A Moment In Yamaloka

One night when I was tossing and turning on my bed, two messengers of Lord of Death, Yama came and said, ”Get up my boy, Yamaraj is calling you”.

I replied immediately,” Folks, what mistake have I done? I am only thirty years old. I am told that I am destined to marry twice. I have not even married once. See if you may accept my offer of rupees ten to twenty thousand. If it is so very urgent to take someone, pick up Sharma Ji.”

The messengers said, ”Do you think that we are policemen that we may take the innocent to Yamaraj. Don't think that we follow the blind law of your land and hang innocent people.”

Even after my pleading, they took me along with them and after a while, Yamaraj appeared in front of me. Seeing me, Yamaraj squirmed a little and said, 'Tell me one virtuous act which you have done. It took a full ten minutes even for my supercomputer to count your sins.”

I said,” Sir what are you talking? To generate electricity is a virtuous act. Yamaloka has 33% of the bulbs glowing with our power. Hearing this Yama said “Hmm! tell me whether you would like to go to heaven or hell.”

I told, “Lord please tell me where Aish, Katrina, Bipasa, and others will go.” Yamaraj said, ”Sonny, there is a 50% reservation for women in heaven. Taking advantage of this clause they will be going to heaven”. “Listen, I heard that you write poetry. None have sung my glory till date so gain the grace of the Lord today by writing verses in the glory of Him”.

Then I started flattering the Lord by singing His glory.

Hearing his glory sung, Yamaraj became a little shameful and came near to tell me, "Buddy, this was just a little fun. You have not completed your life. We have brought you here because we feel the need for a young and dynamic civil engineer”. I said," Lord, there are many young, dynamic, intelligent, smart and well experienced civil engineers in my department. Why are you after me? "

Lord said, ”Son, your recommendation has come from the top. You have been called by a special request of Lord Rama. I said, “If I am highly recommended, don’t waste my time. Tell me quickly why I have been brought here?”

Hearing this Yamaraj said, ”What should I say, Sonny. The number of sinners is growing day by day in Kaliyug. For the last 40 to 50 years people are crowding the hell. In fact, we wish to expand hell and increase its capacity. For this, we wish to demolish a portion of heaven and convert it into hell”.

I said, “ Lord, why do you need a civil engineer for this. A Karsevak of Hindu Parishad may be called or Laloo Prasad may be made the Chief

Minister of heaven. I am a civil engineer, how can I make a hell out of heaven? Yes, if I am to make a heaven of a hell I shall devote my whole life”.

I further said, "People of all religions will be coming to hell. Will, they not demand to make a Pakistan in hell?"

Yamaraj said, "Sonny, it was not there earlier but since the time some of your leaders have come to hell, people of different religions joined together and demanded to form Paknarkistan. But they do not know that we will never make Paknarkistan. Hell is already so dirty and messy that we will not allow the standard to go down further. What is the need for making such a hell when we already have one adjacent to Hindustan.”

While he was just telling all this, Lord Rama came running and stood before me.

I said, “Lord if you had to come, you could have as well come to the earth. You need not have called me to Yamalok. Why did you come alone? You could have brought mother Sita and Lav, Kusha. Whom will I embrace? Have I to go to call Lakshman and Hanuman?”

Hearing this, Lord Rama said, "You are a funny poet and make good jokes. But my problem is getting worse day by day. The people of Vishwa Hindu Parishad is after me. They give a slogan ”We will build the temple only here.” They do not realize that if they build the temple there, they will not lose anything, but millions of innocent people would be killed around the world. You, being an imaginative poet, try to solve this gigantic problem of mine”. 

I said, “Lord it is so simple. Make there an "Egalitarian Temple" where people of all religions can worship. Get me to prepare the plan .Build a multi-storied building of white marble. Build as many rooms as there are religions on earth. Please listen to me carefully as to what you may have in those rooms. In some rooms, there will be a smiling Buddha standing. In some Lord Jesus on the cross. In some Mahavira in meditation, in some the statue of standing, smiling Nanak, in some prophets chanting, in some Kabir weaving clothes. And where you had taken birth must be a big hall- absolutely peaceful, neat and clean with serenity. You must be on a swing with your divine face so impressive so as to attract the attention of all. There should be idols of all Heads of Department of different religions, Deans and Directors. There must be as many strings as the number of idols -all coming out and connected to your swing so that all can swing your idol by pulling and sing your glory. In this temple, people should not offer anything. They should come empty-handed. They must see the deity, pray, and silently leave the place. But Lord if our political leaders allow you to do this where will they get an issue for the next election.

I said, “Lord please hear my poem running into 555 pages.”

Lord said “ Tathastu”

I completed my poem and immediately after Lord disappeared. A voice came from Akashvani, “This is Vishnu Centre of Akashvani. You are hereby informed that the boon given to you is hereby withdrawn. You are requested to leave Yamaloka as fast as you can. Don’t show your face next time”.

Hearing this I told Yamaraj, “Please get me back to the earth.”

Yamaraj told,” Please close your eyes and open after two seconds.”

I opened my eyes and found the sun shining. In my room, I found sunlight and shadow. The clock was showing the time as 8-30. It was reminding me that the GM was at the project site. I got up suddenly and rush for taking bath. On my way, I realize that I was seeing a dream. I was acting smart and spinning yarns before great people.

This is English translation of

Hindi Story - यमलोक के कुछ पल by

Ashish Agrawal (https://storymirror.com/read/story/hindi/h77sg3uc/ymlok-ke-kuch-pl/detail)