before him. His plight became pitiable.
One night when he completed his days quota of taking tablets and capsules etc. and tried to sleep that he felt some chest pain. He wanted to weep loudly, but his voice just remained choked in his throat. Suddenly, a person in white dress appeared before him and he tried to recognize him. Soon he realized that it was the same person who had met him when he was enjoying his pilgrimage to Haridwar. It was Yamraj, and on seeing him, Mr. Arora asked him, “How did you come here?” Yamraj told him that he has come to take his soul, as he has completed his life-span on this mortal earth. But Mr. Arora said,”How you can do so, as you have made a promise to me to drop a letter before visiting me for this purpose?” Yamraj replied, “Perhaps you have forgotten that I had sent you not only one, but three letters, but you have ignored all this as you became so engrossed in your worldly affairs!” But Mr. Arora again asked, “I did not receive even a single letter and you are talking about three?” Yamraj again replied,”See Mr. Arora! Firstly, I sent a letter to you when I made your hair white, secondly when I made your eye-sight weak and last letter was issued to you when you got your denture after losing all your teeth. But, you have failed to read even a single letter……….” Mr. Arora started thinking seriously as he was under the impression that some postman would come to him bringing letters from Yamraj. As Yamraj understood as to what was going on in his mind, he explained things to him,”Mr. Arora! God does not send messages through some postman, as you mortals usually do. He sends messages to mankind via some implied messages, and it is your duty to understand His messages. He does not hear any excuses for the human lapses and errors of omission and commission. Now that you have already exhausted your time period on this mortal earth, let us now move fast and reach there, otherwise, God shall punish me as well for being late………..!!” Mr. Arora then pleaded to him, “ Sir! I have to find a suitable match for my daughter and marry her off. Please grant some grace period to me to enable me to discharge this duty.” But Yamraj gave a curt reply, “Mr. Arora ! Undue favouratism, appeasement, harassment and exploitation etc. happen in Indian society and bureaucracy only, and certainly not in God’s divine affairs!”
Saying so, Yamraj extracted his soul and left for the Yampuri, leaving behind the family of Mr. Arora wailing, crying and lamenting uncontrollably that he has gone leaving behind so many incomplete tasks !!Labels: Articles, R D Bharadwaj, Spiritual, Story
