The Temple

It has been a few years since I started visiting a temple in my area. It was a temple of Maa Kali. Every Saturday I would light a Diya there. A little girl named Anu has a small shop outside the temple. Every Saturday I would take Diya from her only. By now she knows me so well. Sometimes, I would bring a biscuit packet or toffees for her. One winter evening, I saw Anu crying in her shop. She was telling someone that his father met with an accident and injured his leg badly. So she will run the shop alone till her father recovers. After listening to her I felt like hugging her hard and extending all possible help to her. But I refrained. As I lit the diya, I prayed to goddess kali for giving Anu strength and power to bear this hard-hitting situation.

Days went by, Anu looked weak and miserable. Her father didn’t show much improvement. While wearing my slippers Anu came to me and asked politely, “Didi can you please hold my bag, I want to go to the washroom and there is no one who could take care of my bag.”

For a second I was stunned to see her faith in me. I took her cloth bag and stood in a corner. Her bag hardly had a few coins to make it heavy. That night I could not sleep discerning how strong and patient that little girl was.

The next day I went late to the temple, after thinking a lot I decided to talk to Anu. She opened up slowly to me stating that her mother has taken up household work and together they are praying and hoping to collect money for her father’s operation. I assured to extend all possible help from my end. Being a student in those olden days, I hardly got much pocket money.

The next day I talked to the priest of the temple about this issue. The priest smiled and said, he can donate some money from his end but not the temple funds. He ruled out my last hope by saying every second shopkeeper outside is having struggles in life and in no way he can randomly pick one and help.

Now just like Anu, I was also left with one hope and that was praying to Goddess to do some miracle. As I came out of the temple, a lady in her early 50’s came to me offering me Prasad. As I took the barfi piece she said, “If you want to help someone, try to depend on yourself and not anyone else.” I gave her a stare. She said that she had listened to the conversation between me and the priest. She asked me to find a way to help Anu by myself.

While returning home, I kept thinking, how I will find the same lady again. I didn't take any of her details. Was she right? Should I do something? But what?

I discussed the matter with my friends. We collected as much as we could. Even a few of the teachers helped me out. But it was not enough. Soon I kept a box outside Anu’s shop writing a letter about the donations. After 7 days we decided to open the box, but only 1000 rupees came. Anu’s eyes filled with tears. She lost all hope. I closed the box and left it there. 

I was disheartened to lose in my efforts. And decided not to bring any false hope to Anu and her family. For the next few days, I did not visit the temple. On the last Navratri, my mom asked me to go and offer prayers at the temple. She was unaware of all this emotional breakup I and Anu had. 

The temple was full of crowds, with a big line of devotees as far as one could see. I didn’t want to face Anu, so I decided to buy diya from another shop. As I stood in line, someone called my name out loud, “Didi, where were you? Thank God you are Ok? I don’t have words to say thanks to you for helping me with such a big amount. Finally, baba could undergo an operation.” Anu’s eye had the spark back.

I was clueless about all this. I left the line and took Anu to a corner and demanded to tell me the entire scene. She smiled and hugged me.

She said the last time you counted the money and we both felt miserable. After two days a lady came in late at night and handed me an envelope stating that you could finally collect this amount. Due to some college work you are busy so asked her to come. From that day I waited for you and that lady every evening but no one came. I prayed for your well-being and to see you one more time in life. Today Maa kali answered my prayers.

I silently stood staring at the idol of Goddess Kali. Yes, she answers everyone's prayers.