A unique love story

This was in 1995. I, with my family of 4, wife, son 6 years old and daughter of 2 years old was living in Pune, Bharat. My younger brother, just after post-graduation, had joined a multi national company in Pune, and had moved with us. I had bought my first car. It was Premier padmini 137 D. The diesel car. You remember, the one with sofa like seat in the front and with hand gears. Yes that’s the one. I had bought it second hand from one of my close associates. We were enjoying the car to the hilt. Every sat Sunday, we used to go out for long drives and outings. As business was small, kids were small, wife was housewife and my bother was working 5 days week, and there was no concept of work from home then, every weekend we used to have lot of fun. In the coming few years, this beloved car of mine, was to take me to many different wonderful places.

It was the month of February. One of my cousin brother was getting engaged in Gulbarga, Karnataka. It is about 370 km from Pune. We decided to go by car. My son had some special assignments in school, hence he dropped out. Younger brother had to come as, he and my cousin who was getting engaged, were very close to each other. My mother-in-law too joined. Another of my relative joined too. Thus we were 6 adults and one kid in the car. And luggage of so many people too was substantial. The best part was premier padmini could happily accommodate these many things. It was really magical. Don’t you agree? Oh what fun. The car did not have AC. We never felt the need for for AC as windows were always rolled down. There was very little pollution those days hence we could afford open windows. Now, it is impossible to imagine. Daughter was small and hence she would adorn someone’s cosy lap always. By the time we left Pune, it was around 10 am. Driving time for 370 km would have been 9 hrs. Add another 2 hours for fuelling stops and food breaks etc.. so that would make 11 hours. So we should be reaching the destination by 9 pm. Everything seemed so good.

During those days, Solapur road was under reconstruction. Lots of haphazard constructions diversions everywhere.

Sun was setting at 6.30 pm. At around that time, we pulled in roadside hotel for tea and for freshning. We all had tea and some snacks. Milk for the little one. By the time we hit the road again, sun had completely set and it was dark. Put on the headlights and continued the journey. As it was winterish, we had rolled up windows. Still there was enough ventilation due to many leakage points, inherent in the car. It was not like today’s cars, which once locked and windows rolled up, no movement of air. Old car owners know what I am talking about.

During those days traffic was not much. Just couple of vehicles ahead and behind you. We were nearing Mohol, a place about 30 km before Solapur, and the time was around 8 pm. I was at the wheel. I could have noticed one vehicle with its head lights behind us. It was quite far. There was a culvert about 50 mtrs ahead of me. A truck laden with construction stones was standing still, facing us. As the road construction was underway, the truck was covering most of the left portion of the road. I noticed another truck coming towards me. It was behind the parked truck. He seemed to be slowing down to give me way. I was moving forward. Now I was very close to the culvert. Suddenly, the slowing down truck, decided to not to wait for me and he steered right and crossed the parked truck. There was no chance that he could have seen the culvert. We would have had head on collision on the culvert, which would have been disastrous. I was just few 10 feet from the culvert. I steered my car to the left. There was a sand filled barrel kept on side of the road. My left head lamp are hit it full force. There was a slope to the left and the car went in free fall. The car toppled and slid in the slope and when it reached the ground, it was upside down. It took me several seconds before realising what happened and regain senses. All the doors were jammed. My brother who was sitting in the front seat, kicked and removed the front windshield . We all, one by one came out. No all. Daughter, who was on my in-law's lap, was missing. We looked frantically into the car.

