My parents had gone to Rishikesh once, as Guruji was there. That day was an extremely auspicious one, which had come after 400 years. Guruji, along with other devotees, were going to take a dip in the holy water of the River Ganges. My relatives Sumit and Dipti had also decided to go to Rishikesh via road because they couldn’t get the train tickets. They were very excited, and all this while I was at home, relaxing on the couch. Dipti di asked me why I wasn’t coming along.
I told her that I was excited to be home alone for two days and party the whole time. She intelligently convinced me to come by saying she would even sponsor for my whole trip. A free road trip sounded good to me so I decided to go as well, thanking Guruji. I got ready quickly and we left for Rishikesh. We discussed many Guru Stories on our way. Talking about Guruji is always the best thing you can do in your life. It automatically brings a smile on your face. Even just thinking about him is enough. It was 9 pm and we were really hungry. Due to the extreme crowd going to Rishikesh, we had decided to take a different route there. There were no good restaurants or dhaba’s on that way for us. Finally at 11 pm, we found a place to eat but it wasn’t that good. We had no other option so we decided to eat there. We ordered our food, but within five minutes, Dipti di said she felt something was wrong with the place, and that we should leave. We left from there, and on our way she told us that she noticed that there were barely a few people there and they were drunk and pointing towards us. It was past midnight and we were starving. Dipti di wondered out loud, ‘Is this how Guruji is taking care of us?’ On the dash board there was a book called ‘Punarnava’ , an amazing book by Guruji which I had bought but had not read yet. I pointed to Guruji’s picture on the cover of the book and said to Him, “I don’t know anything, as soon as I reach the Rishikesh Ashram, I need good food and a place to stay. It is your headache now, do it your way. And in the morning I want to take a dip in the Ganga, holding your hand. Jai Guru Dev.” Dipti di laughed and said that it was 1 am and no one in the Ashram there would be ready to serve me food so late. An hour later, we finally reached and the guard told us where to park our car. As we stepped inside the Ashram, a gentleman came and told us, “Oh good, you’ll have arrived. Should I lay out the food?” I looked at Deepti Di and smiled. He always takes care of us! We were served Dal and Rice. Wanting to eat chappati as well, I asked the man who served us if there were any left. He politely told me they were all over. Another man came up behind him and said, “I have a few chapatti’s which Guruji has sent from His kutir.” Dipti di looked at me and said, ‘I believe you Kunal, we are surely taken care of.’ And like that, He granted my first wish. We finished our meal but had no idea where we were going to be staying. My mentor, Avinash Tiku, who is an international faculty member, called up asking if we had reached. I told him we had, and he told us that he had arranged for our accommodation as well. Second wish granted! We went and met him, and I was very happy as I was meeting him after four months! By 3.30 am, we slept. I woke up at 7 am and went to Avinash Bhaiyya’s room. Just then he told me to check outside the window, and Guruji was walking on the shores of River Ganga. I saw and in excitement said, ‘Run, it is Guruji!’ We both ran quickly towards Him. There were only 7-8 people with HIM. I wished Guruji ‘Jai Guru Dev’. HE Smiled and blinked His eyes, there was an innocence in His Smile. It was the first time I was walking with Guruji so I did not let anybody come between us. He did not leave even a single chance to pamper us. Very soon, the amount of people around Him increased. As we reached the Ghat , He asked everybody to do chanting and went to change. I helped the volunteers clear the passage so that Guruji could walk smoothly, and due to this I was made to stand in the first row of the Ghat. Half an hour later, Guruji came out and the gathering followed Him like thousands of bees swarming around a dessert. In the meantime, I got pushed and was left far behind, while the gathering along with the Master descended down the ghat. I stood there, hanging onto a chain on a very slippery surface. I saw Guruji take the first dip, chanting ‘Jai Gangey’. The surreal aura of His is simply impossible to pen down. HE took His second dip and abruptly started walking towards where I was clinging on to the chains. My heart beat running, I asked Guruji to stop as the surface beneath was extremely slippery. But by then, He had already reached quite close, and to my horror, He slipped and in no time, I caught hold of His hand and held Him tight. And at the same time, with that perpetual smile, Guruji took His third and final dip, holding my hand! Without a word, He returned to His kutir. I was completely dumbstruck. When Guruji went out of sight and I returned back from my state of trance, I realized that my last wish was also granted. I realized that the Master would go to any extent to see that smile on your face. That’s my Satguru, my Gurudev. Jai Guru Dev.
- Kunal Gambhir
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