True Tales

This is what happened to me a few years ago which I will always treasure and cherish.

During mid 90’s for a short period British Airways Flights to Delhi used to operate from Gatwick instead of Heathrow. We planned a trip to India and our flight to Delhi was scheduled to leave Gatwick around 10pm. We had to leave home for London Gatwick early evening giving us ample time to travel and check in. Normal time for my evening prayers (Rehraas) used to be around 6pm and due to our traveling arrangements I asked for forgiveness and started Rehraas before 3 in the afternoon. During my recitation of the Paath (prayers) I had this amazing experience which I would like to share.

During the prayer I heard the holy voice saying “So, you are worried again.”

To which I replied with respect, “Babaji (My Guru Sahib Sattguru Nanak ji) you are aware, I am traveling on a standby ticket and do not know whether I am going to get on the plane or not.”

Holy Voice: “All right, if we do get you on the flight, then what would you do for us?”

Now I started calculating my abilities and resources to fulfill any demands by the Babaji and after a pause and calculated thought I replied: “Babaji you know about my abilities better than I do."

Babaji: “Fine, Give us five pounds when you get to Delhi.”

Relieved, and still calculating I asked: “But Babaji, where and how can I give you five pounds?”

Now after a pause I was shown Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) Bangla Sahib and on the left hand side, near the flower stalls below the marble steps, I saw an old man in typical Sikh farmer’s clothes and noticeably he had very weak knees and had difficulties in standing too long.

I obediently looked and agreed to deliver the promise…. All of a sudden I found myself sitting down at my house with Gutka (Prayer book) in my hand and started wondering whether I had fallen asleep during Rehraas Sahib, but the experience was so fresh and with such profound impact that it was hard to ignore.

During our journey to Gatwick my wife mentioned that the flight was overbooked and our chances were very slim, but I did not mention my experience during Rehraas to her. At the airport we awaited till 0930pm and then airline staff informed us that the flight to Delhi had been closed without any standby passengers being taken. Hearing that, I started thinking about my experience earlier during Rehraas Sahib and was almost coming to a conclusion that what I experienced was a dream.

Now coming back to the real world I realized we had wasted more than an hour after the flight was declared closed still planning different routes and approaches to Delhi. We thought of coming back to Heathrow and trying to fly via Bombay instead. All the other standby passengers had left by then.

All of a sudden we heard an announcement stating, “If there are any passengers still waiting for Delhi flight please contact BA customer services.” After enquiries we found out that the 747 scheduled for Delhi developed a fault in its rudder and had to be replaced with another Boeing 747 which carries more passengers and less cargo, hence we had the chance. I was shocked and elated after boarding the new Jumbo 747 to Delhi. During the flight I told my wife exactly what I had experienced during the prayers. We drove straight to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib after landing at Delhi.

We were approached by various people asking for alms but none matched the description of the man I was shown during my prayers in London. I waited for a while at the spot I was shown but family was getting anxious to get home quickly. I left Gurudwara Sahib with regrets and a five pound note still in my top pocket.

Whilst in Delhi on every visit to Bangla Sahib I used to stand waiting for the magic moment of meeting the special one at the foot steps next to flower stall but it was not happening. I was not prepared to deliver it to anyone but the chosen one. My belief was getting even stronger considering that if Almighty can swap the airplane to accommodate us despite all the odds at London Gatwick then I must wait for the special soul to appear. 

Now it was the last day in Delhi and we were scheduled to return by an early morning flight. Like other days I went to the same spot waiting and started saying to Babaji, “Oh Almighty please guide me, you fulfilled your promise and kindly help me to fulfill mine. Please guide me, what shall I do?  Should I put promised money in a charity box or give it to Kar Seva (building fund)?”

I looked around, but nothing happened. I asked my wife to proceed to the Gurudwara Sahib as I wanted to wait a while longer. As she started climbing up the marble steps, I looked towards the Gurudwara and with tearful eyes begged again. At that point some one touched my shoulder and said, “Baabuji…” I turned around and saw what I had been waiting all along to see. Shocked and tearful I touched his knees and wrapped him with my arms and shouted towards my wife and told her I found him.

I asked where he was all this time. Smilingly He replied “ASSI TEY SAADH SANGAT WICH HEE VASDEY HAAN, SAADH SANGAT DEY BHAROSEY TEY HEE HAAN.” (We reside among the Holy Congregation/Saadh Sangat. We are here because of Holy Congregation/Saadh Sangat). I honestly had blank thoughts and did not know what to say or ask, and just kept on staring at him. We both kept smiling at each other without saying words and unaware of the looks and curiosity of the people around us. I kept my hands on his weak knees. He did say few words which made me feel very blissful and floating at the time, and I forgot them very soon after.

I gave him the promised money, without looking at it he again mentioned “ASSI TEY SAADH SANGAT WICH HI VASDEY HAAN”. (We reside among the Holy Congregation/Saadh Sangat). Few minutes later he asked if he could go and we started climbing marble steps and he turned towards the sarovar (water pool). I saw him climbing down the steps and as I turned towards my wife to explain how relieved and elated I felt, I looked again. Within the blink of an eye, he had gone.

But I hope and pray never to forget the special bond between faith and prayer.