She could not be seen. As the glasses were rolled up, there was no chance that she could have been thrown out during the accident. Then someone heard feeble crying sound. It was coming from inside the car. When we followed the sound, we found her cosily held between the lower portion of the front seat and inside portion of the car floor. She was taken out. There was no physical injury to anyone. Nothing at all. Later during the day, upon seeing the damaged car, people would not believe that all the passengers were unhurt. Such was the sturdiness of Premier. Old timers would know what I am talking about. Within 5 minutes of the accidents, all of us had come out of the car and standing on our feet, absolutely unhurt. I raised my hands up and loudly thanked god for having saved us. I said, you have shown your presence and brought us out unhurt, now I will handle it. But god’s grace was not over, not yet. Very soon I was to find out. Just when we had come out, a car, which was quite behind us, pulled aside on the road near the culvert. One gentle man opened his window and asked, if we need help. I said yes. There were four members in that car. Driver and owner, sitting in the front. Two ladies, one young about 20 years and her mother, sitting in the back. Both men came down the slope. Ladies came out of their car but did not come down the slope. My wife and mother-in-law and my daughter went up near them. As our womenfolk were still in dazed psyche, the young lady and her mother took upon the responsibility of consoling. The younger lady took my daughter in her charge. When I saw my daughter in cosy comfort of the younger lady, I was comfortable.

With the help of those two men, my brother and I, and few more hands, straightened the car and put it on wheels. The top ceiling was totally damaged, steering wheel skewed. Left headlamp bent downwards and the bulb dangling out. There was hardly any space for me to squeeze in. I squeezed myself behind the steering wheel. Thought that car won’t start. If the car would not start, then we would have to hire towing services, which would be available next morning only. I put the ignition key and gave a try. Lo behold, the car immediately came to life, as if nothing had happened. The dangling bulb too was luminated. What a surprise. I climbed the car over the gradient and was on to the road. We loaded back all our luggage, which had grossly dislocated in the episode. The gentleman from the other car, said, there is a good dhaaba (hotel) nearby. We all could drive up there, have tea together and then disperse. Everything seemed just ok evenafter such an eventful mishap.

We drove upto the dhaaba about 2 km. my car’s radiator was damaged and hence it had started making unusual sounds. At the dhaba it stopped. There was no point restarting it, as engine would have got totally damaged. We took our seats in the dhaaba. Decided to sip fresh tea with cool head and plan further course of action. I had few more surprises. It was around 9.30 pm now.

The gentleman of the other car, was actually a Doctor. Orthopaedic at that. He gave a quick check up of all of us in the dhaba. My mother-in-law had few bruises on the leg. The doctor asked for some ice from the hotel owner. To our utter surprise, it was available. And she was given ice pack treatment. The Doctor had first aid kit and emergency medicine too with him. Painkillers and antibiotics were administered. The doctor was running his clinic in Satara and his native place is Solapur. He is born and brought up in Solapur. Many of close family, friends and acquaintances are in Solapur. Now as my car would not move, towing services had to be hired. He dialled a few of his contacts in Solapur and arranged for towing. But that fellow would be late, another 2 hours or so, as his vehicle had gone elsewhere. But he promised, since doctorsaab has called, no matter what, he will come tonight and take the car wherever I wanted to take. Where I wanted to take? I did not know nobody in Solapur nor did know what to do. Again the Doctor was of help. He said, I should take the car to fiat authorised service, which Navbharat motors. He said, the owner is his relative. I can take doctor’s name and the needful would be done. He tried to call him, but could not get through, as there was some problem. ok that issue solved.

By now our family and Doctors family had really gelled together. We had become like an extended family. The Doctor said, for the last almost 10 years, every month, he drives at least twice to Solapur from Satara. The road which they took today was not their usual route. Today somehow, due to error, they missed their usual route and came on this road. Now look at the divine co-incidence. And today they are on a special mission to Solapur. Their daughter has completed her graduation now and they are going to Solapur to meet few prospective grooms. The young lady was well educated, well mannered, good-looking and smart. While our car was about to go through the accident, the Doctor’s car far behind but in the visual range. It was already night. The young lady was sitting in rear seat with her mother. Her father was sitting in the front seat and the driver was at the wheels. Somehow the young lady had noticed our car by the tail lamps. She also noticed that the tail lamps had suddenly vanished. By the time their car reached our accident spot, which was roughly 20-30 seconds, she had told her father that something bad happened. The vehicle which was visible had suddenly disappeared. Hence, they pulled aside. Had she not noticed it and alerted others, they would have just passed by.

We spent another one hour exchanging information, addresses and promising each other to meet frequently. I said we too are looking forward for a good bride for my brother. Looking forward to his settled family is my and my wife’s responsibility, as my father and mother have left to heavenly abode long ago.

We thanked the Doctor and his family for their great help and were preparing to disperse. They were going to have a long day ahead. I asked him to invite us for the young lady’s wedding. He promised me and were about to say goodbye. It was now around 11.30 pm night.

It was not going to be over yet.

The young lady slowly and hesitantly walked upto her mother and father and was trying to say something. At the same time, my brother came upto us was trying to say something. He was so incoherent. What we could make out from his mumblings and overall scene around was this.

He and the young lady have started liking each and they would like to bond with each other permanently.

Oh my god. When did all this happen.

We were taken aback and did not know what to say. The same was at the Doctor’s side. They flabbergasted were looking at us. We were looking at them. After few minutes the thing sank into us. We said, instead of saying goodbye, let us sit and talk about it over another round of tea.

We all settled in again and fresh round of tea and snacks were ordered.

We decided to give it a chance and understand their seriousness. How their thing come to such final decision in such quick time and that too under circumstances of severe stress.

We asked them to explain one after another their viewpoint.

My brother said, she noticed our vanishing car and they came to our help. We were destined to go through the ordeal but God has made sure the help in the form of Doctor’s family follow and help us. This incident is proof enough we two families are supposed to gel with each other permanently. Further, when the rescue work was going on, the little kid had found comfort in the young lady. Making unambiguous decision between good and not so good comes very naturally to small kids. And further, at the dhaba, when her father was busy administering first aid, she was incessantly and silently helping her father with ice packs, medicine and all the required things, never even once wincing and without any discomfort. And in all this melee, some young love story was taking shape. Few smiles were exchanged and may be few blushing moments arose, and they knew they are made for each other. In some few private moments, they talked to each other. And in very few words they were settled.

Now it was the turn of the girl. She of course did not say it in many words, but what we could make out was this. God having played match maker was echoed by her too. Further she said, during the rescue operation, my brother was full of strength and energy and yet completely calm and composed, showing maturity level far beyond his age. He was there everywhere, from kicking the windshield, to searching the kid, regrouping the lugguage, turning the car, pushing it up, serving tea, taking care of all other requirement. He was displaying decent behaviour traits even under such stressful situation. His character has been put to severe test by god and demonstrated to her. What better gift could she ask from god.

Now it was our turn. We did not have much to say. Decision makers of bride and groom were here. My wife and I exchanged contented looks with the Doctor and his wife. A satisfied approval was written all over their faces. My wife looked at me and said to new couple “then what are you waiting for, go and touch the feet of mother-in-law and take her blessings”. We all too touched her feet along with the Doctor and his wife and took her blessings. It was 2.00 am by now (dead of the night).

Exactly at that time, the vehicle towing person came. He tied our car to his vehicle and asked where to take it. The Doctor asked him to take it to Navbharat. Exactly at that time, navbharat owner returned Doctors call and asked what happened and whose car is this. To this the Doctor said the car belongs to his daughter’s would be husband and his in-laws. The towing mechanic overheard this and said, you did not tell me this earlier, otherwise I could have come earlier than this. To which Doctor said, if you would have come early then probably we could not have found our relation. He did not understand a thing. By this time the Doctor had telephoned his close relative and broke the news and asked one of his relatives to come with a car. My beloved car, after ushering in the new relation, happily went for repairs. We all went to Doctors house. Freshened up. It was sunrise by now. The Doctor further telephoned few more relatives to tell the news and to cancel the scheduled groom visits. We all had breakfast and then all of us drove to Gulbarga in the two cars to attend my cousin’s engagement and to announce the new relation to all of our relatives.

This unusual love story was talk of the town for a very long time.

They both continued to live happily ever after. Needless to say